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)
The main Galleries around the Central Transept, and to the south with
the exception of that on the western side toward the road, are devoted
to the exhibition and sale of articles of industry. The Picture Gallery
is in the gallery which runs over the Stationery Court and the series on
that side. The galleries on the eastern side next the garden, with the
South Gallery at the end of the building, are devoted to the exhibition
of those articles which are for sale on the spot. Amongst these will be
found precious metals and jewellery, miscellaneous ornaments, perfumery,
toys, and other articles both of use and luxury. The gallery presents a
pleasing and animated appearance, the stalls are fitted up on an elegant
and uniform plan, and the traffic at them is very considerable. At the
western end of the Great Transept the gallery is allotted for the
exhibition of manufactured articles, which are not for sale on the spot.
The collection is of a miscellaneous, though most interesting character.
On the first gallery above this will be found a most interesting
collection of drawings and models for the fountains in the Crystal
Palace, which have been furnished by Mr. M. D. Wyatt, Mr. Owen Jones
(the figures on whose designs were modelled by Signor Monti), Mr. John
Thomas, Mr. John Bell, Baron Marochetti, Baron Launitz, and Mr. Hector
Horreau. The models display much artistic treatment and inventive fancy.
If we now descend the spiral staircase to the main gallery, and proceed
through the industrial exhibition to the right-hand we shall enter the
main gallery, on this side, running toward the south end. Here is formed
THE PICTURE GALLERY.
The first portion which we enter, before reaching that part of the
gallery immediately over the Stationery Court, is appropriated to the
exhibition of photographic pictures both British and foreign, several
important water-colour pictures by the most eminent members of the two
Societies, and a selection of remarkable pastel pictures.
The long gallery which stretches from this point to the south end of the
building has been properly fitted for the exhibition of pictures. The
glass wall toward the road has been covered, and a partition wall
erected on the opposite side over the courts, excepting over the passage
ways between the courts. The light comes from the roof with duly
modified intensity, and the effect on the pictures is singularly
beneficial and clear. Thus a magnificent gallery of pictures is formed,
sweeping in one uninterrupted line, from the centre to the end of the
building, or for a distance of 700 feet. The effect is very grand and at
the same time beautiful, while the convenience and ample space will be
noticed as a contrast to many picture galleries. There are upwards of
900 pictures of the British, French, Dutch, Belgian, and German Schools,
being all by living artists, and for sale; the titles, prices, and
Painters’ names are affixed to each picture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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