Good Taste or Not?

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 281, 17 February 1928, Page 13

Good Taste or Not?

FURTHER VIEWS ON MUSEUM DECORATIONS TWO LETTERS—AND A REPLY r PHE letter of a correspondent signing himself “Philip of Philistia,” complaining of the bronze casting now being placed on the top-most edge of the new War Memorial Museum has stirred lip a controversy. Several leading architects yesterday gave their opinion of the work to The Sun. They did not agree with “Philip of Philistia.” We publish below letters on the subject from “Civis” and “Anthemion” and “Philip of Philistia’s” reply to his critics:

OUR “TORTURED” SKYLINE Sir, — Generally speaking 1 , Auckland has reason to be satisfied with the architecture of its public buildings. The gibes of “Philip of Philistia” are quite uncalled for, and out of place. The design of the War Memorial Museum is a noble conception. Its beauty and dignity will remain for all time a. monument to the architect who planned it, and he will have nothing to fear from the judgment of posterity. It is a matter for regret that such a splendid piece of work should be the subject of ignorant depreciation by village wits, who delight in exercising what they are pleased to call their minds, at the expense of creative work which is completely beyond their understanding. The controversy that raged in the newspapers about two years ago over the University tower is a case in point. There is nothing wrong with it. Yet no sooner was the scaffolding removed than a score of selfconstituted critics rushed into print, and told the architect that he did not know his job. The tower is quite in keeping with the design of the building, and is one of the most distinctive features of what “Philip” calls our tortured skyline. Even a Philistine should discover this in time, and perhaps there is still hope for “Philip.” CIVIS. AN “UNDESIRABLE” Sir, Your correspondent, “Philip of Philistia.,’' has ventured far into Babylon when he protests against the crowning ornament applied to the cornice of the War Memorial Museum. I was under the impression that there was a law against undesirable immigrants, but doubtless our friend from “Philistia” bluffed his way into the country in much the same way as he has attempted to bluff the more enlightened citizens of Auckland. Judging from his letter, I venture to suggest that he was undesirable, even in “Philistia.” In the first place, he describes the design of the Museum as “AmericoRoman." Ye gods! May I commend to your correspondent even the shortest and most elementary treatise on History of Architecture—or else tell him to ask Mr. Baildon or the Rev. Jasper Calder whom he so glibly calls upon. Either of these courses would enlighten him in that direction. “This wholly incongruous moulding” mouths this gentleman from “Philistia”. . . . May I suggest that he also reads any short disquisition on applied ornament, whence he will find ‘that the design of the crowning moulding in question is as purely Greek as the design of the stately building that it enriches, and with which it harmonises as a fitting terminal to a magnificent facade. Y'otir correspondent complains that this elegant finial decoration reminds him of various regrettable things. I fear that nothing can be done for him here. Possibly a psychologist—perhaps even a phrenologist. . . . “The crowning error of bad taste,” he babbles. . . . Alay I suggest, sir, that the only crowning error of bad taste is for a contentious ignoramus to write to a respected paper on a subject of which he knows nothing what- . ever. ANTHEMION.

“PHILIP” THANKS HIS SUPPORTERS Sir, The gratifying response to your inquiries in respect of my criticism of the "cresting” upon the new museum proves that these matters arouse quite a general interest. The ta,cit approval of my views is most clearly expressed by the authority who says “in the Parthenon itself the marble was overlaid with bright primary colours and bronze was used largely in the decoration.” He goes on to say that “seen in the bright sunshine these Grecian buildings were a mass of bright colours and glittering metal, which, were they introduced here, would inspire ‘Philip of Philistia’ with another outburst against barbarity.” While his facts are correct, his assumption is completely incorrect. Not being an Anglo-Saxon, I am fond of colour. The historical facts of architecture are not a trade secret of the local professionals. Nor are such modern instances as the American Radiator building iti New York, and the Government Savings Bank in Sydney (both heavily indebted to colour and decoration) unknown to the connoisseur as well as to the technician. What escapes this worthy gentleman is the fundamental difference between his description of the Parthenon and any description of the Auckland Museum. The latter is not "overlaid with primary colours,” nor is "bronze used largely in its decoration.” If its walls were finished in bright colour; if its military frieze were in bronze, bas-relief; if spirals of bronze twined around the pillars, and if glittering and heroic statuary guarded the portico, then, and then only, would it be fitting and proper to decorate the summit of the building with a cresting of bronze. As it is, the effect, and the only effect, of this decorative casting is to destroy the line of the building. To understand this it is sufficient to place a ruler over the top of the picture which appeared in The Sun, and compare the effect of the summit with and without the cresting. The question is not whether it is right or wrong to add a cresting to a building, but whether this cresting does or does not depreciate the effect of this particular building. I have, as supported by the authority quoted above, stated under what conditions the cresting would be appropriate, and simply declare that in the present case it is not appropriate. My learned friend may agree with me again when I say that possibly the only two buildings in Auckland which are entirely free from clashing principles of design and decoration are the Supreme Court and the Bank of New Zealand. He will possibly agree when I say that the gargoyles on the Supreme Court would be grossly inappropriate on the facade of the bank. Similarly, if I assert that this bronze casting, which would do no harm to either the Dilworth or the N.Z. Insurance buildings, does infinite harm to the Museum, I think he will agree that this is simply a matter for the educated opinion which we represent. PHILIP OF PHILISTIA.