Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-31
EV VENING STAR.
CRAWFORL'S STUDIOS.
[Corres pondence n. Y. Commercial Advertiser.

fCorres pondence n. Y Commercial Advertiser.
ROME, November q, 1856.
When it was decided by the United State!
Government TO enlarge and embellish the
| Capitol at w ashington, designs were request
| ed from American artists Crawford forward
accepted, and already the models for a series
of groups designed fer the eastern pediment
have been sent home, and are now being
wrought in American marble at Washington.
Having heard a great deal about these statues
| and of the other works now in progress for the
CapitTl extension, and feeling, as we all do, a
justifable pride in the growing love for art
that is manifesting itself in our country. il was
with no little interest my steps were directed
to the studio of the artist.
Passing the fountain where the waters of
Acqua Felice tell Of the great Ponti6cate Of
Sixtus V you come upon the magnificent
church Of Santa Maria degli Angeli, built by
Michael Angelo. in the great hall of the baths
of Diocletian. Part Of these same baths form
the studio, or rather studios, for there are
eight, Of Crawford, and strange associations
are called up while standing within the walls
Of these massive ruins Of once imperial Rome,
whence are sent forth massive works to beau
tify our young Republic.
The first studio you enter is the one in which
were modelled the statues for the Virginia
Washington monument. The idea is sug
gested OF giant being at work, of such huge
size are the various parts Of the equestrian
group, which has been cast in bronze at Mu-
nich, and Is now waiting a Government vessel
to carry it tO.the United States Two of the
statues the Jefferson and Patrick Henry are
now in Richmond When Crawford began
these colossal works, it was augured that ten
yoars would be taken for the completion but
The artist, faithful to his contract as Virginia
has been 10 hers, had them finished within the
stipulated tine, and on his recent visit 10
America signed the contract for the remaining
four statues, which he is now making vigorous
efforts TO forward
In this first studio Is the colossal America,
designed for the dome of the Capitol No
mere description can give you an adequate
idea of the sublimity and grandeur Of this
great work. The figure is twenty feet high,
and stands with the right hand resting on
sheathed sword, and the left on the shield Of
our country On the breast are the initials of
the United States, and a delicate drapery is
So arranged as to form rays of light proceeding
from the letters. The ample folds Of an outer
drapery fall majesticslly around the statue,
leaving only the hands and portion Of the
neck uncovered. For the usual cap, the ar
tist has substituted q helmet, the crest of
which is an eagle head, with richly falling
plume of feathers The countenance is won.
derously beautiful, full Of dignity and lofty
purpose, earnestly and thoughtfully looking
out into the great future. Grand, majestic
and full Of noble sentiment, this statue should
not on y be priced as u work OF art, but hon.
ored for the grandeur and benignity Of its 81.
lent teachings. Crawford has made two statues
Of America, one for the eastern pediment and
the one i have attempted 10 describe, each
entirely different from the other, for it is one
IF the peculiar Gai:s Of this sculptor'S fertile
genius that be never initiates, never repro
duces, even from himself Go through these
eight studios, filed with statues, groups, bas
reliefs, all by the same hand, yet you find no
two compositions alike either in attitude or
expression. The series Of bas-reliefs for one
o. the bronze doors of the Capitol represent
ing various scenes in our revolutionary his
tory and incidents in the life of Washington,
are 10 be sent to the same foundry where the
Virginia statues have been so successfully
cast; the Munich bronze being the finest in
the world, and not so liable to be changed by
time. as any other br0nZes Of less purity.
Among the statues for the Eastern pedi-
ment, that of the Indian, the only nude figure
in the series, sitting alone nation to be.
wall" is truly sublime in its grief. The
anatomy and pose Of the figure are admirable;
but the great speechless woe that bows the
head upon one open palm, while the other
hand is clenched IN agony, is a triumph of
art The Indian women, too, bending over
the child calmly resting on her bosom, while
before her lie the lonely graves Of her race
those graves beside which is her only place of
rest-is a sad sweet poem, and a touching
embodiment of woman and a mother grief.