The Mentor: Beautiful Buildings of the World, Serial no. 33 — John Shaqi
The Mentor: Beautiful Buildings of the World, Serial no. 33Ward, Clarence
History
The Mentor: Beautiful Buildings of the World, Serial no. 33
Ward, Clarence
Architecture
Louis XIV made many alterations in the château. He ordered Mansart to
construct rooms enough for the accommodation of a large court, and the
architect, after racking his brains over the problem, cut up the roof
for projecting windows in that style which has since become known as
the Mansard roof. The principal door of the court is also Mansart's
work.
In 1793 the revolutionists sold everything of value that could be moved
from the château, and Chambord was stripped of its glory in a few days.
It has never been completely restored. Though by no means a ruin today,
the château suffers for lack of the magnificent furnishings for which
it was originally designed.
[Illustration: CITY HALL, NEW YORK]
_City Hall, New York_
SIX
With the highest buildings in the world rising in rivalry nearby,
attracting every eye because of their novelty, the New York City Hall
often escapes notice, or is given shorter consideration than its
excellent architecture and historical significance deserve. Though
it is neither large nor expensive, it is better designed and more
carefully executed than any of the older public buildings in the
country.
John McComb is generally accepted as the architect; but it would be
safer to speak of him as the builder, since most of the designing
seems to have been done by a French surveyor, Joseph Mangin. To Mangin
are probably due that shapely and dignified architecture which gives
it a place among beautiful buildings, and the skilful design of its
decorations. McComb carried out the work of building with great care,
receiving six dollars a day for his time. The construction was begun
in 1803. The first intention was to use brownstone. McComb, however,
saw that no meaner material than marble could do justice to the purpose
or the workmanship of the proposed City Hall. Accordingly he persuaded
the committee in charge to let him use marble on three sides. The
stone was hauled over from the Berkshire Hilts by horses and oxen; for
locomotives had not yet been invented.
One room of the City Hall was set aside for the State governor's
use; and it has lately been restored to the original condition. Many
excellent portraits hang on the walls. The furniture of the Governor's
Room was largely taken from Federal Hall, where Washington was
inaugurated and the city government was located before the building of
the City Hall. Federal Hall has unfortunately been destroyed. It stood
at the corner of Wall and Nassau Streets, and was built with stone from
the wall that gave Wall Street its name.
A number of years ago there was a proposal to remove the City Hall from
its present position because it was no longer large enough for the city
government and was too far from the center of Greater New York. Then,
because of its architectural merit as well as its history, such protest
was aroused that both building and park have been kept intact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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