New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-24
TIE FRANKLIN STATUE AT BOSTON AND
ITS MANAGEMENT.
T. Me Editor Of The v. j. Tribune.

ness 20 come out with unbiased cruca! OPINION On
the merits Of the muchaudcd statue Of Franklin, re-
Gently inauguraed. Boston newspapers continue DUMB
On the subject Such superatve praise wa expended
in thor columns on the work before had been SEEM
that anything Ike fair opinion would lneXircably
| compromise the whole editorial corps. Perhaps
should say anything Ike fair record Of impressions,
for true opinion could only be given by one acquaint-
| cd with the acquisitions OF ART The public Jud gnent
NAV be declared to be in state OF suspense Even
with the initiated bad work Of at however tolerabe
al rt view never fails to look at each succeed
ing glance II Just the contrary with what is excel
lent Without necessarily challenging at hrst glance
anv extraordinary attention, it becomes more satisfying
and pleasing the more i5 looked at The present X
80 excellent opportunity Tor the adjustment OIL pre-
valcnt impressions in Boston, that at once proceed
tothe otherwise undelcctable task Of examining the
metal from head to foot. Before closing shall have
something to say on the management BY which the
whole affair inclusive of Inauguration proceedings has
been brought about BY the latter, this Modern
Athens has certainly become compromised in all the
merits and all the defects Of the Franklin statue
The question TO whether the artist has caught the
Likeness s one easily settled. Engrayngs Of Franklin
abound go do buss; there exist several paintings Of
him: and if these wanting could yet recall
him by volumnous written descriptions and by those
lineaments which have not yet faded from his living
descendants. However have 10 needto complain
q want Of sufficient for local reference. In
plasterers shop in School street there il statuete
after that taken OF the lustOu~ statesman ard phOsO
pher when in Paris. The design in the statuette APP
pears the exact counterpart of the statue except that
in the satuette the head is erect whereas in the statue
it is forced forward and downward on the breast and
I
the whole countenance and plays about the lips, the
general expression Of the Boston statue j. that of
in his second childhood there being pucker about
the ips, obtained by an overlapping of the flesh The
muscles of the face that would induce smile are not
at all acted Although the face of the statue is
shaped generally Ike Frankln's, the caraginOus
portions exact the bones in their right
places.
The head of Franklin of square, solid form;
not round as the projection of the head overt the chest
unnatural and uncaed for makes it appear. Besides,
the contour of the head is far from correct Then
to size: The head and shoulders provided are large
enough for a statute at least eight feet higher 1t
has been said privately, by one of the kecnest
satrists of Boston that the appearance of the head
from behind is that of bison To aggravate the
effect produced by the projection of this monster head
and these boles of Atlas shoulders of the latter is
so elevated apparently TO stcr the whole weight OF
the bronze upon walking stick The figure is mainly
supported by the feet Contrary to all classic usage
nothing but these and said stick appear-suggestve at
once of oundcry operations. The support, therefore,
is insufficient, and il is untrue in every artistic sense
Sculpture should never offend Nature. Now, we know
it il painful To- corpulcn old man to stand up with
insufficient support. On bcholdng him,
prompted to assist him. He viii himself, probably
hasten 10 lay hold on .he nearest most available
means OF support Franklin, in any statue, should
have been represented leaning on something-such
as an electrical apparatus desk. The latter might
have been rendered sufficiently 81 nifcant by being
covered with d roll, with the Declaration OF indie
pendence lying on il. Ny business is not to suggest
design The fact is, nothing is provided but the sO-
late form. Even this has glazing errors. The legs
appear as if shaped in turningaihe The
calves have sunk seven inches below
the knee. Then there is not a crease IN
the habiments to indicate drapery. The gar
ments might have been so adjusted as to avoid
the appearance of much protuberance OF stom-
ach There is nothing handsome in the form of cor
uuent old man. IL the statue of Washington, IN the
CAPITOL at Boston the military cloak is thrown around
the form with so much skill that il is only very ex-
act inspection we find is the classic toga. Who
rreeentcd What we desire is expression of mind;
what ant demands is propriety of representation.
one word as to the proportion of the head to which
| have alluded. The effect of age in the curvature
Of the spine is TO throw the head backward, not for
ward. A dozen ship fgure-head carvers could easily
be found who would provide lis with better figure;
one that should be anatomicaDy and artstically
correct.
L. ba1;o oil Orto ~ he "
designed the statue had no hand in designing the Jas
re1, which are presently 10 be attached TO the pedes
tall II not competent to execute the latter, he was
certainly not competent TO execute the former What
sort of unity in design to be looked for when what is
TO be subsidiary to the general effect is gvea into other
hands The Statue Committee went for the design OF
their has reltfs 10 an illustrator of book covers.
Now ms 10 the management; This confined to q
few gentlemen of note, who have long been accus
toned TO have their way in and about Boston against
whom it is heresy TO speak word; whose voice in
short is authoritative. These took into their heads
70 oct m statue for Franklin on their hookand
very GOOD idea it was. Wei, how did they pro-
ceed7 WHY BY the same system of class isvoHtSm
by which they themselves have been supported by
these considerations of family which have given them
thcir chief prestige and Importance As though AM
mated by the desire TO crush everything Ike compet
ton, these gentlemen applied only TO one artist When
other artists made application TO be allowed to submit
their designs the only answer received was that
could not be done in Boson; that we had no quail
fled scuptors.' This is no way to advance ar, the
making public taste subordinate the personal interests
of "me person a, Paris or Rome. Even in the petty
| Kingdom Of Bavaria the design for every proposed
work of Art is thrown open TO universal competition So
| of iudcyr m