Studio: international art (20.1900)

The Royal Academy and Architecture

antagonistic, to- the treatment that architects at Burlington House, in perhaps one small draw-
receive from those who at present hold office in ing, which, not unfrequently, is an artificial thing
Burlington House. • by some clever perspective draughtsman. If photo-
Now, as the importance of architecture to the graphs were admissible at the Royal Academy, as
State increases with that industrial enterprise which they really should be, architects of known
tends to make life in towns ever the more ugly, names could show representations of their
we cannot but feel that the Royal Academy of Arts finished work; and the public would then have
has stirred up a conflict of opinion in which the its interest quickened by seeing in a completed
nation at large ought to take a keen interest. Even form the mouldings and the other details that
in a time much less friendly to ugliness than our architectural designs do not adequately suggest to
own is, it would be a very serious and deplorable an uninformed public, But the Royal Academy,
thing to underestimate the national value of good as though eager to discourage an invaluable art
architecture, for none can afford to see discredited, as much as possible, has decided that there is
even for a little while, any means by which a no space for photographs of good architecture,
people may express and foster its dignity of though plenty is always found for third-rate oil
character. Noble buildings, spacious and impres- paintings.

sive streets, and beautiful design and workmanship It has also decided, as is common know-
in the homes of a nation—what are these good ledge, that all the architectural drawings must
things but great thoughts materialised ? They are be framed and glazed. Why ? The answer to
manifestations of our better selves. They consti- this question is, we presume, that such drawings,
tute an unwritten form of history, so full of worthi- when sent in on workmanlike strainers, are not
ness that everybody should be anxious not merely sufficiently picturesque. But whatever the reason
to preserve it but to add constantly to its riches. may be, the result is that much work of the highest
Yet, it would almost appear that the directors of possible interest and value is exempted. In these
the Royal Academy look upon architecture as a days, when so much attention is given by
trivial province of art, for they deem it worthy of architects to interior decoration, we should like to
only one small room at their annual exhibition. see some encouragement accorded to the pro-
It is doubtless for this reason that but few duction and exhibition of drawings in which the

PIPER'S HILL, BYFLBBT, SURREY MESSRS. NIVEN AND WIGGI.ESWORTH, ARCHITECTS

architects are bold enough to send in their most
serious efforts, the space allowed being so absurdly
insufficient for the display of drawings and designs
on a large scale. The whole of an architect's
thought in a great undertaking is summed up,

colour schemes as well as the details of interior
decoration are adequately represented. The small
scale upon which such drawings are usually made
tends to mislead rather than to aid the public in
their estimation of the work.

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