1844.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL 



303 



blished for the purpose, no more appropriate place could be found for 

 such a collection as the one contemplated than the British Museum, I 

 presumed to address tlie Trustees. 



Tlie result of that address confirms wliat I have above slated ; yet 

 as a classification of Gotliic Architecture would be of the greatest 

 value to the profession as well as the public, even in any form, I am 

 unwilling that the subject should be entirely dropped, therefore send 

 you my unsuccessful appeal to the Trustees, with some further re- 

 n)arks, conceiving that if the suggestions are of any real importance, 

 there is a chance of their being taken into consideration and properly 

 urged by some one possessing — I will not say greater zeal, but in- 

 finitely greater influence than myself. 



Ith November, 1842. 



Ml' Lords and Gentlemen, — On examining the plan for the corapletiou 

 of the Imildings at the British Museum, I observed that a portion was appro- 

 priated to British Antiquities, and as tills term might apply only to a very 

 limited selection, I have presumed to address your Lordships, humbly sub- 

 mitting that an extension of accommodation for British Antiquities would be 

 a desideratum, in order that works of British art from the earliest to the 

 latest periods might be arranged in the National JIuseum. 



It has, I think, been elearly ascertained that in order to promote art and 

 civilization, the means of studying should be placed in as simple and clear a 

 manner as possible within the reach of the public, who would by continued 

 observation imbibe a degree of taste and knowledge not otherwise to be ob- 

 tained. The great improvements in our cities have arisen by these means, 

 and step by step, architecture has been raised to an importance in public 

 opinion which it did not hold in the two preceding centuries, hut, although 

 the profession have acquired this high standing, hitherto little has been done 

 for the general advancement of the taste and knowledge of the public, who 

 from want of precedent are unable to form any opinion of the subject. 



By devoting some portion of the new buildings of the National Museum to 

 a classification of Gothic architecture, from the earliest to the latest ages, 

 this object might be effected. It would not at present be necessary to have 

 a costly building, a mere out-building would at first answer for the reception 

 of fragments. Judiciously selected specimens could be obtained from almost 

 every pait of the country, and arranged in chronological order. In many in- 

 stances this collection wouhl be of immense importance to the ])rofessional 

 student, by placing immediately before his \iew tlie forms of ornaments, 

 mouldings and sculpture, in positions were it would he next to impossible to 

 study them when existing in their original situation. In addition to the forms 

 being placed so as to be clearly examined, the progressive styles of tiie art, 

 jniglit lie shown in this collection ; and this very important object could not 

 be so simply defined in existing buildings without considerable attention and 

 labour. The distinctive characteristics of Gothic architecture being divided 

 into numerous classes, and each style imperceptibly growing out of the other; 

 the gradations are so delicate, and the peculiarities so minute, that without 

 a place for the reception of well selected examples, the student is put to con- 

 siderable labour and expense before he can acquire any knowledge of that 

 branch of the art; and then only by unwearied exertions, and the examina- 

 tion of many edifices. Even if he does not turn from the pursuit unsatisfied 

 and disgusted, he finds after years of toil, he has hut acquired an imperfect 

 knowledge, because his time, his opportunities, or his means, were insuffi- 

 cient to carry out his object. 



Many there are who soon stop short in the pursuit and when called upon 

 to practice this part of their art, show their miserable deficiency. I regret 

 to say examples are not wanting to confirm this opinion. At the present 

 time the revival of a taste for Gothic architecture, is spreading to a great ex- 

 tent, but bithertoo no opportunity has been afforded for the proper study of 

 the art, and very little is yet known of its principles ; its origin is still a 

 matter for contention, its decorations a mystery, and its construction is so 

 little understood that it has become a thing to wonder at : few, very few, are 

 acquainted with its eftects, or its influence upon our feelings. 



History is intimately associated with this art, each edifice is strewed over 

 with decorations connected with the early history of the church, or sculp- 

 tured legends of munificent donors, or in other buildings with the records of 

 noble acts of chivalry, all important in the study of the art. 



The art is not to be studied merely by fragments of stone, but much atten- 

 tion would be given to polychromy, an interesting and important branch of 

 the ancient art, and at this time but little known ; this would also comprise 

 heraldry, as necessarily connected with Gothic architecture, a subject of great 

 historical usefulness ; stained or painted glass would also form a valuable 

 ami exceedingly interesting subject, not as a mere subject of curiosity, but as 

 a branch of the art inseparable from it. 



To the pi'ofessor, the student, and the antiquary, a collection of Gothic 

 antiquities would be of inestimable value for the investigation of the piinci- 

 pies of the art. To the general observer it would be important in founding 

 judgment and true taste. The arrangements might be such that by a very 

 little application a degree of knowledge might be acquired, sufficient to pro- 

 vent the recurrence of those disgraceful applications of this style of architec- 

 ture, which have of late years been executed, owing to ignorance of its 

 genius and principles. 



