The weekly Butte record., 1862-05-10
The Bronze Doors of the National Capt.
tol.


tol.
1t is known that the artist Rogers was COM
missioned some years ago by our government to
model. and have cast in brouze folding doors
for the Capitol. The doors have just been
cast at Mouich, and an English writer, who
has seen them, gives the following description
of the designs which ornament them:
The bronze doors in ended 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, as
is always the case with whatever emauates
from the Munich foundry. IS admirable There
IS sharpness in the lines, and a finish in the
minutest detail, which are in the highest de
gree creditable. OF the doors themselves it is
not easy to convey an adequate idea by mere
description for enumeration Of all that there
was a crowdiug Of objects. and that the allotted
space was over6lled; and this is not the case.
Each door-the whole forms a folding door
is divided into four compartments or panels.
Thus, with sem-circuiar space above, which
has the breadth of both the doors together,
there are nine divisions, in each of which an
important moment of Columbus life is repre-
seuted.
The figures stand out in full relief ard
some Of the groups are emiuenlly successful.
The crowning event of the discoverers career
occupies the commanding spot over the top of
the doors. Here Columbus, standing on a
mound, forms the central figure. He has just
landed from a boat, and with the standard of
Arragon aud CASTLE planted on the new soil,
and with sword upraised in bis right hand, he
takes possession OF the land in the name of his
sovereigns. Some boatmen are still in the
skitf, Others are kneeling on the shore, while
group of Indians, peeping from behind tree
on the opposite side, look on in wondering as
tonishment. In one compartment is represent.
ed the triumphal entry Of Columbus into
Madrid, on his first return from America, amid
crowds of gazers at him, the hero of the tri-
umph, and at the Indians who proceeded the
procession, with paraquets on their upraised
arms.
The next panel is occupied with sadder
story. Here Columbus. in chains, surrounded
by a sorrowing population, is about to embark
for Europe. Then, the last scene of all ac-
complishing bis strange. eventful history we
see him on his death-bed, attended only by
nun and some priests, who administer TO him
the consultations of religion. His son stands
beside him. In the thickness of the door
itself. inches are formed at certain intervals,
ard in these are small, whole length figures of
the great contemporaries of Columbus-kngs,
statesmen, ecclesiastics and warriors. In the
centre, close to each other, are two such lines
of nichss, while, on both sides, single row of
figures, one above the other, fills up the inter-
mediate space between the outer edge of the
panels and the door post The large bosses so
often seen on doors are here the heads of those
historians who have written On the discovery
of America.
The ornaments below each niche are the
heads of animals indigenous to the country,
with fruits and flowers entwned, also charac-
terstc of the New World. Every ornament
is appropriate, and though they are manifold,
there is 10 confusion. As there will be no
chance of the work being forwarded to the
place of destination for some time, it might be
possible to induce the authorities to allow it to
be sent to England meanwhile, where it could
not fail to be looked at with the greatest inte-
rest The exhibition of next year might pre-
sent the desired opportunity for taking such
step. The artist would be glad that so good
an occasion offered fer making his work known;
and the Americans would surely not be unwil-
ling to show the world how munifcently they
had come forward to erect a grand national
monument"