Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-03-28
CRAWFoRD'S EQUESTRIAN STATUE.

From the Correspondence of the Savannah Republican.
MUSIcH, October 30, 1855.
saw a few days ago at the Royal Foundry the
body OF Washington's horse cast. 1t belongs to the
prea, equestrian statue which Crawford is making for
the State Of Virginia. The fires had been kindlei
about twenty-four hours previous to the casting,
which was perfectly successful. SO Tar as one may
Judge from those parts to be seen here, the statue will
be q noble one. 1t will do immense credit to the
sculptor, and place him among tho first in tide world.
1t is q prodigious work, such a one as q daring genius
alone could conceive and execute; Two OF the SIX
accompanying gigantic statues-those Of Jefferson
and Patrick IIenry-have already been sent home
from this foundry. The casts are yet here. They are
noble in their massive and simple effect. l did not
know that Crawford was so great in his art.
The mould for this part of the casting was in a large
and deep pit, and surrounded by bricks enough, in
the way of buttressed walls, to make a house. Nine or
ten workmsn stood by, stopping, with curved bars of
iron, the canals by which the melted metal was to en-
ter. The air-holes were uncorked; the remains of the
ashes, &C., from the fire which heated the mould
swept away cleani the spectators cautioned not to be
frightened when, the mould being filled, the glowing
mass should spirit in jets through the air holes up to
the ceiling; the plug In the furnace knocked in by
three blows of n suspended battering-ram, and the
glowing mass ran rapidly to the mould, filling a con.
tinuous canal that surrounded it. In a moment, al
the word Of Inspector Miller, the iron bars are re
moved, and the forms are suddenly filled, the jets spir
out, the casting is done, and three cheers are given
The cleaning and polishing of his horse will give
employment to several skilled workmen until mex
Nay.
The material used in this casting was chiefly ole
Turkish bronze guns. These guns contain about ter
per cent. of tin, the rest copper. By exposure to
certain degree Of heat a portion of the tin melts an,
is drawn otf-this at a temperature which leaves tn,
copper unmelted. A certain per centage of zinc i
then added, to give the composition lustre and MALE
ability, and to prevent the statues from becoming
green BY years Of exposure; this greenness being tn
carbonate of copper, tmalachits,) the carbonic acid i
the air forming gradually the deposition of this sal
Of copper.
Inspector Miller superintended that greatest cast
ing Of ancient or modern times, the statue of Bavt
ria, and his portrait in tresco may be seen on the ou
side Of the new Pinakothek, with those of other Ct
LIBERATED artists. The statue of Bavaria is q femal
figure designed by Schwarthalcr, some seventy-6v
feet high, standing on a pedestal, l think, twenty fe,
in height. You ascend by winding stairs into the c.
witty Of the head, where six persons are pretty we'll a
commodaled, with bronze cushions to sit down upol
1t here occurs to me to say that these bronze surface
are so worked up as to resemble flesh, cloth, &C.,
for example, Washington's sash has the fibre and lu
tire of silk, and the other surfaces, even of bis leath,
boots, are all characteristic.