DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1327#0224
224
THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS.
i-ii
THE RUINS OF THE LATE "GREAT EXHIBITION."
(FROM THE OBSERVER, DEC. 20.)
The process of clearing out the vast pile in Hyde-park still goes on—to a
spectator apparently witli great energy and
activity—but. if we'may judge of the results
at tlie end of each week, with incomprchen-
sible slowness. This arises from tlie difficulty
of measuring the effect of the continuous
labour of 200 or 300 workmen by a reference
to any ordinary standard. Wo sec hourly
vans and waggons heavily laden, from morn-
ing till dust, moving oft' from tho eastern
end of the building; we seo within whole
acres of packing-cases and bales deposited
continuously at the exit gates, which dis-
appear with great rapidity, to be succeeded
by others.
Our review of tho present state of the
building commences at the western end, all
the doors of which arc closed, and all traffic
at an. end. The two mirrors placed at the
end of the nave—said to bo the largest in the
world—still remain, reflecting the vast empty
space before them. Over an expanse of some
acres -which was formerly filled with agri-
cultural implements—nothing is now to bo
seen but an enormous bell, which was used
to clear out the workmen during the last two
months. The machinery department is the
v.ery picturo of desolation. It is so com-
pletely shut out from the rest of tho build-
ing that the sounds of active industry going
on so near at hand do not penetrate it—no
visitor enters it. The ruts and chasms in
the flooring still yawn like so many pitfalls,
the rain penetrates in many places from the
roof, rubbish is strewed about in all direc-
tions, and it is at present tho most desolate-
looking portion of the Crystal Palace. Ad-
vancing towards what v. an i.icetiously termed
the Fine Arts Court, we find the nails of
Prince Albert's model cottage, still standing;
but the inhabitants have fled, and have
carried off their household goods, even to
the smallest three-legged stool. The colonies
have not yet quite disappeared; for Canada
remains represented by her own timber in
the shape of a vast number of packing-cases
all ready for transport; and India, with the
usual jealousy which characterizes oriental
rule, has her compartments barricaded, and
is busy packing up the last remnants of the
silks and muslins, and stud's of gold and
embroidery that dazzled the eyes of so many
thousands of European visitors. The whole
of tho flooring in the western half of the
nave has been made good, and a number of
workmen arc busy upon the roof, making it
secure, as far as practicable, before the heavy
rains set in.
Within the foreign hoarding business is
proceeding with great energy and rapidity;
the floor is cumbered with piles of full,
empty, and broken-up packing-cases and
fittings; workmcu are hurrying with their j Tstatue OV
low tracks laden with goods to tho eastern j
end, and returning back by another track for !
a fresh cargo; Custom-In also officers are
busy attaching their official seals and marks;
the din of saws and hammers resounds, and
now and then a whole wall of wooden par-
tition cornea down with a crash which re-
echoes to the very extremities of the build-
ing. The objects remaining ju tho foreign
nave are now reduced to a small number.
Tho mountain of zm'c on winch her Majesty
is seated, which we find tho Custom House
authorities are so much in lov0 with that
they will not viti its passport, is tho most
prominent in size, if not in Beauty. With the
exception of the furniture court, too whole
of tho Frouch compartments on tho south
sido of tho nave aro now ompticd of their
contents. On tho north side matters are not
so far advanced. The machinery is not yet
cleared away, and thuro wo a number of
bronzo, plaster, and iron castings awaiting
their turn. Tho Aubussou room is denuded
of its wondrous tapestries, its exquisite porcelain, and its graceful
statues. That of Piiryuo, which stands at. the entrance of the teflF^I* 1
which, somehow, unaccountably received a council medal, has r W
fromjjtinie a delicate veil of cobweb, and plays off a freak of 'natural '
tho veiled vestal's "trick of art? ^j0*
this aro thrown together, v-er' . *Bj
gruously, statues of the Virgin of n**
and a satyr, a bust of Napoleon «&
dead lion, and a number of oth !
tides, chiefly of raw materials ««? s
micals, which have not yet beei
i their pla<
Adva
■cm- fu,Fi
DlOVsj
SCULPTURE,
THE MADONNA—BY JEHOTTE, OF BRUSSELS.
