The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian CourtLatham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
History
The Palace and Park: Its Natural History, and Its Portrait Gallery, Together with a Description of the Pompeian Court
Latham, R. G. (Robert Gordon)
Crystal Palace (Sydenham, London, England)
A little further on in front of the Court of Monuments of Art, we remark
two statues of Perseus; one by Cellini, and the other by Canova. That by
Cellini is characterised by a grandeur of conception and power of
execution, which place his name among those of the greatest sculptors of
his day. Cellini’s description of the casting of this statue is, in the
highest degree, interesting. Not having sufficient metal to complete it,
he threw into the furnace his metal dishes and porringers, amounting to
upwards of two hundred; after offering up a prayer to heaven in company
with his workmen, he uncovered his statue and found it thoroughly cast,
with the exception of one foot. The plaster cast in the Crystal Palace
is, we believe, the only one in the world, and was obtained through the
liberality of the Duke of Sutherland, the owner of the only bronze cast
of the original, which stands in the grand square at Florence.
We now cross the Central Transept, still keeping to the left hand or
garden side of the Nave. At the angle of the Transept will be found the
Concert Room, for the special performance of vocal, chamber, and
classical music. The room is quadrangular, but open towards the Nave,
and on three sides is surrounded by galleries. The space appropriated to
visitors on the ground floor, and which is fitted with seats, is 96 feet
square, and with the galleries is capable of accommodating about 3000
people. The Orchestra, built on the garden side of the room, will easily
accommodate 60 performers.
Around the outside of the Concert Room will be found many most
interesting busts belonging to the Portrait Gallery, mostly of the
illustrious men and women of France. Amongst them we remark Jean Goujon
(196), Félibien (203), Rachel (216), Corneille (218), Lafontaine (220
a), Molière (221), Racine (225), Voltaire (233), Le Sage (230), Buffon
(245), Cuvier (256), Bayard (257), Gaston (258), Coligny (260), Turenne
(266), Massena (279), Ney (283); busts of nearly all the generals and
statesmen of the Consulate and Empire, and of the leading men of the
Republic of 1848; three busts of Napoleon Buonaparte, which may be
advantageously compared together, and the present Emperor Louis Napoleon
(312). Close to this compartment is one of Mr. Rimmel’s fountains,
executed from a design by Mr. John Thomas. The crystal basin, Parian
marble figures, ebony pedestal, and natural flowers, harmonise
excellently. Similar scent fountains, designed with great taste by the
same artist, and supplied by Mr. Rimmel, will be found in the North and
South Transepts.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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