Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-05-12
EErom ihe Natlenal Intellivencer. !

NEW SLNSA llON lN AMI.
The Sale des Beaux Arts in the Patent Office,
intended as q receptacle for works Of art, and
which since the introduction Of olychromy, has
become o. object of such vast attraction, is rap.
idly accomplishing its noble destiny. The gre I.
est portion OF those bright pilla,s Of deepest
blue which visitors gaze at in wonder and admi.
ration, is now ornamented with mezzo.relievo
pictures in bronze, each of them executed In the
highest style OF art afording most glorious IL.
lustrato on OF fac! which we have endeavoIed
from time to time to promulga;e that the AineI.
lean mind il gradually becoming educated in
matters of art, and tn ,t sculpt ire and painting,
with the rare sources OF insp.rati, N which abou
throughout this beautiful continent will soon
form Is absorbing subject OF pursuit among
Americans as IL did with the inhabitants o; An
cent Greece. This splendid collection Of bronze
pictures comprises "a different likenesses
each the exact counterpart OF the original. in
.luding that Of the late martJred Presi jeni,
Secretary Sc ward, Chi Justice Chase, Vice Ad.
hi q Furragut Generals Grant, Meade, Hancock
burnside Hooker Warren, Banks, Augur, End
others no less dis inguished in our military an.
nais. To say that these iite-size inezzo.relevos
OF our eminent pubic men are among the fnest
works Of art In bronze ever executed in this or
any other country, would convey but q very i'm.
perfec. idea of the various degrees Of excellence
which cluster around each and all OF thep.-
There is not a trait or peculiarly, either promi.
nent or a.f discernib c, in The counteuanees OF
each individual in this precious conste. alton OF
illustrious Amer Gems which Is not faithfully re
h.cted in the metallic counterfeit p.esentment,"
making the whole face radiant with lie, rs u
every one stood revealed in the pure, breathing
reality Of flesh and blood.
The project of National Bronz, Picture
Gallery" as this stupenious collection is aptly
called, originated with Mr.. William Miller OF
Providence, Long Island, who has long been
favorably known III that city for bis great zeal
and enterprise in all matters connected with art,
especially as regards works executed in bronze.
Having conceived this idea Of perpe suatlng In
durable brass the features OF those great men,
whose names have become household word
wherever love oi country is cherished and pa.
triotism is honored, he engaged the services OF
Franklin simmons an eminent sculptor, OF Port'
land. Maine, whose high reputation for original
ity and cultivated taste was a sure guArsnty
tn ct the enterprise would be carried out sue.
ceAsfuIly BY preconcered arrangement with
the late President and members OF his Cabinet,
Mr.. simmons was not ong in obtaining life
sittinps from the most prominent public men IN
Warrington, especially ss his peculiar sys-
tenn OF modelling entirely relieves sitter
from all unpieasantness as reg ards 10 az
titnde or position. The success Which
attended these preliminary efforts had tne ehect
of bracing up Mr. Millers energies, and he al
once determined to visit every corp darmee, re-
gardless Of expense, trouble or prlyAnoni the re-
suit OF this indomitable perseve,anse is already
seen in the collection now on exhiDilon NJ ths
calent Office which, f,r grandeur OF effect and
polish in execution. surpasses anyt7 ng Of the
kind the country has ever seen. 1t is the inten.
tIon OF Mr.. Miller the proprietor, as well as pro
jector. of This magnificent b,onze gallery, as soon
as the most prominent military and naval chief.
tains living and dead, shall have been me ali.
r, IIv a isLosed of, TO obtain models Of the most
governors, senators and statesmen
of tbs Time thereby transmitting to posterity the
Features of every man who, in the terrible civil
conflict from which we are just emerging, wheth-
ar In IN field, on the seas or in the arena OF po-
litIcal debate, has sgnalized himself by unswerv.
ing devotion to the great cause of his coun.
trY.