,,the ,,brochure ,,series ,,of ,,architectural ,,illustration4 #aijj ,,list ,,of ,,text ,,illustrations4 ,,carving4 ,carved ,arm-piece of ,choir ,stall1 ,sixteenth ,century1 ,cathedral of ,genoa #abc ,carved ,choir ,stall1 ,modern 7#ahef7 ,baptistery1 ,pisa1 #aca ,carving1 ,detail of1 ,twelfth ,century1 ,church of ,s4 ,ginsto1 ,lucca #abg ,,cathedrals ,,of ,,england1 ,,the4 ,canterbury ,cathedral3 ,the ,choir #ahe ,chichester ,cathedral from ,northeast #ahc ,hereford ,cathedral from ,northeast #ahg ,lincoln ,cathedral3 ,the ,choir #aic ,norwich ,cathedral from ,east #ahe ,peterborough ,cathedral3 ,the ,choir #ahi ,st4 ,albans ,abbey from ,southwest #aii ,wells ,cathedral3 ,the ,choir #aig ,wells ,cathedral3 ,west ,front #aie ,winchester ,cathedral3 ,west ,front #aic ,worcester ,cathedral3 ,the ,choir #aia ,worcester ,cathedral from ,southwest #aha ,,chateau ,,of ,,chambord1 ,,the4 ,lantern of the ,great ,staircase #aea ,plan #aee ,view of ,chambord 7#aegf7 #aeg ,,chippendale ,,chairs4 ,chippendale ,chairs1 ,chinese ,pattern #gg ,chippendale ,chairs #gc1 #ge1 #gg1 #gi1 #ha1 #hc ,,ducal ,,palace3 ,,venice1 ,,italy4 ,ceiling1 ,detail of1 ,ante-,chamber of ,chapel #aci ,fireplace in ,doge's ,bed-chamber #ada ,piazetta and ,sea ,faades #acg ,,duomo ,,and ,,the ,,campanile1 ,,the4 ,,florence1 ,,italy4 ,plan #ic ,window1 ,the ,campanile #ia ,,english ,,carved ,,fireplaces4 ,mantelpiece1 ,montacute ,house #fc ,mantelpiece1 ,restoration ,house1 ,rochester #ei ,mantelpiece1 ,standish ,hall #fa ,mantelpiece1 ,stokesay ,castle #fe ,mantelpiece1 ,wraxhall ,manor #fg ,,grotesques ,,from ,,notre ,,dame1 ,,paris4 #ie1 #ig1 #ii ,,guild ,,halls ,,of ,,london1 ,,the4 ,butcher's ,hall1 ,board ,room #aba ,,house ,,of ,,jacques ,,coeur3 ,,bourges1 ,,france4 ,bird'seye ,view 7,after ,viollet-le-,duc7 #aje ,,japanese ,,gardens4 ,fukagawa1 ,detail of ,garden #bg ,hill ,garden1 ,model of #ce ,lanterns1 ,garden1 ,typical ,varieties of #ca ,merchant's ,villa ,garden1 ,detail1 ,fukagawa #bi ,model ,pine ,tree #be ,stepping ,stones1 ,arrangement of #ca1 #cc ,tea ,garden1 ,inner ,enclosure1 ,tamagawa #cc ,,louis ,,xvi4 ,,sconces4 ,douai #afa ,fontainebleau #afa1 #afc ,versailles #afa1 #afc ,,petit ,,trianon1 ,,versailles4 ,temple of ,love #eg ,,spanish ,,wrought-,,iron ,,screens4 ,chapel ,screen1 ,seville ,cathedral #da ,pulpit1 ,avila ,cathedral #dg ,screen1 ,louvre #dg ,screen1 ,zaporta ,chapel1 ,church of ,la ,seo1 ,saragossa #de ,,specimens ,,of ,,gothic ,,wood ,,carving4 ,gothic ,carved ,woodwork of the ,fifteenth and ,sixteenth ,centuries1 ,bavarian ,national ,museum1 ,munich #aaa1 #aac1 #aae ,gothic ,carved ,woodwork of ,fifteenth and ,sixteenth ,centuries1 ,germanic ,museum1 ,nuremberg #aji ,,ten ,,most ,,beautiful ,,buildings ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,city ,hall1 ,new ,york ,city #ai ,congressional ,library1 ,approach1 ,washington #aa ,madison ,square ,garden1 ,new ,york ,city #ac1 #ae ,madison ,square ,garden1 ,new ,york ,city 7,detail7 #ae ,national ,capitol1 ,washington #c1 #e ,public ,library1 ,boston1 ,entrance #g ,st4 ,patrick's ,cathedral1 ,new ,york ,city #ag ,st4 ,patrick's ,cathedral1 ,faade1 ,new ,york ,city #ag ,st4 ,patrick's ,cathedral1 ,interior1 ,new ,york ,city #ai ,trinity ,church1 ,boston #g ,trinity ,church1 ,new ,porch1 ,boston #i ,trinity ,church1 ,tower1 ,boston #i ,,twelfth ,,century ,,capitals ,,from ,,the ,,benedictine ,,monastery1 ,,monreale1 ,,sicily4 ,capitals from ,monreale #di1 #ea ,,types ,,of ,,italian ,,garden ,,fountains4 ,fountain by ,bernini1 ,villa ,borghes #ade ,fountain1 ,garden of ,vatican1 ,rome #adg ,fountain1 ,villa ,andobrandini1 ,frascati #adg ,fountain1 ,villa ,medici1 ,rome #ade ,,work ,,of ,,sir ,,christopher ,,wren4 ,greenwich ,hospital from the ,river #agc ,hampton ,court ,palace1 ,fountain ,court #agi ,kensington ,palace1 ,entrance #agc ,monument1 ,the1 ,london #aga ,st4 ,bride's ,church ,steeple3 ,london #age ,st4 ,dunstan's-in-the-,east ,steeple3 ,london #age ,st4 ,stephen's ,walbrook ,steeple3 ,london #agg ,trinity ,college ,library3 ,cambridge1 ,england #afi ,,list ,,of ,,subjects4 ,bourges3 ,house of ,jacques ,coeur #ajc ,campanile1 ,the3 ,florence1 ,italy #hg ,capitals1 ,twelfth ,century3 ,benedictine1 ,monastery1 ,monreale1 ,sicily #di ,carved ,fireplaces1 ,english #fe ,carving1 ,specimens of ,gothic ,wood #aae ,cathedrals of ,england1 ,the 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #ahc ,chairs1 ,english1 ,chippendale #ga ,chambord1 ,chateau of3 ,france #aea ,chateau of ,chambord3 ,france 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #aea ,chippendale ,chairs 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #ga ,coeur1 ,jacques1 ,house of3 ,bourges1 ,france #ajc ,competitions1 ,brochure ,series4 ,competition ,o 7,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings in the ,united ,states7 #c ,competition ,p 7,photographs for ,brochure ,series7 #aca1 #adc ,ducal ,palace1 ,the3 ,venice1 ,italy 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #ace ,duomo and the ,campanile1 ,the3 ,florence1 ,italy 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #hg ,english ,carved ,fireplaces #fe ,english ,cathedrals #ahc ,english ,chippendale ,chairs #ga ,england1 ,guild ,halls of ,london #aai ,florence1 ,italy1 ,the ,duomo and the ,campanile #hg ,fountains1 ,italian ,garden #ade1 #adg ,france1 ,the ,chateau of ,chambord #aea ,france1 ,house of ,jacques ,coeur3 ,bourges #ajc ,france1 ,petit ,trianon3 ,versailles #ee ,gardens1 ,italian ,fountain #ade1 #adg ,gardens1 ,japanese #bc ,gothic ,wood ,carving1 ,specimens of #aae ,grotesques from ,notre ,dame1 ,paris #ie ,guild ,halls of ,london1 ,england1 ,the 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #aai ,hamlin1 ,professor ,a4 ,d4 ,f4 7,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings in the ,united ,states7 #e ,house of ,jacques ,coeur3 ,bourges1 ,france 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #ajc ,italian ,garden ,fountains #ade1 #adg ,italy1 ,the ,campanile3 ,florence #hg ,italy1 ,the ,ducal ,palace3 ,venice #ace ,italy1 ,the ,duomo and the ,campanile3 ,florence #hg ,japanese ,gardens 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #bc ,london1 ,the ,guild ,halls of #aai ,louis ,,xvi4 ,sconces #afa ,monreale1 ,sicily1 ,twelfth ,century ,capitals from the ,benedictine ,monastery #di ,notre ,dame1 ,paris1 ,grotesques from #ie ,paris3 ,grotesques from ,notre ,dame #ie ,petit ,trianon1 ,the3 ,versailles 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #ce ,sconces1 ,louis ,,xvi #afa ,screens1 ,spanish ,wrought-,iron #ci ,sir ,christopher ,wren1 ,work of #afg ,spanish ,wrought-,iron ,screens 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #ci ,specimens of ,gothic ,wood ,carving #aae ,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings in the ,united ,states1 ,the ,a discussion by ,prof4 ,a4 ,d4 ,f4 ,hamlin #e ,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings in the ,united ,states1 ,the 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #c ,twelfth ,century ,capitals from the ,benedictine ,monastery1 ,monreale1 ,sicily #di ,types of ,italian ,garden ,fountains #ade1 #adg ,united ,states1 ,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings in the #c ,venice1 ,italy1 ,the ,ducal ,palace #ace ,versailles1 ,france3 ,the ,petit ,trianon #ee ,wood ,carving1 ,gothic #aae ,work of ,sir ,christopher ,wren 7,see ,list of ,plates7 #afg ,wren1 ,sir ,christopher1 ,work of #afg ,wrought-,iron ,screens1 ,spanish #ci ,illustration3 ,,plate ,i ,,national ,,capitol1 ,,washington ,,the ,,brochure ,,series ,,of ,,architectural ,,illustration4 #aijj4 ,,january ,no4 #a4 ,,the ,,ten ,,most ,,beautiful ,,buildings ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,during the ,autumn of the past year a voting contest was proposed to the readers of ,,the ,,brochure ,,series with the object of determining by the consensus of votes1 which1 in their opinion1 were the ,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings now existing in the ,united ,states4 ,the only condition imposed was that no reader should enter more than one list4 ,a lively interest was taken in the contest1 and over two hundred votes were received1--the voters being almost entirely either architects or professed students of architecture4 ,the following ten buildings1 named in the order of preference1 are those which received the greatest number of votes in this contest2 and the appended percentages show approximately what proportion of the total number of votes each received3-- ,i4 ,,national ,,capitol1 ,,washington4 ,hallet1 ,thornton1 ,hadfield1 ,hoban1 ,latrobe1 ,bulfinch1 ,walter and ,clark1 ,architects4 ,about #ii4 ,,ii4 ,,boston ,,public ,,library1 ,,boston4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white1 ,architects4 ,about #ig4 ,,iii4 ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,boston4 ,gambrel ,richardson1 ,architects4 ,about #if4 ,,iv4 ,,congressional ,,library1 ,,washington4 ,smithmeyer1 ,peltz and ,edward ,p4 ,casey1 ,architects4 ,about #ge4 ,v4 ,,columbia ,,university ,,library1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white1 ,architects4 ,about #gj4 ,,vi4 ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,richard ,upjohn1 ,architect4 ,about #ee4 ,,vii4 ,,madison ,,square ,,garden1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white1 ,architects4 ,about #de4 ,,viii4 ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,cathedral1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,james ,renwick1 ,architect4 ,about #ce4 ,,ix4 ,,biltmore ,,house1 ,,biltmore1 ,n4,c4 ,r4 ,m4 ,hunt1 ,architect4 ,about #bi4 ,x4 ,,city ,,hall1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,mangin and ,macomb1 ,architects4 ,about #bi4 ,illustration3 ,,national ,,capitol ,,washington ,in the article which follows1 ,prof4 ,a4 ,d4 ,f4 ,hamlin comments upon the above list1 and draws some interesting conclusions from the comparison of it with a similar list1 compiled fifteen years ago in the same way by the readers of ,the ,american ,architect4 ,the announcement of the award of the prizes in this ,competition will be found on the publishers' page of this issue4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,ii ,,boston ,,public ,,library1 ,,boston ,,the ,,ten ,,most ,,beautiful ,,buildings4 ,a ,,discussion ,,of ,,the ,,vote ,,by ,a4 ,d4 ,f4 ,,hamlin1 ,,professor ,,of ,,architecture1 ,,cornell ,,university2 ,,author ,,of ,,hamlin',s ,,history ,,of ,,architecture4 ,a final and absolute verdict upon the relative merits of works of art is in most cases an impossibility4 ,since there is no such thing as an absolute objective standard of comparison for all works of a given class1 the personal equation and the time equation must always enter largely into critical estimates by individuals or groups of individuals4 ,least of all are we likely to pass correct judgments on contemporary