4797] 
At the oppofite extremity of the hall 
ts an elegant veftibule, the floor of which 
is higher by feyeral {eps then that of the 
hall. It is from the centre of this vefti- 
bule that the poiut of view is taken of 
the annexed engraving. On the left 
fide of this veftibule is a large door, 
which is now nailed up, but which for- 
merly opened into the court of the Old 
Louvre. Onthe right hand is a private 
flaircafe, which leads to the fquare court 
of the Mufeum. ‘This veftibule commu- 
nicates with the hall by means of three 
gotercolumniations, of which the centre 
one forms an arcade, which joins the roof. 
The hall is embellifhed with 80 co- 
lumns of the Doric and Corinthian or- 
ders; but their proportions are Ionic. 
‘his order of architecture is ingenious 
and well planned, both in its general 
proportions and in its detail. The dou- 
ble arches, fupported by columns, are 
decorated with cajous*, which are diftri- 
buted with tafte. The various parts of 
fculpture, which decorate the hall, to- 
gether with the four beautiful caryatides 
which fupport the tribune, do honour to 
the genius of the celebrated ftatuary 
Jean Coujon, the colleague of the abbot 
of Clagny in all his enterprizes. Jeon 
Coujon + was himfelf avery fkilfularchi- 
te&t, of which he has given ample proof 
in his defigns for a tranflation cf Vitru- 
yius, publifhed by Jean Martin. It 
is even conjectured that he took an 
active part in the ordering of the archi- 
tecture of the Louvre, which fo per- 
fe&tly accords with the fculpture, that 
they appear to be the refult of the fame 
conception. | 
In order to adapt the hall to its new 
deftination, the floor has. been funk, 
which gives a greater air of lightnefs to 
the roof. In the centre ftands a double 
table, in the form of a horfethoe, fup- 
ported by {phinxes, at which the mem- 
bers of the Inftitute take their feats. 
This table is furrounded by two tiers of 
-benches, which are raifed for the accom- 
modation of. {peétators, who have like- 
wife feats provided for them in the vaft 
A 
* Embiematical defigns. - 
+ This ingenious artift lived under Francis 
II, Henry Il, and Charles XII; He was 
killed by acarbine on St. Burtholomew’s day. 
Ac the very inftant of his death he was work- 
ing on a feaffold on the fountain of Innocents, 
which is confidered his chef d’aeuvre. This 
fountain was removed fume years ago from the 
corner of the treet awx Fers to the centre of 
the place des Innocens, where it now ftands. 
+ 
" : 
Defeription of the Hall ofthe National Inflitute, 
45% 
embrafures of the windows, and at each 
extremity of the hall. 
_ Thete embrafures, together with the 
veftibule before-mentioned, are embel. 
lifhed with the flatues of the great men 
that have done honour to Francé. The 
following is.a lift of their names, to- 
gether with the artifts: 
* Bofluet,’ Turenne, Defeartes, Pafcal, 
by Pajou. La Fontaine, by Julien. The 
great Condé, by Roland. Mboliere and 
Peter Corneille, by Cafieri. Tourville, 
by Houdon. Catinat, by Dejoux. Bay- 
ard and Vauban, by Bridan. Montef- 
quieu, by Clodion. Duquefne, by Mo- 
not. The Prefident Molé, !’Hépital, by 
Gois. Montaufier and Sully,-by Mou- 
chi. Racine, by Boizot. Dagueffeau, 
by Berue. Rollin and Fenelon, by Le 
Comte. 
Citizen DewAILLY, an eminent ar~ 
chiteét, and a member of the Nationa? 
Enftitute, has propofed-feveral improve- 
ments in the difpofition of the hall. 
Some of thefe are {pecified in the annexed 
engraving, ard will, in all probability, 
be carried fhortly into effeét. His plan ic 
to ereét a ftone balufrade, which fhall 
feparage the public from the members of 
the Enflitute. Enftead of placing the 
ftatues in the embrafures of the windows; 
where they are feen to difadvantage, in- 
confequence of the light which falls 
upon them from behind, and in which 
fituation they interrupt the view of the ~ 
hall from the {peétators, who are placed 
in thefe embrafures, he propofes to re- 
Move them into the body of the hall, and 
place them upon pedeftals, on the righe 
hand of the baluftrade, and facing the 
interftices of the windows. And, far- 
ther, to ereét feats-rifing, as in an am- 
phitheatre, not only in each embrafure, 
but at each extremity of the hall, on the 
outlide of the baluftrade. He likewife 
wifhes to make a fimilar raoge of feats in 
the veftibule, facing the principal en- 
trance; the lateral intereolumniations ta 
ferve as places of communication for the 
public. At prefent they are blocked up 
by two ftatues, which are placed on. 
- pedeftals. 
In order. that the prefident may be 
more diftinGily, heard, his feat is to be 
placed in the centre of the hall, facing 
the table; behind him to ftand, on an 
emmence, the orator. The hall to be 
lighted by large laftres in the centre, and 
two chandeliers at the ,extremity, &c. 
Thefe propofed improvements difcover 
tafte and judgment. . vpoveie : 
ORIGINAL 
sg ey emerges 
