1841.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



109 



binations may be obtained, and then exhibit some detached Episodes, 

 and individual instances. Hitherto, Plaii — by which we mean not 

 only the outline of the floor, but that of profile and section likewise — 

 lias been allowed to exhibit scarcely any variety, etVect being almost 

 exclusively limited to that kind of it which arises from material, 

 colour, and decoration. Accordingly if it can be shown that there are 

 other sources of variety, it becomes evident that there is far greater 

 scope afforded by interior architectural composition, than where no- 

 velty of design consists in nothing more than substituting one order of 

 columns for another, or something else of that kind, without any novelty 

 whatever in regard to arrangement, shape, and proportions in the en- 

 semble. 



Of course where a room is a simple square or parallelogram in its 

 plan, there can be no combination ; yet as soon as we proceed a step 

 further various combinations may be obtained. Still we choose to limit 

 ourselves in nearly eveiy case to the simplest and first step; for if it 

 be required to give rather more than ordinary architectural character 

 to a room, it is usually done by putting two columns towards each end, 

 so as to divide it into three compartments; and that being done we 

 seem to have fairly got att bout de noire Liitin. Let us, then, take no 

 more than a triple arrangement of plan, and show some of the com- 

 binations that may be obtained from it, distinguishing the divisions of 

 the plan by the terms Centre and Ends ; and it will be less troublesome 

 to ourselves, and more intelligible to our readers, if we give them in 

 the form of a mere list. First then, in regard to plan, we have the 

 following varieties :— 



Centre and Ends all rectangular, equal in breadth, and differing only 



in their relative proportions. 

 Centre wider than Ends. 



Centre narrower than Ends, or the Ends expanded. 

 Centre rectangular. Ends semicircular or curvilinear. 

 Centre circular or polygonal, Ends rectangular. 

 Centre a square or parallelogram, Ends octagonal, hexagonal or other 



form of polygon. 

 Secondly. In regard to Profile or Section : — 



Centre and Ends, of uniform height and with flat ceilings. 



■ ditto arched. 



Centre loftier than Ends, but with flat ceiling. 



and domed, or arched. 



Ends loftier than Centre, and arched traversely to the latter. 



— and domed. 



Thirdly. In regard to arrangement of windows and mode of lighting : — 

 Centre and Ends all lighted from one side of the room. 

 Centre lighted from side, Ends from the extremities of the room. 

 Centre lighted from one side, and Ends from opposite one. 

 Centre lighted from side. Ends from above. 

 Centre lighted from above. Ends from side. 

 Centre and Ends all lighted from above. 

 Centre alone lighted, either from side or above. 

 Ends alone lighted, ditto. 

 Centre or Ends lighted not from ceiling but from windows at the 



sides, at a distance from the floor. 



Without our extending this list any further, it will be evident that 

 a vast number of combinations may be obtained, entirely independent 

 of the innumerable differences arising from columns and other decora- 

 tion, from dimensions and proportions, from colour and material. In 

 fact every one of the modes above enumerated— and they are by no 

 means all — affords as much or more scope for architectural design in 

 other respects, than there is now by the single one which is almost 

 invariably adhered to. 



We have merely mentioned as one distinction that produced by 

 lighting either the whole room, or one or more of its divisions from 

 the ceiling ; but then, that, too, maybe effected in a variety of different 

 ways. The light may he admitted through glazed coffers or panels 

 (plain, again or coloured), through a dome, or through a lantern, which 

 last admits of almost infinite varietv of form and design. Lantern 

 lights may not only vary in their plan, — be square, oblong, circular, 

 octagonal, &c., but be ceiled above and have windows on their sides, 

 or closed at the sides, and have the light transmitted through the ceil- 

 ing, accordingly as either the design itself, or other circumstances may 

 dictate. 



It may be said — and that not unreasonably — the kind of room we 

 have noticed, namely, one capable of being divided into compartments, 

 is fitted only for a gallery or library of some extent. Still there 

 are a variety of other combinations to be eflected in rooms of a dif- 

 ferent class, by merely breaking their plans, yet without exactly 

 dividing them into distinct cumpartraenl^. Dining-rooms certainly 

 admit of great architectural character being bestowed upon them, by a 

 sideboard alcove, by which is to be understood somethiDg more than 



a mere shallow or blank recess — as it may not improperly be termed — 

 which where there is any thing of the kind at all, is generally the 

 maximum attempted, although in itself it is exceedingly little indeed. 



