The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-06
Bronze Doors for the Capitol.

II Is kuOwu that tho artist Rogers was
commissioned some years slnco by our Gov
erUment to model aud have cast in bronze
folding doors for the Capitol at Washington
The donrs have just been cast nj Munich,
aud AL English writer who has scon them
gives tho following description of tho designs
which ornament them Tho biObZs doors
intended for tho capitol at Washington
designed and modelled at R"mu by the
American artist Bogors. have la'elv been on
view at the ROYAL foundry. whore thoy we're
cast. Tho wo, ,kmanship, as is always tho
case with whatever omanates from the
Munich foundry, is admirable. There is u
sharpness in tho lines, aud finish In tho
minuest details, which arc In the highest
degree creditnblo. or the doors themselves
Il is not easy to convey an adequate idea 10y
u mere description; for an enumeration of
all that is represented might induce the
belief that there was crowdIng of objects.
and that tho allotted space was ovcr.hlied;
but this is not tho case. Each door--the
whole forms u folding d0or--is divided into
four compartments or panels. This, with
somi circular space above, which has the
breadth OF both tho doors together, there
arc nIue divisions. in each of which an i'm
pnrtan. moment iE Columbus lifo is repre-.
ssntcd
The figures stand out in full relief, and
some OF tho groups arc ominently success
tut. Tho crOwuug event OF the discovcrer's
career occupies the commanding spot over
tho top OF the doors Hero COiumbu 3,
standing on a mound. forms the central fig.
ure. He has just landed from a boat. and,
with the standard Of Arragon and Castillo
planted on the new soil, and with a sword
upraised in his right hand no takes pnssess.
ion ot the land ia tho name Of his soyeregns
Soine boatmon arc still in the skiff othe.s
are knecling on tho shore. while II group of
Indians, pecpiDg from behind tree on the
opposlte side, look on in wondering as.
punishment. In one compartment is rep.
resented tho triumphal ontry of Columbus
into Madrid on his return from America
amid crowds of gazers al him. tho hero OF
the triumph. and at tho Indians. who pre-
cedc the procession with paruquets ou thor
upraiscd arms.
The ncxt'panei is occupied with a sadder
story Here Columbus, in chains, sur.
rounded by sorro~ing population, is
about to embark for Europe. Then. the
last scouo of all, accomplishing his 'strungo,
eventtu! history, We SEQ him in his death
bed, attended only by nun aud some
pIiCo'S. "uO 10 nun in6 con
s"ations OF religion. His son stands beside
him. In the thickness OF the door itself
inches arc formed at certain intervals, and
in these are small. whole length figures of
the great contemporaries of Columbus
kings, statesmen, occlesiasfics and warriors.
In tho CENTRE close to each other, are two
such lines of inches, while on both sides a
single row of figures, one above the other.
| fills up the intermediate space betwoon the
outer edge OF the panels and tho door post
The large bosses. so Oiton seen on doors.
are here the heads of those historians who
have written on the discovery of America
! The ornaments below each niche arc
heads of animals indigenous to tho country.
with fruits and flowers entwinet, also
characteristic OF tho Now World. Every
ornament is appropriate, and though they
are manifold. there is no confusion As
thoro will be no chance of the work beng
| forwarded to tho place of its destination Tor
some time to come. Il may be possible "a
induce tho authorities to allow it to be seen
in England meanwhile. whore il could not
fail to 10 looked at with the greatest inter
! est. The exhibition of next year might
present tho desired opportunity for taking
such step. Tho artist would be glad tha
81 good an occasion offered tor making hit
work knOwn; and the Americans would
surely not be unwilling TO show to the
world how munIficentlv they had come
forward TO erect a grand national monu
ment.