works1 because we measure them wholly or mainly by the dominant taste or fashion of our time1 instead of by that larger experience and more impartial judgment which comes with the lapse of decades and centuries4 ,when1 however1 a large number of intelligent and presumably competent critics are found in agreement as to the merits or defects of a given work1 it is safe to conclude that there is some ground for the verdict2 and when the agreement extends to a number of buildings 7in the verdict about to be discussed we are dealing with buildings7 it is reasonable to draw definite inferences as to the grounds of the agreement1 both in relation to the works so judged and in relation to the view-point and taste of those who have pronounced the opinion4 ,illustration3 ,,national ,,capitol ,,washington ,of course in such a vote as that by ,,the ,,brochure readers on the ,ten ,most ,beautiful ,buildings in the ,united ,states1 the result can only be a composite1--a consensus reached by the fusing together and averaging of a great number of widely diverse estimates4 ,the very terms of the vote will be variously interpreted according as the expression the most beautiful building is made to apply to the exterior alone1 or to the plan1 the decorative detail1 the scale1 or other elements of architectural design1 or to include all2 and according to the varying values assigned to dignity1 simplicity1 richness1 grandeur1 refinement1 and other qualities1 by the several voters4 ,but1 having made all these allowances1 there is much instruction and suggestion in the vote1 both as to the tendencies of taste among the constituency of ,,the ,,brochure ,,series1 and as to the progress and tendencies of ,american architecture1 especially in the light of the vote of #ahhe in ,the ,american ,architect4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,iii ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,boston ,as a preface to the comments about to be made on these tendencies1 it is in order to present a few statistics with regard to the vote and the buildings voted on4 ,in these ,i shall call the ,,brochure',s list of the ten buildings receiving the highest number of votes the ,first list2 the supplementary list of the ten coming next in popularity1 the ,second list1 and that published in ,the ,american ,architect in #ahhe1 the #ahhe list4 7,the ,second and the #ahhe lists are printed on page #ag47 ,illustration3 ,,boston ,,public ,,library1 ,,entrance ,,boston ,a comparison of the styles represented in these three lists is interesting1 after making all allowances for doubtful classifications of some of the examples4 ,i4 7a7 ,,renaissance ,,group3 ,,first4 ,,second4 #ahhe4 ,classic #b #a #a ,french #c #b #a ,italian #b #b #j ,spanish #j #a #j ,modern ,american #j #a #j 7b7 ,,medi,,val ,,group3 ,romanesque #a #b #e ,gothic #b #a #c -- -- -- #aj #aj #aj ,the percentages of the total number of votes won by buildings in the different styles in the ,first list were as follows3 ,classic #af4i ,french #ae4f ,italian #ab4j ,romanesque #i4f ,gothic #i4j ---- #fc4a ,these percentages are only approximate1 and the apportionment would vary with a different classification2 but they show1 in a rough way1 that the ten buildings ranking highest received about #fc per cent of all the votes1 and that the seven in the ,renaissance group obtained #dd4e per cent of all the votes4 ,illustration3 ,,trinity ,,church ,,boston ,comparing next the classes of buildings represented1 we have this result3 ,,first4 ,,second4 #ahhe4 ,,ii4 ,government ,buildings1 #b #c #f ,churches #c #j #b ,libraries #c #j #j ,museums #j #b #j ,club ,houses #j #b #j ,hotels #j #a #j ,private ,houses #a #a #a ,amusement ,buildings #a #j #j ,commercial ,buildings #j #a #j ,educational #j #j #a -- -- -- #aj #aj #aj ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,iv ,,congressional ,,library1 ,,washington ,comparing the geographical distribution1 we have3 ,,first4 ,,second4 #ahhe4 ,,iii4 ,new ,york ,city #e #d #c ,washington #b #a #a ,boston #b #j #a ,biltmore1 ,n4,c4 #a #j #j ,chicago #j #a #j ,albany #j #a #b ,st4 ,augustine #j #a #j ,pittsburgh #j #a #j ,hartford #j #a #a ,cambridge #j #j #a ,north ,easton #j #j #a -- -- -- #aj #aj #aj ,of the ten buildings in the #ahhe list but three appear in the ,first list1 and two in the ,second2 so that only five of the ten buildings adjudged in #ahhe to be the most beautiful in the ,united ,states are included in the twenty given the leading rank in #ahii by the ,,brochure readers4 ,of these twenty1 six in the ,first list and five in the ,second have been built since the #ahhe vote4 ,of the remaining four in the ,first list1 three1 as we have seen1 figure in that of #ahhe2 the fourth--the ,new ,york ,city ,hall--was not in #ahhe considered worthy of a place among the ten--a significant suggestion as to changing tastes since that date4 ,illustration3 ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,tower ,,boston ,the first and most obvious conclusion to be drawn from the above statistics is that ,american architects1 so far as they are represented in the ,,brochure vote1 have no hide-bound traditions or ingrained prejudices as to style4 ,there is in the list selected by them a preponderance1 it is true1 of buildings in the various styles of the ,renaissance and ,classic ,revival--seven out of ten4 ,but the third in the list1 with #if per cent of unanimity in its favor1 is a ,romanesque building1 ,trinity ,church1 ,boston4 ,two others1 standing sixth and eighth1 are ,gothic1--,trinity and ,st4 ,patrick's ,churches in ,new ,york4 ,the remaining seven1 although they may all be included under a broad extension of the term ,renaissance1 exhibit wide divergencies of style4 ,the ,capitol at ,washington and the ,columbia ,library represent two different phases of the ,classic ,revival1 nearly a century apart in date2 the ,new ,york ,city ,hall1 a version of the style of ,louis ,,xvi4 ,the ,boston ,public ,library was avowedly inspired from the no-,grec ,bibliothque ,st4 ,genvive of ,labrouste1 as far as its faades are concerned1 and yet differs from that building more than it resembles it2 and although1 in the foregoing tables1 both this and the ,biltmore mansion are classified as in the ,french ,renaissance style1 they are really much farther apart than the classic ,capitol and the ,louis ,seize ,city ,hall4 ,the ,congressional ,library follows ,italian rather than ,french precedents1 and the ,madison ,square ,garden suggests both ,italian and ,spanish prototypes4 ,evidently our architects are not bound by allegiance to any one style or kind of beauty1 but are ready to find subjects for admiration in buildings of the most diverse character1 and to recognize beauty alike in pointed and round arches1 in domes and in spires1 in acanthus leaves and crockets1 in new buildings and in old4 ,this catholicity of taste is interesting1 and on the whole hopeful1 for it suggests the ability and readiness to appreciate realities instead of names1 style rather than any particular historic dress1 essentials rather than externals2--an eclecticism which recognizes beauty1 quality1 excellence1 wherever they can be found1 and adopts what is best without regard to names or categories4 ,and if we consider the buildings themselves1 instead of the motives of the voters1 the same statistics indicate1 as we might expect1 a like catholicity of taste in the designs of recent ,american buildings1 and--what is more to the point--a conspicuous measure of success in fusing together and adapting to modern ,american needs the multifarious suggestions of the historic styles1 so that the results are neither copies nor patchwork1 but consistent1 intelligent and harmonious units4 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,porch1 ,,trinity ,,church ,,boston ,taking next the second comparative table1 we find that in the ,first and ,second lists taken together1 #bj per cent of the names are those of government or administrative buildings2 #ae per cent are churches1 with the same number of libraries 7three of each1 all on the ,first list74 ,there are two each of museums1 club houses and private residences2 and one each of office buildings1 hotels1 and amusement houses4 ,here again we encounter the same breadth of judgment as in the first comparison4 ,the ,,brochure readers1 and presumably our architects generally1 are willing to discover beauty alike in public1 private1 religious1 and commercial architecture4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,v ,,columbia ,,university ,,library1 ,,new ,,york ,,city ,it is a significant fact that churches and libraries constitute #fj per cent of the ,first list1 and that there is but one residence1 and not a single commercial edifice among the ten buildings it enumerates4 ,apparently it is religion and education which inspire and call forth the highest results in architecture1 rather than the private and commercial luxury of which we hear so much in these days4 ,if to these sources of architectural inspiration we add that of civil government1 it appears that we owe #hj per cent of the ,first list to government1 religion and education--the three highest activities of the community4 ,this is not merely due to the fact that the architectural requirements of churches and civic buildings are such as favor monumental results2 for both in size and cost1 and hence in the opportunity for an ample and sumptuous architectural treatment1 these are often surpassed by banking and office buildings1 private palaces and rich men's clubs4 ,the presence of three truly magnificent public libraries of recent erection in the ,first list seems to me particularly encouraging1 as a symptom of the extent to which the wealth of the country is being devoted to the higher interests of the people1 and at the same time to the promotion of high art4 ,that this is a correct symptom1 is confirmed by such buildings1 erected or about to be erected1 as the ,chicago ,library1 the magnificent ,new ,york ,public ,library1 the new libraries at ,milwaukee1 ,providence1 ,newark1 ,n4,j41 ,jersey ,city1 and ,washington2 by the ,art ,museum at ,chicago1 the ,corcoran ,gallery at ,washington1 the new wing to the ,metropolitan ,museum at ,new ,york1 the ,phebe ,hearst competition for the ,university of ,california1 and other like enterprises4 ,the most important architectural enterprises in ,new ,york today are the ,cathedral of ,st4 ,john the ,divine and the vast palace of the ,brooklyn ,institute1 of which a new wing is about to be erected4 ,evidently our art has not fallen wholly a prey to commercialism and private luxury4 ,the geographical distribution of the buildings chosen is interesting4 ,in #ahhe but three out of ten were in ,new ,york ,city1 and ,albany stood ahead of ,boston4 ,in the ,first list ,new ,york has one-half of the ten1 and in the ,first and ,second lists1 jointly1 nine out of twenty buildings4 ,boston and ,washington divide the second place1 with two each on the ,first list4 ,in the two lists together there are nine cities and towns represented1 of which five are in the northeastern states1 with fourteen out of twenty buildings2 one in the nearer west 7,chicago72 and three in the south 7if we include ,washington among southern cities74 ,of course the fact that ,new ,york1 ,boston and ,washington are old cities1 as cities go among us1 counts for much in the way of maturity of civilization and accumulation of architectural resources2 and it is only natural that the wealthiest city in the ,new ,world should possess the greatest number of important buildings4 ,but it is also very possible that the majority of the ,,brochure readers are in the northern and eastern states1 and therefore more familiar with eastern and northern than with southern and western buildings4 ,allowing for this1 they may draw their own conclusions from this table4 ,illustration3 ,,congressional ,,library1 ,,approach ,,washington ,if now1 we turn to inquire what are the qualities which have won for these buildings a place on this list1 and to what tendencies1 either of progress or retrogression1 do the votes point1 two facts stand out very clearly4 ,the first is1 that each of the ten buildings1 whatever its style or purpose1 represents a conception clearly thought out1 simply and forcibly expressed1 and treated with monumental dignity1 quite irrespectively of the amount or richness of its decoration4 ,the second is1 that there has in recent years been a notable advance in all that concerns the interior decoration of important buildings4 ,in #ahgg ,trinity ,church in ,boston stood alone as an example of really high art in interior decoration4 ,the three most recent buildings on the list--all three by the way1 public libraries--are conspicuous instances of the sumptuous and dignified treatment of interior design1 with the help of all the resources of decorative art2 and here again1 other buildings now being erected or about to be built confirm this conclusion1 that our architects and the public are beginning to appreciate the importance both of the interior design of a building and of the collaboration of all the arts1--as for instance1 in the new ,appellate ,court in ,new ,york4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,vi ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,new ,,york ,,city ,comparing the list of #ahii with that of #ahhe1 the progress of our national architecture in fourteen years becomes very evident4 ,the ,united ,states ,capitol and the ,trinity ,churches in ,new ,york and ,boston are the only buildings common to both lists4 ,six of the buildings on the ,,brochure list were1 in #ahhe1 either incomplete or not yet begun3 these are the ,boston1 ,congressional and ,columbia ,libraries1 the ,madison ,square ,garden1 ,st4 ,patrick's ,cathedral and the ,biltmore residence4 ,the ,cathedral1 however1 wanted only its spires2 but its appearance on the ,,brochure list is undoubtedly due to the spires more than any other element in its design4 ,in #ahhe ,mr4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson was the one bright and particular star on the architectural horizon in the ,united ,states3 one-half of the #ahhe list of buildings were his work4 ,only one of these remains on the new list1--,trinity ,church in ,boston1 doubtless on the whole his greatest work4 ,the style which he made his own1 and which was then at the height of popular favor1 borne on the wave of admiration for the real strength and originality of his works1 has waned1 as all fashions must wane which are not the result of a spontaneous movement of taste1 but ride into favor on the back of some passing whim or on the merit of the achievements of some one person or coterie4 ,no architectural period can be truly great that depends upon one man or set of men for its great works4 ,it is perhaps not amiss to say a few words regarding buildings of secondary merit and of minor importance in cost and size4 ,these may be as significant criteria of architectural taste and progress as those most conspicuous for grandeur and beauty4 ,it is quite possible for the architectural energy of one place or period to be concentrated on a small number of great works1 and for an equal amount of energy and ability in another place or period to be expended on a larger number of less important buildings4 ,the average quality of our architecture1 and the quality of our ordinary every-day architecture1 are perhaps as important as that of the ten most beautiful buildings2 and the fact that the west and south have so small a representation in the ,,brochure lists by no means argues a corresponding deficiency of good architecture4 ,yet after all1 when all is said1 the great and noble buildings1 the highest and grandest triumphs of architecture are the only ones which profoundly affect the imaginations and kindle the artistic aspirations of men2 and when a community becomes so pervaded with the artistic spirit that works of art furnish the readiest1 most natural and complete expression of its ideals and enthusiasms1 great works will result whenever there are enthusiasms and ideals worthy of monumental expression4 ,from this point of view the ,columbian and ,omaha ,expositions1 and the ,new ,york ,naval ,arch of ,triumph--which1 owing to their transitory and temporary character1 no doubt1 have found no place on the ,,brochure lists--seem