Very little difficulty would be found in forming this museum. In many 

 parts of the country buildings are necessarily taken down, and the desirable 

 portion of the remains might be easily obtained ; many buildings have been 

 destroyed entirely, but there are yet numerous fragments which would form 



a most valuable and instructive series of artistical studies and historical docu- 

 ments. Such collection might very properly be made to include similar spe- 

 cimens of continental Gothic, so arranged as to facilitate immediate compa- 

 rison of the respective styles of the same period in our own and other coun- 

 tries, and thus make evident, almost at a glance, their chai'acterislic differences 

 and resemblances, whereby attention to such circumstances would be forced, 

 and they would be more firmly impressed upon the memory. 



Let but a beginning be made, let the nucleus of such a collection be 

 formed, and there is no doubt that it would be materially augmented in a 

 short time by donations and contributions both of original specimens or 

 authenticated models, and these not confined to architecture exclusively, but 

 extending to other branches of art and ornameutal design of the middle ages. 

 As little doubt can there be that such addition to the present collections in 

 the British Museum would be welcomed not by professional men alone, but 

 equally so by the general public, and for both it would possess a moi-e imme- 

 diate interest, and would exercise upon them a more direct influence, than 

 other works of antiquity, which, however valuable as arebseological studies, 

 are too remote from our feelings and associations to be looked upon other- 

 wise than as matters of wonder and curiosity. Whatever objections there 

 may be to what I have thus ventured to suggest, it certainly cannot be al- 

 leged as one of them, that a gallery of British Antiquities would he out of 

 jdace in, and foreign to the purposes of a British Museum; and, however the 

 suggestion itself may be received, I trust that the motives which have led to 

 it — the warm interest I take in the subject, and an earnest desire that both 

 the public and the architectural profession should become more familiar with, 

 and better able to appreciate the architecture and arts of the middle ages — 

 will sufficiently excuse my laying it before you, and clear me from the impu- 

 tation of impertinence in so doing. 



I have the honour to be, my Lords and Gentlemen, 



Your most obedient humble servant, 



£. B.Lamb. 



To the Trustees of the British Museum. 



British Museum, November 18, 1842 

 Sir.— Your letter of the 7th of November having been laid before the 

 Trustees in which you suggest that in the new buildings of the Museum a 

 greater extent of accommodation than that apparently contemplated should 

 be provided for British antiquities, and that it would be expedient to devote 

 some portion of the buildings to a classification of Gothic architecture, espe 

 cially British, from the earliest to tlie latest ages, I am directed to acknow- 

 ledge your communication and to acquaint you that the trustees are not pre- 

 pared to recommend her Majesty's government to provide in the museum 

 for any general collection of remains of the Gothic architecture of Great 

 Britain. 



I have the honor to be, Sir 



Your most obedient Servant, 

 E. B. Lamb Esq. I. Forshall, Secretary. 



The limited resources, as well as the deficiency of space, of the In- 

 stitute of British Architects, entirely prevents the possibility of tlieir 

 carrying out the objects contained in the foregoing letter, yet there 

 are still means by which the principle may be fully realized so as to 

 be of the greatest benefit to the profession at large ; and although my 

 main object is, for the present at least, frustrated, a perfect classifica- 

 tion of Gothic Architecture might be well arranged hy drawings com- 

 municated from the various members of the Institute and other per- 

 sons who feel an interest in the subject. 



During both his early studies and his later practice, every architect 

 has had occasion to sketch and measure portions of buildings in the 

 particular locality where he has been engaged ; and these subjects, after 

 ills particular object has been obtained, remain in his sketch book or 

 portfolio, of little further use to himself and of none to his brethren: 

 what an immense store of knowledge thus remains hidden, for want of 

 a suitable place to deposit such documents 1 accordingly, I feel assured 

 that if a suitable place could be found, the hidden treasures would he 

 brought to light by all who had a real love for the art, and would thus 

 form the nucleus of a perfect classification of Gothic Architecture. 

 But although the facts are certain as regards the present state of the 

 most valuable sketches, much would be required to be done to induce 

 the authors to deliver thein, or copies of them, to the Institute. 



The main object would be to collect together accurate dravving,« of 

 buildings, or portions of building^', with details drawn and measured, 

 and arrange them in guard books, under certain heads, so as (o bi 

 easily referred to, but as the whole of this would require a fixP() sys- 

 tem, I would suggest that a cornmitte should be formed of members of 

 the [nslilute to arrange the business, who would communicate with 

 the dirt'erent members, requesting thera to co-operate in the formation 

 of a classification of Gothic Architecture, by contributiug such sketches 

 of buildings, or parts of buildings as they may have had 0|i|)ortunities 

 of collecting together, with any remarks upon them which they might 

 wish to communicate. It would be the duty of the committee to cor- 

 respond with any person, although not in the profession, who they 

 thought might forward their views, and although in many instances 

 their labour would be in vain, they would be amply repaid by com- 



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