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171
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dub. ne ^ t story contains at least one billiard-room, somer Qf)|n 0I,S °-S have two; in many clubs also there is a smoking-Vsnts' ° n * be "PP er story are sleeping chambers for the ser-tlif, , ' v * 10 ''eside on the premises. The basement containsdetail U l * omest ' u offices; and, as may be supposed, every" «<£*£ Coaaected with the important department of theTbg***. ’ s most perfect.
general aljove sketirli will give the reader some idea of theto d ‘ . a . ri!ln S e ments of a club-house ; we shall now proceedIl'ich i 6 raore particularly a few of those splendid edificesItal;,.,, lave been, by some, compared to the Palazzi of
’P, n cities. J
t lie «l
des erv e ^"' ted Service,” though first in seniority as a club,^ ea Uty t y e, 7 brief notice on the score of architectural
a
called'j, p* ’ s a plain unpretending building, which may beether s| . a . lan > because it cannot be described as being of any^'etacter ’ but ' s Italian of an impoverished and enfeeblede 'i'len Ce ’ _ e . x bibiting, remarks Mr. Leeds, “ incontestable'file b q '." si P idit y and poverty.”
^ticated'' * n ^ uons ' sts cl two stories, the ground-floor beingI he and liaving windows on each side of the portico.
11 P per
story contains an elegant suite of rooms, having
V(!| i loft - <=
b" 0ll 8h ^ i w ' nd °ws, with pediments, over which, and running
tlle whole’ buildin
'C'nV„
J'miL , n ] 0u nted
lias t0 ‘be
g, is an entablature, the wholeby a balustrade. The soutli front is- a h 0 011 e described, but the north, facing Pall Mall,' V ° divisj IC ° l * le w kole height of the structure, and is ine, Slit fl ut ° ns ! that of the ground-floor being composed oftrio-f , 01 'ic columns in pairs, having an entablature„ 'jcli P.'*• This is surmounted by a balustrade,
°bl,
Pcdi
er
are
as
the same
>tri
'^ent below, and crowned by an entablature and
d “hived" V ie ' nt ernal arrangements are exceedingly well"bon 0 f , furnish every convenience for the accommo-o r ' r! >its 0 f '?• 'yetnbers. There are some remarkably fine^pboents dlst '"g u ished military and naval officers, and theC “ AtT' 6 ^ urn ' s bed with great luxury and elegance.
. ar lton t>i len *um,” is situated at the opposite angle of
pj
fr" 6 ' an< ^ * S remal ‘kable for the elaborate sculpturedas o t ,g Ze f , cont ' nue( l along its three sides. This clubo C( 5 n 'ficent m ° , t * le ver y fit'st in the metropolis, and the-pPy a sim'i anS i on belonging to its members, is worthy to
nna he !
*6 haii'j'j'' ar .P |, oniinenr position.
Tl, tiis pla ys n f f' s f' onl the designs of Mr. Decimus Burton ,ea st e i ev< ‘ at gentleman’s usual ability and good taste,the er ' ( ls of J U ! n las a rusticated basement with a portico,of t^ n 8les are'fi • aie ®bed up and perforated with windows;«ol by a square pilaster and fluted column
' v ith' ln ? °f th e r 6r ’ t ^' e space between being divided by fourbie s ''"'glyphs Satne order in pairs. The frieze is ornamentedti>d ov er ’ a . nd l be cornice surrounded by a balustrade,Ov^hed b 16 centre intercolumniations being filled up
tl lf v «v tu °y a Pedestal snnnnvfinrr o -finriira nf* Minprm
tl(Q er tl le f a pedestal supporting a figure of Minerva.