to me in the highest degree significant and encouraging4 ,and the public libraries1 ,st4 ,john's ,cathedral and the ,phebe ,hearst competition are further evidence in the same direction4 ,illustration3 ,,madison ,,square ,,garden ,,new ,,york ,,city ,a word might also be said for certain buildings which found no place on either the ,first or ,second list1 but which competent critics might assign to one or the other list in preference to some that appear on them4 ,there is for instance1 ,mr4 ,richardson's ,woburn ,library1 which some consider his most beautiful work next to ,trinity ,church2 the new ,state ,capitols of ,minnesota and ,rhode ,island 7the latter not quite finished72 the ,treasury ,building and ,white ,house at ,washington2 the ,temple ,emmanuel2 the ,metropolitan ,life ,building2 ,metropolitan ,club and ,cornelius ,vanderbilt's residence in ,new ,york2 the ,university group at ,charlottesville1 ,va42 the ,omaha ,exposition and the ,dewey ,arch4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,vii ,,madison ,,square ,,garden1 ,,new ,,york ,,city ,but the task assigned me was the discussion of the ,,brochure lists1 not of other possible lists2 and ,i close with the suggestion that a vote every ten or every five years would afford a most valuable and interesting gauge of the movements of taste and of the progress of architecture in the ,united ,states4 ,illustration3 ,,madison ,,square ,,garden ,,new ,,york ,,city ,the following list names1 in order of preference1 those ten buildings which received the highest number of votes after the first ten named in the list given on page #c4 ,i4 ,,corcoran ,,art ,,gallery1 ,,washington1 ,d4,c4 ,ernest ,flagg1 ,architect4 ,,ii4 ,,house ,,of ,w4 ,k4 ,,vanderbilt1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,richard ,m4 ,hunt1 ,architect4 ,,iii4 ,,fine ,,arts ,,building1 ,,chicago1 ,,ill4 ,charles ,b4 ,atwood1 ,architect4 ,,iv4 ,,new ,,york ,,state ,,capitol1 ,,albany1 ,n4,y4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson and others1 ,architects4 ,v4 ,,hotel ,,ponce ,,de ,,leon1 ,,st4 ,,augustine1 ,,fla4 ,messrs4 ,carrre and ,hastings1 ,architects4 ,,vi4 ,,court ,,house ,,and ,,jail1 ,,pittsburgh1 ,,pa4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson1 ,architect4 ,,vii4 ,,century ,,club1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white1 ,architects4 ,,viii4 ,,state ,,capitol1 ,,hartford1 ,,conn4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson1 ,architect4 ,,ix4 ,,american ,,surety ,,building1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,bruce ,price1 ,architect4 ,x4 ,,university ,,club1 ,,new ,,york ,,city4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white1 ,architects4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in #ahhe1 fourteen years ago1 the readers of ,the ,american ,architect 7,boston7 were invited to name1 by a consensus of votes1 their choice of the then most beautiful buildings in ,america4 ,the voting resulted in a list of the following ten buildings3-- ,i4 ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,boston4 ,gambrill ,richardson1 ,architects4 ,,ii4 ,,united ,,states ,,capitol1 ,,washington1 ,d4,c4 ,hallet1 ,thornton1 ,hadfield1 ,hoban1 ,latrobe1 ,bulfinch1 ,walter and ,clark1 ,architects4 ,,iii4 ,,house ,,of ,w4 ,k4 ,,vanderbilt1 ,,new ,,york4 ,r4 ,m4 ,hunt1 ,architect4 ,,iv4 ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,new ,,york4 ,richard ,upjohn1 ,architect4 ,v4 ,,jefferson ,,market ,,court-,,house1 ,,new ,,york4 ,f4 ,c4 ,withers1 ,architect4 ,,vi4 ,,state ,,capitol1 ,,hartford1 ,,conn4 ,richard ,upjohn1 ,architect4 ,,vii4 ,,city ,,hall1 ,,albany1 ,n4,y4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson1 ,architect4 ,,viii4 ,,sever ,,hall1 ,,cambridge1 ,,mass4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson1 ,architect4 ,,ix4 ,,state ,,capitol1 ,,albany1 ,n4,y4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson and others1 ,architects4 ,x4 ,,town ,,hall1 ,,north ,,easton1 ,,mass4 ,h4 ,h4 ,richardson1 ,architect4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,madison ,,square ,,garden1 ,,detail ,,new ,,york ,,city ,the ,,capitol ,,at ,,washington is #gea feet in length and #aba to #cbd feet wide1 consisting of a main edifice of sandstone1 painted white1 and of two wings of white marble1 and covers an area of #c-a_/b acres4 ,the site was selected by a ,french engineer1 ,peter ,charles ,l',enfant in #agia1 and the design for the first building--a compromise between the plans of ,stephen ,hallet and ,dr4 ,william ,thornton1--was chosen by competition in #agib4 ,in #agie ,george ,hadfield was placed in charge of the work1 and was succeeded in #agih by ,james ,hoban1 neither of whom made important changes in ,thornton's designs4 ,in #ahad the building consisted of two small wings connected by a wooden bridge2 and in that year the structure was damaged by fire set by the ,british4 ,benjamin ,henry ,latrobe1 who was appointed in #ahjc1 continued in charge until #ahag1 when he resigned1 turning over his post and plans to ,charles ,bulfinch of ,boston1--the first ,american-born architect of the ,capitol4 ,bulfinch completed the central structure1 and crowned it with the original low dome4 ,in #ahbh the old capitol was substantially completed1 and the office of architect abolished4 ,in #ahdc1 it being necessary to enlarge the former structure1 plans were advertised for1 and in #ahej those of ,t4 ,u4 ,walter of ,philadelphia