Tins little marble work is treated in a manner somewhat
peculiar to the Belgian school, combining great study
and laboured effects, but very little of the true insph\i
thin of ireniu=. In accordance with the doctrine of tin
Human Cathuhc Church, Mary is treated as the principal
object in the group, the infant Christ holding a sub-
sidiary position. The mother, who is represented as
bruising tho head of tho serpent, being contrary to the
orthodox and obvious meaning of tho words of .the
prophcev :—" Her seed shall bruise thy head."
ANCIENT BRITON.—BY ADAMS.
Tins liguro of an Ancient Kritou looking nut as a scout,
done iu plaster by Mr. Adams, evinces considerable spirit,
and some originality of conception.
THE ELDON GROUP.—BY WATSON.
This portrait group of tho late Lords Eldon and Stowoll
is remarkable, for the accuracy of tho likenesses, and tho
calm dignity of the attitudes, though the effect is heavy.
the foreign States we find JBelj
pletely cleared out. and the 'an\v ieS
remaining is her flag, which still ■
beside that of France in friendly (jwrl
Germany and the States of tlie Zollyerl ■'
also "under hatches;" nearly all their
tributious being packed up and ran«M ■
tiers in front of the compartments'r f
for removal. The States which lav^l
further to tho east arc all emptied of t£
contents, although they have not all left£
building, as an immense pace round the a >
door is thickly strewn with hundred-1*!
bales and packages of '.' all nations," and/jg
centre of operation, if we may ugg fa
phrase, has now been evidently removed tj
this end of the building. Among the arfioJ«
standing here are two German traveffiw
carriages in full winter costume, so pa^
and padded and muffled up that it is difficult
to ascertain their identity. Theonly organ m
remaining is Willis's, in the western gallerv.
The contributions are still pouring in fa
the intended national museum, and, so fflras
present appearances enable us to judge, the
collection will be extremely interesting and
valuable.
Government School of Mines and o?
Science .u'H.ikd TO the Acts.—Tliis valus-
bio institution has now fairly commenced its
labours. On tho 6th of "November, Sir
Henry De la Bcche delivered, in the theatre
of the institution, the inaugural address,
in which ho set forth the principles upon
which tho system of industrial education was
to be carried out, and detailed the advantage
to Art and manufacture offered by His
study of applied science. Dr. Lyon PliiVKilr,
the professor of chemistry, followed on tho
same day with an introductory lecture, directed
principally to tlie advocacy of the advant»:«
to be derived from the cultivation of abgMt
science in connection with its application*
The purpose of this lecture was evidently to
lead the public mind to the consideration^
the question of the application of the surpw
funds of the Exhibition in the direction of ^
enlarged scheme of industrial education. ...
tho following Monday Professor Edward
Forbes, to whom the chair of natural history
is assigned, delivered his introductory lectin*
ou the Advantages of the Study of HMff
History. In this lecture ho partie'W
: pointed out the advantages to be derived m
'■ the cultivation of this science in reference
i Art and Art-mamifacturc. On a future Wtf
I Sion wo hope to return to a consideration''
; this most interesting subject On Tuc= ■•'
i the 11th Professor Robert Hunt, p»ve |
introductory lecture—devoted to the p$
pose of showing the value of observani^--
connected with the pursuit of physicy ^'1-)l;
and the discovery of now facts. These i^
tares were numerously attended, an •
peared to excite much interest. Oiiop?--1
feature, in connection with this institute. ■_.
the liberal one of having placed a uu»w r
tick^s for admission to all the IcelnreM ^
hands of Mr. Redgrave for distnbuuou ..
him amougst the male and female StucW»
the School of Design, thus enabling -,
free of expense, to cultivate an arquana-
With applied science, at the same time "S ^
pursue their studies in tho art of desr-»-. ,,
learn that many of the students are ni<.
sirous of availing themselves ^ *, ° fi,Ki
nity, and arc already attending the 1«
THE CRYSTAL PALACE AND ITS CONTENTS.
i-ii
THE RUINS OF THE LATE "GREAT EXHIBITION."
