The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-12-04
THE BRONZE DOORS FOR ThE ma
1lONAL CAPIl OL.

1t is known that the artist Rogers was commis-
stoned some years ago by our government TO
model and have cast Ia bronze folding doors for
the Capitol. TIE doors have just been cast al
Munich, and an Euglish writer who has seen
them, gives the following description OF the de-
signs which ornament them:
The bronze doors intended tor the Capitol at
ashiDston, deslgned and modelled al Rome by
the American artist, Rogers, have lately been on
view at the Royal Foundry, where they were
cast. The workmanship, as Is always the case
With whatever emapates from the Munich ioun.
dry, is admirable. There is a sharpness in the
lines, aud finish in the minutest detail, which
are IL the highest degree creditabe. Of the
doors themselves il is Lot easy 10 convey an ad.
equaIe idea by mere description; for AL emu
mefaIion Of ali that Is represented might induce
the belief that there was a ctowding vi Objects
and that the allotted space was uyeI filled anu
tins Is not the case. Zach Goor-the whole
forms folding GoOr-is divided into four COM
partments or pannels. Thus with semicircu.
lar space above, which has the breadth of both
The doors together, there are nine divisions, III
each OF which all important moment vi C0um-
bus's lie is represented.
80 Tie figures stand out in full relief and some
OF the groupes are eminently successful. The
crOwning event OF the dlscoverers career occu
pies the commanding spot over the top OF the
doors. Here Columbus, standing Oh a mound,
forms the central ngure. lie has just landed
from boat, and VITA the standard Of Arragon
~ CASTLE planted on the new soil, and with
'"oiu 0p.- 'sed III his right hand, he takes pos
se'''oi VI 'he '"-' III the nGme vi his sovereign
Soue ooa'iieh are s'in - the sklif others are
kneeling on the shore, while = \. ,,n a, Irdi.ns
peeping from behind tree Oh the oplv.:. -.
look on IN wondering as,onishment. In Oh,
compartment Is represented the triumphal entry
OF Columbus into Madrid Oh tbs first return from
America, amid crowds OF gazers at him, the hero
OF the triumph, and at the Indians, who precede
the procession with paraque's Oh their appraised
arms.
The next pannel is occupied with sadder
story. Here Columbus, III chains, surrounded
by sorrowing population, is about to embark
for Europe. Then, the last scene OF all ac-
complishing strange eventtul history We see
hum on his death bed, attended only by q nun
md some priests, who administer to HIM the
CONSULTATIONS OF religion. lis son stands beside
him. In the thickness Of the door itself, inches
are formed at certain intervals, and in these are
small whole length figures OF the great cotempO-
raries OF Coumbus-kings, statesmen and war.
riors. In the centre, close " each other, are
two such lines OF inches, while on both sides \
single row OF figures, one above the other,
fills up the intermediate space between the
outer edge OF the pannels and the door post
The large bosses, often seen ON doors, are here
the heads Ot those historians who have written
Oh the discovery OF America.
"The ornaments below each niche are heads
Of animals indigenous to the country, with fruits
and flowers entwined, also characteristic OF the
the New World. Every ornament is appropriate
anu though they manifold there is no contu.
sion. As there will be no chance of the work
beng forwsrded to the place OF Its destination
for some time 10 come, 1t might be possible to
induce the authorities TO allow il TO be sent to
kugland meanwhile, where it could not fail to be
looked at with the greatest interest. The exhi.
bltion OF next year might present the de sired up
portunity tor taking such step. The artist
would be glad that good AL occasion offered
for making his work known; and the Americans
would surely not be unwilling to show the world
how munihcently they mad come forward to
erect grand national monument"