were accepted4 ,the additions made the old dome look insignificant1 and ,walter designed the present one1 which was completed in #ahfc4 ,the terraces and the approaches1 begun in #ahhb1 are the work of ,edward ,clark4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,viii ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,cathedral1 ,,new ,,york ,,city ,the ,,boston ,,public ,,library1 begun in #ahhh1 was completed in #ahie4 ,the building is #bbe feet long1 #bbg feet deep1 and #gj feet in height from the sidewalk to the top of the cornice4 ,the material of which the exterior is constructed is grayish-white ,milford granite4 ,although the architects of this building were officially the firm of ,messrs4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white of ,new ,york ,city1 the senior member1 ,mr4 ,mc,kim1 was the actual architect4 ,charles ,follen ,mc,kim was born in ,pennsylvania in #ahdg4 ,he studied at the ,harvard ,scientific ,school1 in a ,new ,york architect's office1 and in a ,parisian atelier connected with the ,ecole des ,beaux-,arts4 ,william ,rutherford ,mead was born in ,brattleboro1 ,vt41 in #ahdf1 and graduated from ,amherst ,college in #ahfg4 ,for some years he studied in an architect's office in ,new ,york1 and then went to ,paris1 studying there and elsewhere in ,europe4 ,stanford ,white was born in ,new ,york ,city in #ahec4 ,he grew up in the office of ,gambrill ,richardson1 and between #ahgh and #ahhj studied in ,europe4 ,the present firm of ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white was formed in #ahhj4 ,illustration3 ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,cathedral ,,new ,,york ,,city ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,boston1 ,henry ,hobson ,richardson1 architect1 was completed in #ahgg4 ,it is in the shape of a ,latin ,cross with a semi-circular apse added to the eastern arm4 ,a central tower1 #baa feet high1 rises from piers at the crossing of the nave and transepts4 ,the chapel is connected with the main structure by an open cloister4 ,the extreme width of the church is #aba feet2 the extreme length1 #afj4 ,the material employed in the body of the structure is ,dedham granite1 with brown freestone trimmings1 and it is roofed with red tiles4 ,the porch1 shown in the small view on page #i1 was contemplated in ,mr4 ,richardson's original design1 and was added in #ahig-h from his sketches1 by his successors1 ,messrs4 ,shepley1 ,rutan ,coolidge of ,boston4 ,henry ,hobson ,richardson was born in ,louisiana in #ahch4 ,he was educated at ,harvard1 and matriculated in #ahei1 and immediately after his graduation went to ,paris to study architecture4 ,a year later he was admitted to the ,ecole des ,beaux-,arts1 studying in the atelier of ,andr4 ,during the war his father lost his property1 and ,richardson was forced to support himself by working as a draughtsman in the offices of ,french architects2 and it was only in #ahfe that he returned1 and chose ,new ,york as the place in which to try his fortunes4 ,his first commission1 won in competition for the design of a church in ,springfield1 ,mass41 came to him only after he had been a year at home1 but this brought other work2 and by #ahff he was fairly launched in professional life4 ,in #ahfg he entered partnership with ,charles ,gambrill in ,new ,york4 ,after the dissolution of this partnership in #ahgh1 he removed to ,brookline1 ,mass41 and there he remained until his death in #ahhf4 ,,the ,,congressional ,,library1 ,,washington4 ,in #ahgc ,congress passed a bill inviting plans in competition for the proposed building1 and those of ,messrs4 ,john ,l4 ,smithmeyer and ,paul ,j4 ,peltz1 both of ,washington1 were selected4 ,but between the years #ahgd1 when they were officially recognized as architects of the building1 and #ahhf1 when ,congress finally appropriated money to begin it1 they had to endure great political pressure1 and their plans underwent many modifications and improvements4 ,finally in #ahhf1 after a bitter fight1 they were installed as architects of the new building4 ,before the structure had risen above the foundations1 however1 a new act of ,congress repealed all that had previously been legislated about the building1 and put its construction under the sole control of the chief engineer of the army1 ,general ,casey4 ,mr4 ,smithmeyer was discharged as architect1 but his partner1 the artistic member of the firm1 ,mr4 ,peltz1 was retained4 ,in the spring of #ahib1 when the structure had reached little more than half its intended height1 ,mr4 ,peltz's connection with the work ceased2 and he was succeeded by ,mr4 ,edward ,p4 ,casey of ,new ,york1 who continued as architect of the building until its completion in ,february1 #ahig4 ,the library is #dgj feet long and #cdj deep1 and occupies1 exclusive of approaches1 three and three-fourths acres4 ,,columbia ,,university ,,library was completed in #ahih4 ,the architects are ,messrs4 ,mc,kim1 ,mead ,white1 who have been referred to above4 ,illustration3 ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,cathedral1 ,,facade ,,new ,,york ,,city ,,trinity ,,church1 ,,new ,,york ,,city1 was finished in #ahdh4 ,richard ,upjohn1 its architect1 born at ,shaftsbury1 ,eng41 in #ahjb1 was given a common-school education1 and afterwards apprenticed to a builder1 and engaged in this occupation until #ahbi1 when he emigrated to ,america1 settling in ,new ,bedford1 ,mass4 ,here he pursued his trade until #ahcc1 