The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-12-23
This ashingtonE Monument t.

\ This Washing Monument
All the trophies" save two are now
placed upon the abutments around the
Washington monument, near the capitol, in
this city. ,a These "trophies have been
the objects Of much criticism. AS their.
number. has Increased; their correspond
7encae2 and, homoge neousness with the whole
design become more apparent, and the i'm
policy of sweeping criticism before this
'corld be well demonstrated is very evident.
The artist plainly intended that there
should be uniformity in the ornaments Of
the lower circle or base Of the, grand Revo-
lutionaryt memorial, and that these orna-
ments should not only exhibit this artistic
propriety, but should embody the spirit of
the era made illustrious by the men whose
statues stand in rear and above them. So
there is grouping of the emblems Of war
exactly the same in all of them, with a
figure which is somewhat varied in each to
suit the ruling idea embodied in the statue
before which it is placed. In front of
LEWIS this figure, by its countenance, be-
speaks vigilance; and intrepidity, while it
clasps the helye of the axe, the insepara-
BILE companion and the Indispensable
auxiliary Of the frontiersman. The figure
before MARSHALL wears the aspect of
thoughtful serenity, and holds the sword
with the peint turned down. Thus with
out particularizing farther) does each Of
these figures reflect in some popularity Of
feature and manner the predominating
phase Of the great man whose statue stands
Immediately behind it. sf-a. a.
are happily illustrated or not is question
for every one to discuss and have his own
opinions Of. Certainly some are more sue
cessful than others !; but, with our poor
Judgment in such matters, We confess to
decided admiration not only of the emble-
matte figures, taken by themselves as artis
tic mouldings, but also Of the spirit de-
veloped in them. -~
Certainly when all the pediments are
filed the monument may be more fairly crit
cized as whole, and these trophies will speak
more plainly and positively for themselves.
The flags and shields, and guns and balls,
are types Of the Revolutionary age, and
are entirely fitting for the abutments of
the lower circle of this Revolutionary
monument. The delicate and ingenious
tribute conveyed~-.through each figure
in front of these emblems to the respective
Revolutionary heroes whose memories are
there honored is very fine conception of
the artist. The sitting posture of these
figures we infer to be according to the rules
of art as well as common propriety. They
are subordinate in relation to the superior
statues, and it would not have done to pre-
sent them in q more triumphant light; for
that would have been to place them in OBJ
jectionable rivalry with the heroes they are
intended to honor. so.rn.
The original idea, we believe, was to or
nament some of these pedestals- with
eagles-a bird whose outlines so nearly sp-
proximate those of the buzzard, and whose
chief distinction from the scavenger among
birds is the animation and fire Of its ex-
preston, which are not very easily con-
veyed by art, that there is ever the danger
of figuring something that more resembles
the buzzard than the eagle. And this sort
of mistake, 80 common, is ;hideously sug-
gestive of the depravity sometimes dis
played by the national bird. Therefore we
are glad that the idea of the eagle has been
abandoned for one far better and more
original. oL s7&. .9-'2.- a.
The remaining trophies will soon be
in place, and then the monument will be
complete, and will be the noblest in this
country and amongst the first achievements
of art of its character in the world. In
bequeathing the work when unfinished to
: RAND oLPH ROGERS, CRAWFORD indicated q
man who has proved to be entirely. compe-
tent to the task. In his hands there has
been no falling off from the original inten-
ton. The spirit and grandeur of the in
ception as displayed in the figures first
cast have been carried out in the most tri-
umphant manner. ROGERS has entitled
himself to new chaplet for the faithful
and brilliant style in which he has consum-
mated the noble design of his illustrious
fr,np6
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