The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-01

For the Union,
THE STATUES OF WASHINGTON AND
JACKSON.
pRoJEcT OF THE PUBLIC GARDENER.

PROJECT OF THE PUBLIC GARDENER.
IL is asked perhaps every day in the year, respect
ing the colossal statue of Washington by Greei-
ough, now confined in the ociagonal smokehouse-
looking shnnty in The east Capitol square, "ls il
intended that il shall stay hereih We think not
everybody thinks not--bnt that yet another removal
is reserved for this unfortunate chefd9urft of MIR.
Greenough. Never was statue so hard 10 please as
this. In the rotundo, the central light dad not SUIT
tit fell too plumb the crown OF the head; back
ed up against the main entrance, lis position was
still worse; and its present location ard confinement
is unquestionably the worst OF ALL The eisht-sded
wooden box in which the sstate Ia lncarccrated
the pepper-and-salt pine-board pedestal upon which
IL is erected, seem 10 have been constructed and
adapted to the express idea of leading the spectator
rresistbiy 10 the impression that the whole thing
is carlo ture, out-and-out. And, with few excep-
lions, such impression has been uniformly pro.
duced. The Roman throne, with It's neurological
basso-reevoE; the Roman sandals, the Roman
sword, the gadiatoria mock-heroic attitude and
proportions of the fgure,--are rather the imper-
sonation and accessories of Spartacus, than of a
Washington. The very Indian at n corner of the
throne appears To hang his head, as in shame at the
Dissertation of Washington, in the heaihenish trans
formation TO which he has been subjected by an
American artist
Had the design been worthy of the skill display
ed in the mechanical execution of the work. the art
list might have stayed his chisel; for his fame would
have been complete. Yet there is something re-
deeming in the figure, after all, The head of the
statue IL sublime II is the head, it is the face, ii
is the countenance of the great hero--our beloved
"Pater Parin," in his serene and impressive moral
grandeur. Upon this recommendation alone, the
statue may be transmitted to posterity, without a
label of its title and its object II will speak for it.
self.
Now the question arises, What shall we do with
this statue' Ii has cost too much money 10 be cx-
posed as carcature Justice to the artist, who, I'M
Hap tt,. Ifalu Nv
ment the associations and characteristics of his own
land, in designing this great work-justice demands
that he should have the farest and deliberate tr-
al. Mr. Pratt, of the House committee the subject
AT the last SESSION, proposed simply the removal Of
the wooden box from the figure as it now stands,
and the substitution Of iron railing around it,
leaving the statue, statues generally of the mag
nltude of this, exposed 10 the open air. But the
elevation of the figure is not sufficient to its proper
tons. II should stand at least fifty feet from the
ground; for, although the principal embellishments
about il will be lost TO the eye at snch an altitude
the asperties the angles, the harsh nakedness the
physical display, will be sotened down into har-
mony Of proportion and comparative sublimity in
the tout ensemble
We come now to the plan of the public gardener,
Mr.. James Maher. He proposes to erect tri-
umphai arch at the entrance to the Capitol grounds
on the west, of the whole breadth of the avenue,
with smaller arch upon either side corresponding
in width, and in direct line, with the sidewalks
Upon the summit of the grand central arch, at an
elevation of fifty feet from the ground, Mr. Maher
proposes to place Greenoughs statue of Washing
ton, looking toward the Presidents House At the
other extreme of the avenue, the public gardener
proposes the erection of corresponding arch, with
corresponding side-arches, opening in line from
the avenue and its sde-w ways into the Presidents
gardens. Upon this central arch, MIR. Mahcr pro-
poses to erect the contemplated equestrian statue to
Jackson. In front of each of these trumphal arch
es, il is further proposed to have an open sem-cir-
cle with the chord to the street side, and fountain
in the centre of the area, to be fenced in by an iron
railing, with sufficient space for carriage-way
around the circle leading through the main arch.
The beauty, the impressiveness, the real magnif-
cence Of this design is apparent AT glance; and in
detailing it to the writer, with all its minutie at
length, we were struck with the closing remark Of
the interchangeable and patriotic protector to wit that
the British would never, after the erection upon this
plan of these statues, dare to enter the city again;
for, while the protecting arm of Washington would
ton of the metropolis to the west, the sword and
the war-horse Of Jackson would guard the opposite
extreme Of the great avenue against the entrance of
the foe, and
ellis foul footsteps pollution"
We respectfully submit, without further remark,
this design of the public gardener 10 all persons
having authority or interest in the perpetuation of
the glory of Washington, and the fame of Jackson,
and the embeishing of the federal metropolis Of
our blessed Union. G. b. w.
Washington, Nov. %, 1916.