when he went to ,boston1 and made some architectural drawings for a city court-house4 ,he thereafter continued the practice of architecture with increasing reputation1 until1 in #ahci1 he was called upon to rebuild ,trinity ,church1 ,new ,york1 which work gained him a national reputation as a church architect4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,,ix ,,biltmore ,,house1 ,,biltmore1 ,n4,c4 ,,madison ,,square ,,garden1 ,,new ,,york ,,city1 ,mc,kim1 ,meade ,white1 architects1 is #dfe feet long and #bjj feet wide1 and its walls are #fe feet high4 ,the roof is nearly flat1 but the sky-lines are broken by a colonnade which rises above the roof at the ,madison ,square ,avenue end1 and extends along either side for #ajj feet1 by six open cupolas with semi-spherical domes1 which rise above the colonnade1 by two towers at the ,fifth ,avenue corner1 and by a great square tower which rises from the ,twenty-sixth ,street side with its lines unbroken for #bdi feet1 and then in a series of open cupolas4 ,along the ,madison ,avenue end1 and extending along either side for a distance of #aej feet is an open arcade1 which covers the sidewalk1 and the roof of which rests upon pillars of polished granite and piers of brick4 ,the top of the arcade is laid out as a promenade4 ,on the top of the tower is poised a heroic figure of ,diana1 #ccb feet from the sidewalk1 designed by ,st4 ,gaudens4 ,the materials of the building are buff brick and terra-cotta4 ,it was completed in #ahij4 ,illustration3 ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,cathedral1 ,,interior ,,new ,,york ,,city ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,cathedral1 ,,new ,,york ,,city1 was opened in #ahgi1 although the spires were not finished until #ahhg4 ,built of white marble1 its main dimensions are3 length #cjf feet1 breadth1 including chapels #abj feet1 length of transepts #adj feet1 height of nave #ajh feet4 ,the principal front on ,fifth ,avenue consists of a gable1 #aef feet in height1 flanked by twin spires1 #ccj feet high4 ,james ,renwick1 the architect1 was born in ,new ,york ,city in #ahah4 ,at the age of sixteen he graduated from ,columbia ,college1 and1 following an inherited taste1 entered the engineering department of the ,croton ,aqueduct4 ,his training in architecture was entirely self-acquired4 ,he early manifested a fondness for the ,gothic style1 and as there were then no ,gothic buildings of merit in ,america1 his knowledge of it was derived entirely from books4 ,with such scanty preparation he designed ,grace ,church in ,new ,york4 ,later1 ,mr4 ,renwick travelled in ,europe1 and became still more impressed with the beauty of ,gothic architecture4 ,in #aheh the corner-stone of ,st4 ,patrick's ,cathedral was laid1 and it was mainly through this church that his reputation as an architect was established4 ,it was his life work2 he regarded it as his favorite child1 and never ceased to grieve that his original plan1 which contemplated a central lantern and a chevet1 and which would have covered the entire block between ,fifth and ,madison ,avenues1 had been cut down for reasons of economy4 ,mr4 ,renwick died in #ahie4 ,,biltmore ,,house1 at ,,biltmore1 ,n4,c41 the residence of ,mr4 ,george ,vanderbilt1 was completed in #ahig4 ,its main general dimensions are1 #aeb by #cgc feet4 ,indiana limestone was used in its construction4 ,richard ,m4 ,hunt1 its architect1 was born in ,brattleboro1 ,vt41 in #ahbg4 ,he graduated from the ,boston ,high ,school in #ahdc1 and in the same year1 having already chosen his profession1 he went to ,europe4 ,in #ahde he entered the atelier of ,hector ,lefuel in ,paris1 and for nine years pursued his studies at the ,ecole des ,beaux-,arts4 ,in #ahed his patron having been put in charge of the new work on the ,louvre1 ,hunt was appointed inspector1 and under ,lefuel designed the ,pavillion de la ,bibliothque4 ,in #ahee he returned to ,new ,york1 and began his ,american career1 toward #ahgj taking up the class of work by which he is best known4 ,he died at ,newport in #ahie4 ,illustration3 ,,city ,,hall ,,new ,,york ,,city ,the third and present ,,city ,,hall ,,of ,,new ,,york ,,city was projected in #ahjb1 when a premium was publicly offered for the best design4 ,the award was given to ,messrs4 ,mangin 7a ,frenchman7 and ,macomb1--architects concerning whom very little authentic information is obtainable4 ,it was finished in #ahab4 ,the corner-stone of the building was laid by ,mayor ,edward ,livingstone4 ,the building consists of a central structure of two stories and an attic1 surmounted by a cupola1 and two wings of two stories each4 ,the architects' original design provided a pediment for the base of the cupola1 showing the city arms and bas-reliefs4 ,the ,city ,hall1 when cross-sectioned1 north and south1 resembles the ,register office in ,edinburgh1 designed by the ,brothers ,adam4 ,the front and sides are of white marble1 with brown freestone basement4 ,freestone was used for the rear because the building then stood so far out of town that it was thought not worth while to build it of marble4 ,a broad flight of steps leads from the south to an ,ionic colonnade4 ,the cupola is surmounted by a statue of ,justice4 ,illustration3 ,,plate ,x ,,city ,,hall1 ,,new ,,york ,,city ,transcriber's ,note3 ,italics are indicated by underscores4 ,small capitals have been rendered in full capitals4 ,a number of minor spelling errors have been corrected without note4