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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[Deckmber 



serv-:itions, lead to an idea, already half expressed, tliat proportion, 

 independently of tlie classification of forms, has its individuality in a 

 whole— that it has its expression and meaning always in the extremes 

 of a composition, and that those divisions which have no immediate 

 connexion with its terminations, come under the head of beauty's 

 accessories. If we look at a composition of the beautiful in nature, 

 we shall discover our eye wandering along its principal boundaries. 

 The idea of declension, which is an idea peculiar to bea\ity, w ill be 

 traced along the principal lines. The foreground of a picture will 

 conduct us perhaiis to a widening landscape, which lessens as the eye 

 advances, thence the eye will wander to a lake, lessening away, and 

 thence to the mountains, dying into the horizon ; and tliis we shall 

 find merely from those lines which suggest that unbroken idea of de- 

 clension which the lover of beauty seeks, and which these lines, form- 

 ing a pyramid on plan, show. Those who have watched the slight 

 pencillings of an artist, mav have discovered how this idea is sought 

 for in his sketch, which cannot be called the mere effort of memory, 

 because the same coincidence of idea is general, whilst nature has 

 her pictures in every degree of aspect. All this is the proportion of 

 a piece made up of lines, and is not to be confounded with the infinite 

 variety of undulations and curves of the landscape, confined within a 

 boundary, nor yet to be blended with the diversity of objects scattered 

 in lovely confusion around. 



As the argument here ceases, it may be suggested by some little 

 critic or other, what has the gentleman proved by his labour? Has 

 he taught the profession to become immaculate, or does all his argu- 

 ment tend to prove only that our ideas upon a few points are incor- 

 rect? Should such an amusing chirp be heard, it is only an unwilling 

 argument in favour of my argument. Whenever our mind has been 

 the subject of consideration, the most careful and philosophic spirits 

 have exerted all their powers to detect the secret impulses which 

 move it, nor has it been deemed by men of mighty intellect, a frivolous 

 employment to exert every ingenuity to fix with certainty the causes 

 operating on one simple affection of the mind. Nor can we be too 

 careful in sifting and analyzing our minds, when we approach to con- 

 sider the compositions of art, since, according to our perception of 

 influences, so is our judgment, whilst, in proportion to the judgments 

 of criticism, we are to judge of the refinement or debasement of that 

 art. I can only add that proportion is essential, but it is a mere skele- 

 ton, hidden by the softest sjwin and concealed by the loveliest undu- 

 lation, whilst it is lost to sense amidst the lights and shades and flow- 

 ing dress of nature, and that architecture maintains her influence over 

 the mind, not from the mere adaptation of parts but from her tales 

 and pictures of sentiment. 



Novi7nbtr, Frederick E.\ST. 



COMPETITION DESIGNS IN ROME. 



[Whatever is connected with competition designs at the present 

 moment, we consider is worthy the attention of the architect ; we 

 therefore with much pleasure give the following extract relative to 

 competition designs, from a very interesting work recently published 

 in Home by Count Hawks le Grice, entitled "Walks through the 

 Studii of the Sculptors at Rome."] 



Large sums are annually expended by the Papal government on 

 public monuments, from the sumptuous mausoleum to the simple 

 statue ; and all the treasures of art preserved in the magnificent mu- 

 seums of Rome are liberally thrown open to the gratuitous inspection 

 and imitation of every artist, whatever be his creed or his country. 

 Nor are the best means of developing artistic talent neglected. Pub- 

 lic works are not given to a favoured few; they are placed under the 

 direction of the Academy of St. Luke, a corporate body composed of 

 the most distinguished artists in Europe, whose suffrages generally 

 unite in the choice of the most competent. Hence the correct taste 

 prevailing in every department. The most disinterested feelings are 

 found to actuate the members of the Academy; and it has not unfre- 

 quently h.appened that the successful candidate has been until then 

 one whose merit was known but to few. Such in truth was the first 

 step made by tlie great Canova towards the temple of Fame ; for until 

 his genius burst forth in his famous monument to Clement XIV. in 

 the ."^S. Apostoli, his name may be said to have been altogether un- 

 known to fame. We have still a more recent instance of tlie impar- 

 tiality with which merit is patronized in Rome even by private indi- 

 viduals. When the present Prince Torlonia, who is a most munificent 

 patron of the arts, signified his intention to erect a monument to his 

 late revered father, himself a princely patron, he invited all the artists 

 of Rome to send in designs, which he engaged to leave implicitly to 

 the Academy of S. Luke. The sum to be expended was considerable. 