( To lie coulinued.) 



ESTABLISHMENT FOR PROCURING MOULDS FROM 

 MONUMENTS OF ART. 



Sir — The debate which followed Mr. (iillon'a motion, cannot fail to 

 raise the hopes of all who have the interests of taste at heart; and I 

 hope that you will permit me, at this apparently auspicious time, to 

 bring forward in your columns a scheme, which, although, if I may 

 judge from the brief paragraph in a former number, does not meet 

 your approbation in its original shape, yet if some other mode of 

 o])erafion can be devised, its object will, I feel convinced, have your 

 earnest support. I allude to the formation of an establishment for 

 procuring moulds from interesting monuments of art, and for diftusing 

 casts from these at the cheapest possible rate, over the country. 



The French have long possessed such an establishment, under the 

 immediate patronage of government, and moulders are constantly em- 

 ployed in foreign countries, as well as in different parts of France, 

 making moulds from monuments of art of every age, from the earliest 

 times down to a late period. French moulders are to be found not 

 only in the capital cities of Italy, but also in the ancient towns which 

 offer so many interesting specimens of the arts of the middle ages. A 

 few years ago, as 1 have already stated in a former paper, elsewhere, 

 14,000 dollars were spent in Florence alone, in making moulds which 

 were afterwards conveyed to Paris. How advantageous the results of 

 such a system ! In Paris artists of every description may find specimens 

 of sculpture from every statue and building with which they are ac- 

 quainted. Architects may at a very small cost, in addition to their 

 libraries, form museums, containing casts from portions of the build- 

 ings, the plans and elevations of which their books contain. Engrav- 

 ings however perfect, can convey but a faint idea of the graces of 

 execution in architectural sculpture, and I think that the consequences 

 of designing from these alone are sufficiently illustrated, in our cold, 

 spiritless, and precise ornamental details. 



I wish to see some such establishment as the French one in London ; 

 the subject has excited much attention in Scotland, and when I first 

 brought it forward it was warmly taken up by many enlightened and 

 energetic individuals ; but objections were urged against it in London, 

 although I have not been able precisely to ascertain their nature or 

 extent. I believe that the apprehension of the creation of a monopoly, 

 and the consequent injury to individuals who have already invested 

 capital in casting was the strongest objection. I should like to know, 

 how much capital is really invested in this branch of trade, and how 

 many individuals pursue it, and how many good moulds they possess? 

 of this I am certain that we have repeatedly been obliged to send 

 abroad for casts, after vainly seeking them in London. It may be ob- 

 served that this is not surprising, if we demand casts from works, of 

 which it is most unlikely that casts should exist, but this has not been 

 the case, the casts required have in most cases been such as ought 

 easily to have been found in London. Your own Schools of Design 

 are furnished from Paris, for with the exception of casts from sculp- 

 tures in the British Museum, which are of the best quality, a few 

 from foreign monuments of a very indifferent quality, and some from 

 our national specimens of art, nothing is to be had in London. 



I would here point out that there are difficulties in the way of pro- 

 curing moulds from important monuments, which are insuperable to 

 private enterprize. Government alone for instance, could procure a 

 new mould of the Venus de Medicis. I feel convinced that although 

 the Grand Duke will not hear of a mould from this statue of statues, 

 he would at once accord it, to the request of a nation preferred through 

 the proper channel, to which he owes his possession of the gem. I 

 have no doubt that established London sculptors would willingly give 

 fifty guineas for a first cast from a new mould of the Venus, I have 

 known twenty-five paid in Rome for a good cast of this statue ; in this 

 point of view it seems evident that such an establishment could not 

 prove a very costly one to the nation, for however liberal its Directors 

 ought to be to public galleries, and however cheap casts generally 

 should be sold to eftect the good anticipated, still first casts from rare 

 and precious works should be disposed of to individuals on different 

 terms. There are unquestionably numberless specimens of art of the 

 highest value and interest, casts from which, could be procured only by 

 government influence. I mentioned the deficiency in London of moulds 

 from important monuments, I should iniiigine that the chief source of 

 profit to your casters must proceed from their employment by living 

 sculptors, acd a National Casting Eiitablishment wbose object would 



