Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-02-26
The Bronze Work for the Capitol.

Some of the most artistic work that has been got up
for the new houses Of Congress- has been manufactured
in Philadelphia A correspondent OF the New York
Times, who is evidently artist, in speaking of the
brOnzed balustrades for the Capitol which being
manufactured by Messrs. Archer, Warner, Miskey Il
Co., of this city, says:
At the establishment of this firm a., W., NJ. &
Co.. have Just seen the moulds and the models, and
some of the completed portions of magnificent bronze
balustradng designed for one OF the grand starways OF
the new Capitol building at Washington which is not
merely wonderful piece of work in ITSELF but is alto
gether more deliberately elegant than anything of the
kind which is to be in Europe. This baustrading
which is cast not in baSO reeUO but in full relief of
arabesques and figures is about three feet in height and
is to be carried to the length of l6O feet up the noble
Eight of steps leading from the Hall of the Repre-
senatves to the corridor of the Committee rooms The
designs furnished by Brumd of Washington, sngU-
ary bold and graceful They represent alternate groups
OF infants, eagles and serpents, pursuing and pursued
through wreaths OF foliage and flowers, and they cOnsC
quenty comprise almost all those curvinear forms and
intricate traceres which lay the heaviest tax upon the
skill of the draughtsman and the founder.
Every separate figure nay every sprig and leaf of
the delicate network in which the figures involved,
is indeed separate work of art worthy OF place be
side the finest productions of the Partisan oundres and
the success with which the casting has been thus far
prosecuted has been great to move the accomplish
ed superintendent of the Capitol work, Captain Megs
to regret the RELOCATION of mastery production to
the comparatively secondary place which is to occupy
in the building. The modelling and casting have been
confined by Messrs. Archer Warner, Miskey & Co., to
French artist, NJ Baudin who is enthusiast in his
art and quite type for the pen of Balzac. This gen
ueman has been fortunate enough to the services
ofan admirable chseer formerly employed at the Lancas
ter Arsenal native of the Canton IicinO, in Switzer
land, and an exile worth welcoming also of capital
founder who supervised at Chicopee in Massachusetts
the first really artistic castings ever executed in this
country two of which are now to be seen New York
one, the noble equestrian statue of Washington, which
adOrns Union Square, and the other the striking group
Of Messrs. Williams and Stevens of shepherd boy at
tackled by an eagle cast from model by Richard Green
ough, of Boston. Mr. Greenoughs statue of Franklin
in which the BOstonans so much exu owes its success
full execution to the same skiul castor.
The beauty of NJ. Baudins work cannot be at al
apprehended from any description and few indeed cal
appreciate the difficulties which he has overcome in orde
to combine freedom and grace of outline with a prope
consideration for the exgencies of broadcoth and cno
line For he has been obliged so to manage the numer
GUS projections and exuberances of his design as to pre-
serve comparatively level surface on the interior of hi
baustrades and to achieve this, he has compelled bot
optical and mechanical science into his service with inf
mite patience and knowledge"