(FROM THE OBSERVER, DEC. 20.)
The process of clearing out the vast pile in Hyde-park still goes on—to a
spectator apparently witli great energy and
activity—but. if we'may judge of the results
at tlie end of each week, with incomprchen-
sible slowness. This arises from tlie difficulty
of measuring the effect of the continuous
labour of 200 or 300 workmen by a reference
to any ordinary standard. Wo sec hourly
vans and waggons heavily laden, from morn-
ing till dust, moving oft' from tho eastern
end of the building; we seo within whole
acres of packing-cases and bales deposited
continuously at the exit gates, which dis-
appear with great rapidity, to be succeeded
by others.
Our review of tho present state of the
building commences at the western end, all
the doors of which arc closed, and all traffic
at an. end. The two mirrors placed at the
end of the nave—said to bo the largest in the
world—still remain, reflecting the vast empty
space before them. Over an expanse of some
acres -which was formerly filled with agri-
cultural implements—nothing is now to bo
seen but an enormous bell, which was used
to clear out the workmen during the last two
months. The machinery department is the
v.ery picturo of desolation. It is so com-
pletely shut out from the rest of tho build-
ing that the sounds of active industry going
on so near at hand do not penetrate it—no
visitor enters it. The ruts and chasms in
the flooring still yawn like so many pitfalls,
the rain penetrates in many places from the
roof, rubbish is strewed about in all direc-
tions, and it is at present tho most desolate-
looking portion of the Crystal Palace. Ad-
vancing towards what v. an i.icetiously termed
the Fine Arts Court, we find the nails of
Prince Albert's model cottage, still standing;
but the inhabitants have fled, and have
carried off their household goods, even to
the smallest three-legged stool. The colonies
have not yet quite disappeared; for Canada
remains represented by her own timber in
the shape of a vast number of packing-cases
all ready for transport; and India, with the
usual jealousy which characterizes oriental
rule, has her compartments barricaded, and
is busy packing up the last remnants of the
silks and muslins, and stud's of gold and
embroidery that dazzled the eyes of so many
thousands of European visitors. The whole
of tho flooring in the western half of the
nave has been made good, and a number of
workmen arc busy upon the roof, making it
secure, as far as practicable, before the heavy
rains set in.
Within the foreign hoarding business is
proceeding with great energy and rapidity;
the floor is cumbered with piles of full,
empty, and broken-up packing-cases and
fittings; workmcu are hurrying with their j Tstatue OV
low tracks laden with goods to tho eastern j
end, and returning back by another track for !
a fresh cargo; Custom-In also officers are
busy attaching their official seals and marks;
the din of saws and hammers resounds, and
now and then a whole wall of wooden par-
tition cornea down with a crash which re-
echoes to the very extremities of the build-
ing. The objects remaining ju tho foreign
nave are now reduced to a small number.
Tho mountain of zm'c on winch her Majesty
is seated, which we find tho Custom House
authorities are so much in lov0 with that
they will not viti its passport, is tho most
prominent in size, if not in Beauty. With the
exception of the furniture court, too whole
of tho Frouch compartments on tho south
sido of tho nave aro now ompticd of their
contents. On tho north side matters are not
so far advanced. The machinery is not yet
cleared away, and thuro wo a number of
bronzo, plaster, and iron castings awaiting
their turn. Tho Aubussou room is denuded
of its wondrous tapestries, its exquisite porcelain, and its graceful
statues. That of Piiryuo, which stands at. the entrance of the teflF^I* 1
which, somehow, unaccountably received a council medal, has r W
fromjjtinie a delicate veil of cobweb, and plays off a freak of 'natural '
tho veiled vestal's "trick of art? ^j0*
this aro thrown together, v-er' . *Bj
gruously, statues of the Virgin of n**
and a satyr, a bust of Napoleon «&
dead lion, and a number of oth !
tides, chiefly of raw materials ««? s
micals, which have not yet beei
i their pla<
Adva
■cm- fu,Fi
DlOVsj
SCULPTURE,
THE MADONNA—BY JEHOTTE, OF BRUSSELS.
