Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-05-18
Chairman Of the Georgia Delegation.
Tropilic,, Itc., for tho Virginia Washing
ton NOnumcnt.


ton Monumcnt.
The Governor, and the three Commissioners,
have recently scruinized and acted upon the
designs, sent from Rome by Mr.. Randolph
Rogers. for the outer pedestals OF the Washing.
ton Monument Oh our Capitol square, cmbra-
cling allcgorical figures, military trophies, &c,
and they lave been highly approved not only
for their intrinsic merits and beauty, but on
account of the labor bestowed upon them, the
artists careful study Of the subject and the ia
vorablc Judgment passed upon them by a tri-
bunal of artists Of various nations. Mr.. Ro-
gers has studied the subject thoroughly and
worked it out in various ways and we are con-
vncel that lc has succeeded in treating It in the
richest, most effective and appropriate manner
At one time it was suggested that figures
should be introduced in bas.relief, representing
the principal cyemls in the lives OF the person.
ages whose statues surround the Equestrian
Statue of Washington; but subsequent trials
have demonstrated that it could not be success
fully done, taking into consideration the size
and form Of the pcdcstals which are to be dec
oratc,l. The pinth, upon which the bronze is
to rest, is but two feet five inches wide, by four
feet five inches long. With the alegorical
figures and trophies as shown in the present
designs, there is no possibility of introducing
bas-rcliels. The combination Of bas.rclicfS
with the trophies would preclude the possibility
of cnlarging or widening the breadth of the
plinth, as is done in the present Sketches
Moreover, the figures wonld necessarily be
small consequently, at u distance the whole
affair would be mcagre, and without effect
Again the illustration Of the prominent events
in the lives Of Jefferson, Henry, &c, would
look like giving more importance to them than
to Washington himself. Mr. Rogers manner
Of treating the subject is, in our view, and in
the opinion Of all artists and amateurs who
have seen his designs, more striking and eflec
tive than anything could be, where basreliefS
are introduced.
In each Of the six decorations on the rectan-
gular pedeStals is beautiful female figure, Of
course, in different positions, 10 suit the char
actcr which it is designed 10 illustrate. The
following brief sketch of each one, as adopted
by the Governor and commissioners, with
Slight notifications, will give faint de! Of
the designs:
RerolutiOn-Qn front of Patrick IIcnryJ-
She is represented as rising from the ground,
with an uplifted sword in her right hand. y
crown is crushed under her foot, and on her
head she wears the Phrygian cap, tlcnoting the
change from dcspotism to liberty.
Independeace-(n In front Of Jefferson )-llcr
eyes are turned towards heaven. IN her right
hand She grasps u portion OF the chain which
she has burst asunder, anil with her left she
casts q portion OF it at her feet.
Finance-(ln front of Nelson. )-Iler left
hand rests on book, and she is dropping, one
by one, coin into a cornucopia. This is de-
signed to represent the Strengthened means OF
Virginia during the Revolutionary war, and
the noble patriotism with which Governor
Thomas Nelson sacrificed his property to re-
lcvc the stnted finances of the State.
Justice-(In front of Marshall. I'm her left
hand she holds the bar OF the scales, which arc
evenly balanced over her lap, and her right
hand is supported BY sword which stands up
right near her right foot.
BW Of Rights-Cn front of George Mason.)
Her left hand rests on Il scroll (thc Bill Of
Rights j She leans forward with drawn sword
across the document, as ifrcady 10 defend it.
Co'"Hia2 Times-On front Of Lewis lin
one hand she holds tic palm of victory under
her feet arc Indian arms, such as bow and
quirer and tonahawk. iEer right hand is ssnp-
ported by an axe, and her head is deckcd
with cars Of wheat, symbolic of the peaceful
settlement Of the country and its agriculture
These exquisite alegorical figures are suffi-
cicnty varied and expressive to satisfy the
most critical i,stc-espccially when we think
of the great difficulty Of allegorzing such sub
jccls and composing and uniting them with
trophies, &c, in a given space. The trophies
are composed Of cannon balls, banners, Shields
drums, Hessian cap, cuirass and helmet, mus
ketS, and swords, &c. On the twelve shields
two on each design are inscribed the names
Of noted scenes Of the Revolution, viz: York
town, Eutaw Springs, Kings Mountain, Gull
ford Court House, Point Pleasant, Great Bridge,
Saratoga, Trenton, Princeton, Bunker Hill,
Valley Forge and Stoncy Point.
The allegorical figures will be of the size OF
life, and The whole height, from base of plinth
to top Of banner-heads, from six to six and
half feet That height could not possibly lie
exceeded without very seriously inluring the
figures which occupy the pedestals in the rear.
The eagles suggested by Mr. Crawford, but
subsequently substituted by the commissioners
with the present designs, were TO have been
five feet high from the base Of the pinth to the
head Of the eagles, but the form of the present
designs allows Mr.. Rogers toincrease the height
little In his deSions Rogers has given no