Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-19
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HARr's STATUE OF HENRY CLAY.

We have received the following letter from pro.
minent citizen Of Richmond, devoted personal and
political friend Of MIR. Clay now on yisit to Eu
rope:
To the Editor, of the Enquirer
FLORENCE, ITALY, Dec. 49, 1857.
Gentlemen I'm your paper of the 18th November,
read. night article over the signature OF 'Vir
gins," and headed "Crartord and h" CONTRACT In
which the writer says:
have elapsed. Sinoe he tMr. Hsrtl engaged to carve
the statue of Henry Clay but he has not yet we 6e-
ieve put chlsel to marble in furherance OF that de-
sign"
completion Of Crawfords contract for the ashing.
ton monument shall not be entrusted to Hart, as 1t
appears was the device Of Crawford az expressed IN
his will, but should be transferred to very worthy
and mertorous artist of our own city Mr.. Huoard
against which have nothing to say, and with which
am In no manner disposed to meddle.
lit is proper to state here that Mr.. Crawford eI-
pressed no such desire In his WILL referred 10 by
"Virgns.
an erroneous impression on the part Of "Virginis"
and sueh a. his article may have made upon the pub
lie mind, BY doing simple act OF justice TO worthy
man, and artist who is destined to earn an envla
BILE reputation for himself by this very statue of Mr.
Clay, even if he should never put chisel to marble
again.
1t is true as learn, that Mr. Hart has for the last
ten years. and ever since he undertook 10 execute
this Interesting work, been struggling with poverty
and misfortune which, TO his own extreme mortlhca'
ton and regret, have for so long time unavoideoy
delayed the completion of the statue but he has Just
now, by most ingenious instrument OF his own con-
trvance for taking the proportions and outlines ior
a bust or statue, with mathematical precision,
acquired the means in England Of prosecuting
successfully. and without farther interruption,
work in which he feels the deepest interest aud taxes
the highest pride
feel it. therefore to be my duty, as it is my plea
to say that Virginia is mistaken in supposing
that the work 10 marble has not yet been com.
mencsd. 1t was only yesterday that was IN the
studio of Mr.. Hart where went particularly to see
what progress he had made in the work he had un
dertaken for the pstriotio ladies OF our State Who
the lveliest solicitude for its early completion
l found the model in plaster OF full length, en-
tirey completed, and presenting beyond all question:
thsl most faithful representation OF Mr. Clay that
have ever sesp land which l am sure will give unit
versa sstsfacton and there were ct that time, Two
persons actively engaged on the block OF marble,
which 10 of the finest TEXTURE and one OF the hnest
specimens Of Seravezzs marble to be found IN the
world, and which was obtained with great difhoulty
and al extra cost at the quarry from which 1t was
taken. Mr.. Hart assured me. that might say with
confidence to his patrons In Virginia, that the statue
should be ready for delivery in sixteen monihs from
this time at farhes l wss 30 struck WIN the supe
rior quality, and neness OF texture OF TINS BLOCK OF
marble, that put several pieces, that had been
Clipped of in the process Of the WORK, INTO my car
pet bag, to take home With me a. .Pecimens;
As the error into which "VirRnia has fallen, docs
Injustice and !: calculated to wo5k d oTs 20
but who has labored under that worst OF vices called
Poverty" sm sure you will feel disposed to give
this brief article place in your paper. D.