278 The Country House. 



which might be sufficiently allied to purple to give value to the gold frames 

 and the warm colour of the pictures. I need not recommend avoiding too 

 much unbroken polish in the frames, since this is now very generally disap- 

 proved of." (p. 63.) 



For a variety of details illustrative of the principles laid down in the above 

 extracts we must refer to Mr. Eastlake's letter. We are happy to learn that 

 this eminent artist has employed Mr. Moxon, the author of the Grainer's 

 Guide, noticed in our Volume for 1842, p. 379., to paint his house. We are 

 glad of this, because we feel confident it will contribute to the public taste in 

 the pictorial decoration of rooms. Mr. Moxon's works, in the house of Mr. 

 Tomalin in Carlton Terrace, for example, require only to be seen to be 

 appreciated. 



The reader will have observed that in the letters of M. de Chateauneuf 

 there are various excellent remarks from which sound principles may be 

 derived; but the whole subject of a country house is not discussed. Very 

 little is said on what relates to domestic comfort, such as warming, ventilating, 

 lighting, supplying water, &c. Indeed, these are subjects with which foreign 

 architects are not familiar ; and, therefore, M. de Chateauneuf 's remarks must 

 be considered as chiefly relating to matters of taste. 



The lettei's are illustrated by one gi'ound plan and four perspective views. 

 The latter are beautiful as specimens of architectural composition ; but they 

 want the characteristic features of a dwelling-house, chimney tops ; and they 

 have one feature far too large for a dwelling-house, a square tower sur- 

 mounted by a dome. To conceal the chimneys of a dwelling-house is to 

 omit its principal characteristic feature. Imagine for a moment that the 

 country houses of England, which are as far superior to those of every other 

 country in the world as the liberty of England is superior to the liberty of 

 Russia, were without chimney tops, and what would they represent ? Compare 

 those Italian country houses in England, in which, as in M. de Chateauneuf's 

 design, an attempt has been made to conceal the chimneys, with those in the 

 same style in which the chimneys have been rendered conspicuous architec- 

 tural features, and say which afford the most pleasure to the beholder. Ask, 

 also, in which of the two houses are there likely to be smoky chimneys. But 

 we have said enough on this subject elsewhere. 



We are sorry we can say little in behalf of the plan ; it exhibits much 

 display, with but little convenience or comfort ; indeed we never yet saw a 

 Continental architect that could design a country house fit for an English 

 gentleman. It is in town houses that M. de Chateauneuf excels ; and in these, 

 as we have stated, when noticing his Architectitra Doviestica, he has verj' great 

 merit. The whole of the work before us shows that M. de Chateauneuf, through 

 the intended kindness of his friend H. B., has been brought into what is 

 called a false position. 



The five plates are very beautifully executed, as are the vignettes, which, 

 however, have very little to do with the subject of the book, having been 

 kindly "furnished by Mr. C. Knight and Mr. Jackson." The translation of 

 M. de Chateauneuf's letters from the German, it is stated, " unfortunately 

 have not had the advantage of being submitted to the writer for correction," 

 which will account for the obscurity of some passages in them, though it will 

 not furnish an excuse for the careless manner in which the proofs appear to 

 have been corrected. We allude to the transposition of entire lines, as in 

 p. 55. ; the omission of words, as in p. 32. ; and the insertion of superfluous 

 words, for example, " treated with masterly and skill," in p. 18. 



One circumstance relating to this book, however, will cover a multitude of 

 sins : it is published for the benefit of the " Royal Schools of Industry, at Ken- 

 sington, the Potteries, and Shepherd's Bush." 



" On the formation of the schools, the plan of self-support was adopted, 

 each child contributing a weekly payment ; infants, \d. ; girls who are taught 

 to work, and the younger boys, pay 2d. ; and the elder boys, who are taught 

 to write, 3d, Although these payments go some w ay towards the maintenance 



