queen victoria-第48章
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ect being as a suspicion that he must be inhuman； and thus it happened that the public； when it saw displayed for its admiration a figure resembling the sugary hero of a moral story…book rather than a fellow man of flesh and blood； turned away with a shrug； a smile； and a flippant ejaculation。 But in this the public was the loser as well as Victoria。 For in truth Albert was a far more interesting personage than the public dreamed。 By a curious irony an impeccable waxwork had been fixed by the Queen's love in the popular imagination； while the creature whom it representedthe real creature； so full of energy and stress and torment； so mysterious and so unhappy； and so fallible and so very humanhad altogether disappeared。
IV
Words and books may be ambiguous memorials； but who can misinterpret the visible solidity of bronze and stone？ At Frogmore； near Windsor； where her mother was buried； Victoria constructed； at the cost of L200；000； a vast and elaborate mausoleum for herself and her husband。 But that was a private and domestic monument； and the Queen desired that wherever her subjects might be gathered together they should be reminded of the Prince。 Her desire was gratified； all over the countryat Aberdeen； at Perth； and at Wolverhamptonstatues of the Prince were erected； and the Queen； making an exception to her rule of retirement； unveiled them herself。 Nor did the capital lag behind。 A month after the Prince's death a meeting was called together at the Mansion House to discuss schemes for honouring his memory。 Opinions； however； were divided upon the subject。 Was a statue or an institution to be preferred？ Meanwhile a subscription was opened； an influential committee was appointed； and the Queen was consulted as to her wishes in the matter。 Her Majesty replied that she would prefer a granite obelisk； with sculptures at the base； to an institution。 But the committee hesitated： an obelisk； to be worthy of the name； must clearly be a monolith； and where was the quarry in England capable of furnishing a granite block of the required size？ It was true that there was granite in Russian Finland； but the committee were advised that it was not adapted to resist exposure to the open air。 On the whole； therefore； they suggested that a Memorial Hall should be erected； together with a statue of the Prince。 Her Majesty assented； but then another difficulty arose。 It was found that not more than L60；000 had been subscribeda sum insufficient to defray the double expense。 The Hall； therefore； was abandoned； a statue alone was to be erected； and certain eminent architects were asked to prepare designs。 Eventually the committee had at their disposal a total sum of L120；000； since the public subscribed another L10；000； while L50；000 was voted by Parliament。 Some years later a joint stock company was formed and built； as a private speculation； the Albert Hall。
The architect whose design was selected； both by the committee and by the Queen； was Mr。 Gilbert Scott； whose industry； conscientiousness； and genuine piety had brought him to the head of his profession。 His lifelong zeal for the Gothic style having given him a special prominence； his handiwork was strikingly visible； not only in a multitude of original buildings； but in most of the cathedrals of England。 Protests； indeed； were occasionally raised against his renovations； but Mr。 Scott replied with such vigour and unction in articles and pamphlets that not a Dean was unconvinced； and he was permitted to continue his labours without interruption。 On one occasion； however； his devotion to Gothic had placed him in an unpleasant situation。 The Government offices in Whitehall were to be rebuilt； Mr。 Scott competed； and his designs were successful。 Naturally； they were in the Gothic style； combining 〃a certain squareness and horizontality of outline〃 with pillar…mullions； gables； high…pitched roofs； and dormers； and the drawings； as Mr。 Scott himself observed； 〃were； perhaps； the best ever sent in to a competition； or nearly so。〃 After the usual difficulties and delays the work was at last to be put in hand； when there was a change of Government and Lord Palmerston became Prime Minister。 Lord Palmerston at once sent for Mr。 Scott。 〃Well； Mr。 Scott；〃 he said； in his jaunty way； 〃I can't have anything to do with this Gothic style。 I must insist on your making a design in the Italian manner； which I am sure you can do very cleverly。〃 Mr。 Scott was appalled； the style of the Italian renaissance was not only unsightly； it was positively immoral； and he sternly refused to have anything to do with it。 Thereupon Lord Palmerston assumed a fatherly tone。 〃Quite true； a Gothic architect can't be expected to put up a Classical building； I must find someone else。〃 This was intolerable； and Mr。 Scott； on his return home； addressed to the Prime Minister a strongly…worded letter； in which he dwelt upon his position as an architect； upon his having won two European competitions； his being an A。R。A。； a gold medallist of the Institute； and a lecturer on architecture at the Royal Academy； but it was uselessLord Palmerston did not even reply。 It then occurred to Mr。 Scott that； by a judicious mixture； he might； while preserving the essential character of the Gothic； produce a design which would give a superficial impression of the Classical style。 He did so； but no effect was produced upon Lord Palmerston。 The new design； he said； was 〃neither one thing nor 'tothera regular mongrel affairand he would have nothing to do with it either。〃 After that Mr。 Scott found it necessary to recruit for two months at Scarborough； 〃with a course of quinine。〃 He recovered his tone at last； but only at the cost of his convictions。 For the sake of his family he felt that it was his unfortunate duty to obey the Prime Minister； and； shuddering with horror； he constructed the Government offices in a strictly Renaissance style。
Shortly afterwards Mr。 Scott found some consolation in building the St。 Pancras Hotel in a style of his own。
And now another and yet more satisfactory task was his。 〃My idea in designing the Memorial；〃 he wrote； 〃was to erect a kind of ciborium to protect a statue of the Prince； and its special characteristic was that the ciborium was designed in some degree on the principles of the ancient shrines。 These shrines were models of imaginary buildings； such as had never in reality been erected； and my idea was to realise one of these imaginary structures with its precious materials； its inlaying； its enamels； etc。 etc。〃 His idea was particularly appropriate since it chanced that a similar conception； though in the reverse order of magnitude； had occurred to the Prince himself； who had designed and executed several silver cruet…stands upon the same model。 At the Queen's request a site was chosen in Kensington Gardens as near as possible to that of the Great Exhibition； and in May； 1864； the first sod was turned。 The work was long； complicated； and difficult； a great number of workmen were employed； besides several subsidiary sculptors and metalworkers under Mr。 Scott's direction； while at every stage sketches and models were submitted to Her Majesty； who criticised all the details with minute care； and constantly suggested improvements。 The frieze； which encircled the base of the monument； was in itself a very serious piece of work。 〃This；〃 said Mr。 Scott； 〃taken as a whole； is perhaps one of the most laborious works of sculpture ever undertaken； consisting； as it does； of a continuous range of figure…sculpture of the most elaborate description； in the highest alto…relievo of life…size； of more than 200 feet in length； containing about 170 figures； and executed in the hardest marble which could be procured。〃 After three years of toil the memorial was still far from completion； and Mr。 Scott thought it advisable to give a dinner to the workmen； 〃as a substantial recognition of his appreciation of their skill and energy。〃 〃Two long tables；〃 we are told； 〃constructed of scaffold planks； were arranged in the workshops； and covered with newspapers； for want of table…cloths。 Upwards of eighty men sat down。 Beef and mutton； plum pudding and cheese were supplied in abundance； and each man who desired it had three pints