but the glory to be acquired was still greater. The artists therefore 

 entered the lists with no ordinary zeal ; overtures and intrigues were 

 not wanting; the patronage of the great was sought: but, to its 

 honour be it told, that, deaf to every indirect influence or selfish in- 

 terest, the Academy out voted itself, and resigned its own pretensions, 

 declaring with one voice a young sculjitor, 'till then unknown, the suc- 

 cessful candidate. The noble Prince could not help expressing the 

 apprehensions which he felt in entrusting to one of so little experience 

 a work of so much importance ; but the decision of the Academy was 

 irrevocable, and the I'rince, touched by their rectitude, not only acqui- 

 esced in their decision but advanced the necessary sums to enable the 

 fortunate candidate to commence the work. 



Under the direction of this same Academy, whose members are 

 composed of artists of all countries without religious distinction, pre- 

 miums are awarded with the same liberal spirit ; and it is honourable 

 to this country as well as to our own that, at their annual distributions, 

 several English artists have been distinguished by ])rizes. The Aca- 

 demy has considerable funds ; but the Roman Government, without 

 assuming any right to influence its decrees, contributes largely to its 

 maintenance. Their President is chosen without reference to creed 

 or country ; and hence we find Thorwaldsen at one time, and the Che- 

 valier Don Sola at another time, their President. The professors of 

 the Academy, who are at the head of their profession, give gratuitous 

 education as well in the University as in the Orphanotrophia in paint- 

 ing, sculpture and architecture, and in the sciences necessary to their 

 full development ; and hence it cannot be matter of surprise that the 

 fine arts flourish in Rome. These instructions however are not con- 

 fined to Romans or Italians ; they are imparted gratuitously to persons 

 of every clime and creed. Such is the spirit of public beneficence 

 which animates the institutions of Rome, and prourits private indi- 

 viduals to their imitation. In our time, for instance, the immortal 

 Canova left behind him a tribute of munificent piety worthy of his 

 great name, by consecrating his large fortune, the fruit of a life of toil, 

 to the erection of a magnificent temple in his native country to the 

 Omnipotent, from whom all talent and knowledge flow as from their 

 source. He who promotes the arts must necessarily be hailed as a 

 benefactor to his country, for he contributes not only to its wealth 

 but also to its civilization. 



" Ingenuas diilicisse fidpliter artcs 

 KmoUit mures, r.ec sinit esse t'eros." 



Amongst such public spirited individuals must be numbered Canov.i, 

 as several of his benefactions in Rome attest; amongst them must be 

 numbered the present Prince Torlonia, who is in truth the Mecaenas of 

 his age; and amongst them stands pre-eminent the present reigning 

 Pontiff, Gregory XVI., who vies with a Leo X. in his munificent en- 

 couragement of the arts. 



COMPETITION AFFAIRS :—PADDINGTON CHURCH. 



There are some matters in respect to which it is exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to make any impression on the public, except by such repeated 

 hammering, that the very mention of them almost becomes a bore. 

 Architectural Competition is one of them, and has been so frequentlv 

 noticed of late, and apparently to so very little purpose, that many 

 may be disposed to ask " Cui bono ? " — what service is it to continue 

 remonstrating against abuses, when the exposure of them seems to 

 produce no effect whatever — neither the caution of decency on the 

 part of delinquents, nor co-operation on the part of the profession to 

 put down the malpractices complained of, so injurious to many of 

 them individually, and so discrcditalile to them as a body?" Such is 

 likely to be the plausible interrogation of easy indifference ; and the 

 advice couched in it is, no doubt, precisely that which the offenders 

 themselves would wish to see followed. " It is of no use," settles the 

 matter very comfortably. 



The difficulty of putting down the abuses now so rife — the under- 

 hand manoeuvring and jobbing now practiced in so many instances, 

 that an honourably conducted competition may be considered an ex- 

 ception — this difficulty ought only to stimulate to greater energy, and 

 to strong and determined measures on the part of the honest members 

 of the profession. Or are we to suppose that these last are so insig- 

 nificant in number, and are left in such a terrible minority, that their 

 utmost united efforts for the correction of abuses would prore of no 

 avail ? If such be really the case, reform is altogether hopeless, and 

 it is indeed of no use to expose fraudulent practices of which nearly 

 all are more or less guilty, if the opportunity be afforded them. Still, 

 as the profession will hardly admit such to be the case, any attempt 

 to expose unfairness in competition may be supposed to be certain of 

 obtaining their approbation. 



