Evening star., 1869-04-15
THE BAILEY.GRANr STATUE.

EDIToR SrAR-Sr. The criticism in yeur
psper of the 18th inst. OF the model Of tn pro-
posed 90 uestrian statue Of Gen. Granti is 50 un-
fair 70 the artist, Mr.. J. Bailey, worthy bal
modest and unassuming gentleman, and con-
taIns so many erroneous statements, that the
information OF which the article was has I'd
must have been furnished to you by preju-
diced person. interested, perhaps, IN placing
some menstrosity of his own on the eligible
site suggested for Mr.. Bailey s statue, which is
not the southern portico OF the Treasury, as
stated by you. but in front OF II, so that the
statue msy be seen from any point on the ave.
nue : far as the Capitol.
The patrons of Mr.. Bailey, ana th, many ad.
mrrers at the North. where his reputation is
best known, OF such beautiful works Of art
from under ais hand as his groups OF Adam
and Eve" Charity" &C. will be m ch as =
tonished as were his friends here when they
hear that such terms We're used by respecta.
bic newspaper In connection with his name
and his work as s'Baruum model" "sham -
"numbugged, ssdiddled," s.art abortIons -
"monstrositIes," "bummer," !" "merciiess daub-
ers and plasterrrs, .artist IN mud" and so on
such ephithets are not argument though they
might Tniure an artist of less reputation tbs
Mr.. Bailey, with persons who do not do their
own thinking. or who distrust their own Judg
ment in art matters. The price Mr.. Bailey
likes upon his work Is certainly no arRum nj
against its merit, but, n IT has any Significance
ought to count In Its favor because 1t is keep
ing with the prices he has hitherto obtained for
has works from pri vate parties.
De is no beggar or hummer, but an artist aud
gentleman. Neither the Government nor the
ci'izens of Washington have yet been called
upon for aid by Mr.. b. or his friends, and if
this city does not want to possess at least one
artistic eq quesrian statue. but is satisfied with
the two choice specimens il now possesses,
the writer knows that Boston or New York
will be glad to get it, and that the latter CITY
Will give 1t most prominent position in
Central Park.
now come down to your remarks on the
model Is tn afv hos
many misstatemeuts could be crowded in so
few lines. In the first place. il may be as we'll
TO state that the model in General Spiuner's
room IS mere sketch or study for the proposed
statue from life, and not, as asserted, modelled
from designs. The horse and rider of the pro-
posed statue are to 0e modelled from life, taking
purpose. But not availIng myself of that fact
which wipes out all you say Of the model l
propose hTst to notice your statement that Mr.
Bailey "now utilizes his Mcclellan model by
substituting Grants head"
This is not true. as a comparison Of the two
Will show that the head, neck, body, arms and
legs OF the rider are different in outline, size
and position and that the coat, hat and other
articles of wearing apparel, their folds, &C.
are not the same. The Grant model not being
the Mcclellan model. 1t follows according 70
model. That the horse should in each De
shown as at rest, except that II is pa wing with
a forefoot. is not remarkable, Browns pro-
posed statue FOR Gen. Scott exhibiting the same
positions of that noble animal when il has a
rider on Its back. Not much latitude is given
an artist in that direction. If, however he
yearned for originality, he might balance his
horse on ITS hind feet. or It's ears, or even its
tail; but he had better content himself with
truth 10 nature, and let the difference in his
own work and hat Of others be merely the diff
ference i'll the animals modelled.
Now to your next charge Let any dsinter-
ested observer look al the Bailey model, taking
IL for all you claim it 10 ba, and not what IL
really Il. mHrely sketch, and the spacIfi.
charges III yOur changed Of foot indi ictment will
at once fall 10 the ground, as 1t will b. seen
that the muscles OF the shoulder of the pa wing
loot are contracted and that shoulder ad-
rest livery artist knows that the natural. po-
sition Of the horse and rider cannot be nuch
varied, and that those who follow nature NAV
be commonplace, but rarely sublec: them sci YES
10 the deserved ridicule which overtakas those
so foolhaIdy as 10 sacrifice truth for original
lty. and insult the human and equine races oy
attempting TO represent impracucable horses
and riders in impossible positions.
II may be desirable for certain persons to
importation of models or designs for statues
or O'her works of art into this city, especially
Tor equestrian statues, the erection of one by al
ARTIST might convince even the benightei pop
ulatIon of this city. that supporting a badly
prOpOTtiOned mass of brass on two instead of
three or four supports was not art, and that a
attempt TO represent horse in an unnatural
and ImpossIbl position was no evidences of
artistic skill or genius. As a friend of MT
Bailey, have only to say that If ne produces
anything worse than the SO called equestrian
statues now on exhibition in the pu bic
grounds OF this city, he had better give up his
profession and try to earn an honest living.