按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
was founded upon that of Nasmyth。* ＇footnote。。。 David Roberts； R；A。； in his Autobiography； gives the following recollections of Alexander Nasmyth： 〃In 1819 I commenced my career as principal scene painter in the Theatre Royal； Glasgow。 This theatre was immense in its size and appointmentsin magnitude exceeding Drury Lane and Covent Garden。 The stock scenery had been painted by Alexander Nasmyth； and consisted of a series of pictures far surpassing anything of the kind I had ever seen。 These included chambers； palaces； streets； landscapes； and forest scenery。 One； I remember particularly； was the outside of a Norman castle； and another of a cottage charmingly painted； and of which I have a sketch。 But the act scene； which was a view on the Clyde looking towards the Highland mountains with Dumbarton Castle in the middle distance； was such a combination of magnificent scenery； so wonderfully painted； that it excited universal admiration。 These productions I studied incessantly； and on them my style； if I have any； was originally founded。〃 。。。＇
Stanfield was another of his friends。 On one occasion Stanfield showed him his sketch…book； observing that he wished to form a style of his own。 〃Young man；〃 said Nasmyth； 〃there's but one style an artist should endeavour to attain； and that is the style of nature； the nearer you can get to that the better。〃
My father was greatly interested in the architectural beauty of his native city； and he was professionally consulted by the authorities about the laying out of the streets of the New Town。 The subject occupied much of his time and thought； especially when resting from the mental fatigue arising from a long sitting at the easel。 It was his regular practice to stroll about where the building work was in progress； or where new roads were being laid out； and carefully watch the proceedings。 This was probably due to the taste which he had inherited from his forebearsmore especially from his father； who had begun the buildings of the New Town。 My father took pleasure in modelling any improvement that occurred to him； and in discussing the subject with the architects and builders who were professionally engaged in the works。 His admirable knack of modelling the contour of the natural surface of the ground； and applying it to the proposed new roads or new buildings； was striking and characteristic。 His efforts in this direction were so thoroughly disinterested that those in office were all the more anxious to carry out his views。 He sought for no reward； but his excellent advice was not unrecognised。 In testimony of the regard which the Magistrates of Edinburgh had for his counsel and services； they presented him in 1815 with a sum of #200； together with a most complimentary letter acknowledging the value of his disinterested advice。 It was addressed to him under cover； directed to 〃Alexander Nasmyth； Architect。〃
He was； indeed； not unworthy of the name。 He was the architect of the Dean Bridge； which spans the deep valley of the Water of Leith； north…west of the New Town。 Sir John Nesbit； the owner of the property north of the stream； employed my father to make a design for the extension of the city to his estate。 The result was the construction of the Dean Bridge； and the roads approaching it from both sides。 The Dean Estate was thus rendered as easy and convenient to reach as any of the level streets of Edinburgh。 The construction of the bridge was superintended by the late James Jardine； C。E。 Mr Telford was afterwards called upon to widen the bridge。 He threw out parapets on each side； but they did not improve the original design。
＇Image＇ St Bernard's Well
From the Dean Bridge another of my father's architectural buildings may be seen； at St。 Bernard's Well。 It was constructed at the instance of his friend Lord Gardenstone。 The design consists of a graceful circular temple； built over a spring of mineral water； which issues from the rock below。 It was dedicated to Hygeia； the Goddess of Health。 The whole of the details are beautifully finished； and the basement of the design will be admired by every true artist。 It is regarded as a great ornament； and is thoroughly in keeping with the beauty of the surrounding scenery。
Shortly after the death of Lord Nelson it was proposed to erect a monument to his memory on the Calton Hill。 My father supplied a design； which was laid before the Monument Committee。 It was so much approved that the required sum was rapidly subscribed。 But as the estimated cost of this erection was found slightly to exceed the amount subscribed； a nominally cheaper design was privately adopted。 It was literally a job。 The vulgar； churn…like monument was thus thrust on the public and actually erected； and there it stands to this day； a piteous sight to beholders。 It was eventually found greatly to exceed in cost the amount of the estimate for my father's design。 I give a sketch of my father's memorial； and I am led to do this because it is erroneously alleged that he was the architect of the present inverted spy glass； called 〃Nelson's Monument〃
＇Image＇ Nelson's Monument as it should have been。
Then； with respect to my father's powers as a mechanic。 This was an inherited faculty； and I leave my readers to infer from the following pages whether I have not had my fair share of this inheritance。 Besides his painting room； my father had a workroom fitted up with all sorts of mechanical tools。 It was one of his greatest pleasures to occupy himself there as a relief from sitting at the easel； or while within doors from the inclemency of the weather。 The walls and shelves of his workroom were crowded with a multitude of artistic and ingenious mechanical objects； nearly all of which were the production of his own hands。 Many of them were associated with the most eventful incidents in his life。 He only admitted his most intimate friends； or such as could understand and appreciate the variety of objects connected with art and mechanism； to his workroom。 His natural taste for neatness and arrangement gave it a very orderly aspect； however crowded its walls and shelves might be。 Everything was in its place； and there was a place for everything。 It was in this workroom that I first began to handle mechanical tools。 It was my primary technical schoolthe very foreground of my life。
＇Image＇ Bow…and…string Roofs and Bridges
I may mention one or two of my father's mechanical efforts； or rather his inventions in applied science。 One of the most important was the 〃bow…and…string bridge；〃 as he first called it； to which he early directed his attention。 He invented this important method of construction about the year 1794。 The first bow…and…string bridge was erected in the island of St。 Helena over a deep ravine。
Many considered； from its apparent slightness； that it was not fitted to sustain any considerable load。 A remarkable and convincing proof was； however； given of its stability by the passage over it of a herd of wild oxen； that rushed across without the slightest damage to its structure。 After so severe a test it was for many succeeding years employed as a most valuable addition to the accessibility of an impo