•>° Un d«stoi ’V nrirl r»n o Una witli fha pnrntr>a
is’ a T“, a ' stor y> and on a line with the cornice of"toe,, ^ 'Chiatin™. ll con y running through the three elevations,Hi^' 8 ''Sbted T l '' e an S' e3 by pedestals. The principalis ^ sev en lofty windows with sashes, by' v ' t H C0r nCces3 to the balcony, and which are orna-ent| niCe at ? d trusses; above this and continuingk' s sa' rier "' ot ied e J >uildin S> ' s the beautiful frieze we havefrom 7b! h{ in basso-relievo, being copied,tv,:,- Ov ep tp frieze deposited in the British
AdJ.' 8 bej n 113 is a cornice of very bold projection,
t AH ned * a balustrade.
at >on. c , e 'y po»a;i,i. n ® um > is the “ Travellers’,” of which
i, -’ Possibl n ’ 18 tne travellers, ot wnicn
' ^°uld t) 6 t0 , s P ea k in terms of sufficient commen-lere ,” says a talented writer and able
critic, “ be any question as to the possibility of reconcilingthe seemingly antithetical qualities of richness and simplicity,this building might be allowed to determine it, since thedesign is no less remarkable for the attention bestowed uponall its details, than for the simplicity of its composition.”We have many others far more ambitious in decoration, yetnot one so beautifully finished up in every part, or exhibitingso perfectly that integrity of finish which is displayed in thiswork of Mr. Barry’s. For here indeed we behold the fullbeauty of the Italian style purified from its defects, andstamped by a serene kind of dignity that renders it trulycaptivating.
In the treatment of his design, Mr. Barry has bestowedequal pains on both fronts, that towards the garden beingas carefully studied as the one facing Pall Mall; and it iswell worthy not only of observation, but of imitation, thatthere is more nicety of detail and greater elegance herebestowed on parts sometimes considered of very secondaryimportance, than is often expended upon a whole design.If, again, we lift our eyes to the upper extremity of thebuilding, we instantly perceive what attention has beenbestowed on that also ; for it is not the cornice alone, butthe cornice and roof together which constitute its decoration ;the latter being treated as belonging to the elevation itself,and the former giving richness and majesty to the wholefacade.
The interior of the building is arranged with great ability,both with regard to convenience and picturesque effect, forwhich latter it is not a little indebted to a small but elegantinternal court, of strictly architectural character.
The position of the entrance, which a regard to exactsymmetry would have required to be in the centre, has beensometimes objected to, but we are of opinion that the architectexercised a sound judgment in placing it where he has, ratherthan sacrifice a portion of the interior accommodation.
The following description of this elegant structure, isextracted from an excellent work, “ The Public Buildingsof London,” edited by Mr. W. H. Leeds :—“ The hall, whichhas a screen of two columns in antis,—behind which is theporter’s desk,—includes the window next to the entrance-door. Although small in itself, it does not by any meanslook confined, there being a vista from it along the corridor,which is lighted by three windows looking into the court,and to which there is an ascent of four steps through an openarch. The ceiling of both hall and corridor are arched; thatof the former coffered, of the other panelled. A door to theleft, immediately after ascending the steps, leads into themorning-room, (44 feet by 23 feet 9,) which has three win-dows towards the street, and a fire-place at each end. Fromthis, a door facing the farthest window, opens into the bousedining-room, which is 27 feet by 28 feet 9 inches, and occupiesall the space to the east of the court. Beyond the principalstaircase, which is seen at the end of the corridor throughan open arch, is the coffee-room, occupying the whole extentof the garden front. This room is divided by piers andant® into three compartments, in each of which is a fire-place,namely, one at each end, and another facing the windows,in the centre division.
“ The libraries form a single apartment, divided by doublescreens of Corinthian columns on a pedestal stylobate incontinuation of the dado of the room, leaving a passagethrough the centre intercolumn six feet clear. Owing tothe contraction of the opening, to the depth of the screen,and the duplication of the columns one behind another, theperspective appearance acquires a high degree of pleasingcomplexity, and the larger or inner library is not so muchexposed to view, on first entering from the staircase. Above