Tins little marble work is treated in a manner somewhat
peculiar to the Belgian school, combining great study
and laboured effects, but very little of the true insph\i
thin of ireniu=. In accordance with the doctrine of tin
Human Cathuhc Church, Mary is treated as the principal
object in the group, the infant Christ holding a sub-
sidiary position. The mother, who is represented as
bruising tho head of tho serpent, being contrary to the
orthodox and obvious meaning of tho words of .the
prophcev :—" Her seed shall bruise thy head."
ANCIENT BRITON.—BY ADAMS.
Tins liguro of an Ancient Kritou looking nut as a scout,
done iu plaster by Mr. Adams, evinces considerable spirit,
and some originality of conception.
THE ELDON GROUP.—BY WATSON.
This portrait group of tho late Lords Eldon and Stowoll
is remarkable, for the accuracy of tho likenesses, and tho
calm dignity of the attitudes, though the effect is heavy.
the foreign States we find JBelj
pletely cleared out. and the 'an\v ieS
remaining is her flag, which still ■
beside that of France in friendly (jwrl
Germany and the States of tlie Zollyerl ■'
also "under hatches;" nearly all their
tributious being packed up and ran«M ■
tiers in front of the compartments'r f
for removal. The States which lav^l
further to tho east arc all emptied of t£
contents, although they have not all left£
building, as an immense pace round the a >
door is thickly strewn with hundred-1*!
bales and packages of '.' all nations," and/jg
centre of operation, if we may ugg fa
phrase, has now been evidently removed tj
this end of the building. Among the arfioJ«
standing here are two German traveffiw
carriages in full winter costume, so pa^
and padded and muffled up that it is difficult
to ascertain their identity. Theonly organ m
remaining is Willis's, in the western gallerv.
The contributions are still pouring in fa
the intended national museum, and, so fflras
present appearances enable us to judge, the
collection will be extremely interesting and
valuable.
Government School of Mines and o?
Science .u'H.ikd TO the Acts.—Tliis valus-
bio institution has now fairly commenced its
labours. On tho 6th of "November, Sir
Henry De la Bcche delivered, in the theatre
of the institution, the inaugural address,
in which ho set forth the principles upon
which tho system of industrial education was
to be carried out, and detailed the advantage
to Art and manufacture offered by His
study of applied science. Dr. Lyon PliiVKilr,
the professor of chemistry, followed on tho
same day with an introductory lecture, directed
principally to tlie advocacy of the advant»:«
to be derived from the cultivation of abgMt
science in connection with its application*
The purpose of this lecture was evidently to
lead the public mind to the consideration^
the question of the application of the surpw
funds of the Exhibition in the direction of ^
enlarged scheme of industrial education. ...
tho following Monday Professor Edward
Forbes, to whom the chair of natural history
is assigned, delivered his introductory lectin*
ou the Advantages of the Study of HMff
History. In this lecture ho partie'W
: pointed out the advantages to be derived m
'■ the cultivation of this science in reference
i Art and Art-mamifacturc. On a future Wtf
I Sion wo hope to return to a consideration''
; this most interesting subject On Tuc= ■•'
i the 11th Professor Robert Hunt, p»ve |
introductory lecture—devoted to the p$
pose of showing the value of observani^--
connected with the pursuit of physicy ^'1-)l;
and the discovery of now facts. These i^
tares were numerously attended, an •
peared to excite much interest. Oiiop?--1
feature, in connection with this institute. ■_.
the liberal one of having placed a uu»w r
tick^s for admission to all the IcelnreM ^
hands of Mr. Redgrave for distnbuuou ..
him amougst the male and female StucW»
the School of Design, thus enabling -,
free of expense, to cultivate an arquana-
With applied science, at the same time "S ^
pursue their studies in tho art of desr-»-. ,,
learn that many of the students are ni<.
sirous of availing themselves ^ *, ° fi,Ki
nity, and arc already attending the 1«