Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-11-26

Tho Bronze DOOrs for tho National Capitol.
1t is known that the artist Rogers was
commissioned some years ago by our Gov.
eminent to model and have cast in bronze,
folding doors for the Capitol The doors
have just been cast at Munich, and an Eng
lish writer, who has sasn them, gives the
following description Of the designs which
ornament them:
''The bronze doors intsnded for the Capitol
at Washington, designed and modelled at
Rome by the American artist Rogers, have
lately been on view at the Royal Foundry,
Where they were cast The workmanship,
a. is always the case with whatever emRnates
from the Munich foundry, is admirable
There Is q sharpness in the lines and finish
in the minutest details which are in the high
est degree creditable. OF the doors them
selves, It Is not very EASY to convey an sde-
quate idea by 3 mere description; for an
enumeration OF all that is represented might
induce the belief that there WsJ q orowding
Of objects, and that the allotted space was
overhowed; but this is not the case. Each
door-the whole forms folding doors
divided into four compartments or panels
Thus, with semi-circulsr space above, which
has the breadth OF both the doors together,
there are nine divisions, in each OF which an
important moment Of Oolumbus's life is rep.
resented.
"The figures stand out in full relief, and
some of the groups are eminently successful
The crowning event of the discoveries ca
reer occupies the commanding spot over The
top of the doors. Here Columbus, standing
on a mound, forms the central figure. Ii
has Just landed from g boat, and with tht
standard of Arragon and CASTLE planted OF
the new soil, and with sword appraised in hi
right hand, be takes possession of the Ian,
In the name Of his sovereigns. Some of th
boatmen are still in the skif, others sr
kneeling on the shore, while group of Indi
ans, peeping from behind tree on the oppo
site side, look on in wondering establishment
In one compartment is represented the tri
umphal entry of Columbus into Madrid, OF
his first return from America, and crowds o
at the Indians, who precede the procession
with paroqusts on their upraised arms.
The next panel is occupied with a saddle
story. Here Columbus, in chains surround
ed by sorrowing population, is about Il
embark for Europe. Then, the last scene O
all accomplishing his Strange eventful his
tory we see him on his death-bed, attendel
only by q nun and some priests, who admin
lister to him the consultations of religion
His son stands beside him. In the thicknes
of the door itself, inches are formed at Ger
tain intervals, and in these are small whole
length figures of the great contemporaries Q
Oolumbus-kings, statesmen, ecclesiastic
and warriors. In the centre, close 10 eacl
other, are two such lines of inches, while o.
both sides q single row of figures, one sbov
the other, fills up the intermediate space be
tween the outer edge Of the panels and th
door-post. The large bosses, 30 often seel
on doors, are here the beads OF those histori
ans who have written on the discovery c
. America,
"Tne ornaments below each niche ar
heads of animals Indigenous to the country
with fruits and flowers entwined, also char
scteristie of the New World. Every orns
ment is appropriate, and though they ar
manifold there Is no confusion. As ther
will be no chance of the work being forward
ed to the place of its destination for som
time to come, it might be possible to induc
the authorities to allow it to be sent to Eng
land meanwhile, where it could not fail to
looked at with the greatest interest. Th
exhibition Of next year might present th
desired opportunity for taking such a steE
The artist would be glad that so good an oc
casiOn offered for making his work known
and Americans would surely not be unwil
ling to show the world how munifcentl
they had come forward to erect a grand ma
tional monument"