The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-10

GREENWOOD LEAVES fnOA wa
No. 29.
RoME, January 20, 1853.
Nv DEAR &. B.: Undoubtedly the most
Interesting and important work OF art now be,
mo eyecuted in Rome, Ito Americana at least
- The Washington Monument, by MIR. Craw-
G,rd ordered. to her honor, by Virginia, and
Iast;ned 10 be the chief ornament and pride OF
bor handsome capital Before speaking OF the
n,t;sa;e merits of this work, let me give VOC an
;dea Of its plan and proportions. The entire
height of the monument is to be sixty feet
This includes the equestrian statue OF wash
;noton-sixteen feet in height Below this,
which is to stand on a square pedestal, sculp-
,mrad with some admirable bdssi rel,eui, are
ranged the statues of six of Virginia's noblest
sons-Marshal Mason, Allen, Lee, Jefferson,
and Patrick Henry. These figures are to be
,velve feet in height. On the lower range OF
sters surrounding the monument are to be
nlaced six eagles, five feet in height
The only figures now finished are the statues
If Patrick Henry and Jefferson, and these are
surely remarkable exhibitions of pow@--abso-
lute triumphs of genius Henry is represented
in the lofty passion of his fervid and magnetic
eloouence-in the height of that grand out
burst OF ITttuciI buu pubIiOetsul WhiSh CicOni-
fled the land and will yet thrill, like trum-
pet call, through the hearts of his countrymen,
while they prize their dear-bought liberties, or
reverence the heroic past. You see not alone
in this face the fire and the force of the impas-
stoned orator, but the sustaining strength Of
the hero, and the prescience Of the prophet
10 striking contrast with this animated and
powerful figure, is that of Jefferson. He stands
in an attitude of calm, deep thought, grit about
with all the native majesty Of greatness-with
all the dignity Of the statesman and patriot
He looks here what he was--the utterer Of the
profoundest political and moral truth ever pro-
claimed to the world. You recognise in him
the moulding power and the controlling will of
government and you seem to read in his face
not alone the deep speculations of the philoso-
pher and the large projects of tho statesman,
but the destinies Of nations.
The drapery in both these noble figures is
wonderfully we'll managed. The costume of
the time of the Revolution, though far enough
from the classic was yet less stiff and meager
than that of our day, and the artist has here
relieved, or concealed, much of the more I'M
graceful detail, by skillful introduction of tho
cloak
Separately and together these statues strike
me as among the finest productions of modern
sculpture-as marked by most impressive dig
nifty, by originality, force, and grandeur Of SEN
timent They are about being cast in bronze,
at Munich. Mr.. Crawford is to make use Of
Houdons bust of Washington, as the most re-
liable likeness. The horse, though yet in a
very rough state, promises tn he magnificent
work. 1t is represented as Just curbed up from
trot not rearing-full Of strength and fire,
but not rebellious-a steed fully worthy Of his
rider, and one which will inevitably suggest
comparisons decidedly to a certain
weak-taled charger, who holds his thin nose
in the air, from the top of Hyde Park gate.
The small studies for the remaining figures
of this monument strike me as happy and truth
full presentiments Of char acter-are important
parts of noble whole, and form grand cir
Gle of supports and accessories to that peerless
principal. Nothing ever 40 impressed me with
the greatness of Washington as seeing such
figures az these placed subordinate to his, and
feeling the entire fitness of such an arrange
mept
The last finished work of Mr.. Crawford is
Fiora-an exceedingly graceful and beautiful
figure. He is now putting into marble charm
ing group of The Babes in the Wood This
simple and touching subject is treated with
hucn aeilcacy ano iee,ing' ana the Signt OF
enos s .epaer ana lovely little creatures who 10
efcn o'nels arms nave SUNK IN the deep sium-
s Jel oi gr.el anu exhaustion, ana from tnas nave
sha siiee'ly ana unconsc'ousiy INTO 'nat aeeper
aeeP "i oeatn, moves ones near. as wss
tale.
81 an oAqu'slse group, III US ia'S @nu s~e.'
RJ"0 oAPresoon, 10 wig He~ a"" "u"ys'eh.
,,eoo Is rePreseh'ea AZ ,nas ra'ner lncru,yns
V'oc Vi her NE Wnen sue nnas cue nofeo'. 9os.a
S,. 'S'sn "sr o'nos ~ our quo '.auu. ",sn
roic n,au utIop@u' "nu mea's on S VAPeS'J'
tha VI s''e nal, u Ve1a. .% wni usS nn
sho,,Sar nou'aoeni, WIN I'' na"G oh am o
tendar1n peers ,n'o aet ,aoo uep'''"'s'y ""N
An ,oon Will 'ays - A.. c-,
youl jodoad AS. ~ .ho s;.ns,;on a. an
sdes lis . 49,. -. zoo n' $3.50 Go a.. III
hard Of ma W"a' L "u 80, a. ;u.. -
one pJeases ~, - 49," IN 20. w. "a '.od
dessesD y "''e' ""k '"0'' s0'' ""O e''
Mr. Cruws.rd h.. 49,. .a,:.a
An imagination a. Tsnsr.1; =. 49, ""at No a" 40
Gibson hut he Is vonnssr tbon Ell. o &c -. s 40
He does not Lack imay;rstor, err" =. su s'sI
and avery rsw vo,k shn,.s o., -Su oo:u"o's'
i.tic skifI-so wa NAV veil nonrss,,'i . "a arr
selves nro, = ,an;ns 1871. :. A S;nI OUT
yelonmcpt will Ent 49,, rro~; -, hnsno's ae.
our rountrv Th;s rs",ud s,Us,us nInoa upon
taken in stat;na Is ,a,a T ,..,as .s xAS ms m
Crawrord was ns '1'' ',a' M
true"horn amsr;.. ''' VI ''''''u nc Is
NJ S,or, !. sn~.,
in modsII;.y. 70 ,s ensasea upon lacor Oh love,
late T,T;"s s, ~. ''1 Ma o h's 'sshei the
making 4 nohls ycr. 90 !. sen, Tns y me me 70 DC
expre,si9g0 n Of hon;; ,ace wearing mingled
theusbt an " ueI,g",ty ana strength, OF calm
tifI thu 0 ss sn,a; k,naness pecuiiarly Lean
the dyn;,v " ~ .t = s'1lngLtne a'9taae mas
sternusss ,Sa ;ao Jauso w:noo' ng'u''y oI
imnos;nn ana forms drapery as graceful as
Sir Storv ,,
an ;JeaI mas 10 his studio little study Tor