Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-01-07
V I N N lie r E A M
THE LINCOLN STATUE.
THE OFFICIAL VIEW TO-DAY.
HER CAREER .fRRO.lD.
ARTIST LIFE IN EUROPE.

Gustave DOre. Father Hyacinthe.
kautb0ch. List, Healy. Story. Car
dtbal AnSODeBIf. Miss HOsmer. no.
SETH, BuchaDan Read, Spur2eOn, &c.
Winnie Ream, who twenty months ago sailed to
Europe with tie model Of her statue of Lincoln
to be put in marble, has returned with her COM
pleted work. 1t was placed some days ago in
the rotunda of the Capitol. but screened from
the public eye until il should be formally turned
over to Congress. The act of Congress giving
the commission to Miss Resm directs the Sec
Rotary of the Interior to contract with her "for
life-size model and statue of the late President
Abraham Lincoln, to be executed by her at q
price not exceeding $4,000; one half payable on
completion of the model in plaster. and the re-
naming half on completion of the statue in
marble to his acceptance"
THE OPTICAL INSPECTION OF THE STATUE.
Under the above provisions Of the act requir-
ing the official acceptance OF the statue by the
Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Delano
notified Miss Ream that he would view the
work at O'Clock this morning. Accordingly at
that hour quite a number of members OF Con-
gress, journalists and q few personal friends of
the artist, including her sister and her aged
parents, were present to witness the interesting
affair. This, it will be remembered, is not the
public unwilling Of the statue on the occasion Of
turning it over to Congress, but is simply the
private Official inspection required, as above
stated, of the Secretary Of the Interior Among
those present were Secretary Delsno, Assistant
Secretary otto, Senator Trumbull, Gen.
FarnswOrth, Mr.. Dawes, Of Massachusetts,,
Judge Marshall and Representatives Po-
land, Lawrence, Armstrong and Ingersoll.
After some preliminary work in removing the
board-surroun dings of TIE statue, the outline
of the statue appeared, but still shrouded by its
covering of cloth. The workmen then prepared
to lift this veil, and there was sudden hush in
the buzz OF conversation, in anticipation of the
event. 1t must have been al anxious moment
to the courageous little sculptor, and to her
personal friends present. Could it be that the
fragile youthful figure standing there, pale and
anxious, and rendered more child-like in ap-
pearance by her petite form and wealth Of
Dora-like curls, had made a success where %
many older sculptors-Brown notably and re-
cently-had failed? Was il possible that at her
age, and with her slight experience. she had
made statue Of Abraham Lincoln lit to be
placed in the Capitol of the nation? And then
there was the formidable array of Ilnosians
present, familiar with the living Lincoln, and
prompt to detect defective literal representa-
ton, however good the work might be artisti-
caly. The veil was raised slowly, disclosing
first the base, bearing the simple words
ABRAHAM LINCOLN;
then. the well-remembered form; AMI finally
and essentially, the head OF the Patriot Mar
tyr. There was a momentary hush and then
an involuntary, warm, and universal demon
straton OF applause gave the verdict OF the dis
tinguished and critical gathering. and assured
the artist that her work was to be set down a
success. There was another pause, while q
del iipra TO REV fax nd bap
other. and another round Of applause confirmed
and rendered final the involuntary decision
from the first impression. And then every
body turned to where the little sculptor
girl stood, little in the rear with glad
tears in her eyes, and congratulations were
poured in upon her from all quarters, Official
and unofficial the IllInoisians present being
foremost in expressing their satisfaction with
her representation OF the man they revered.
The expressed opinion OF Senator Trumbull and
others from that State was that the statue
gives that thoughtful benignant expression
familiar to those who knew Mr.. Lincoln best,
BILE. But he did not undertake, not being ia
niliar with art matters, to pronounce upon It's
artistic merits, though they struck him as de-
cided. On all the points IT issue, Of Likeness
and artistic excellence, the opinion of so com
petent An authority As the distinguished painter
Kellogg, whe has both European and Ameri-
can reputation. will be read with interest, and
we Subjoin it in place Of any less competent
description OF our own:
"To model . life size figure Of a subject lack
ing many OF the qualities which make por-
| tIsit statue attractive and impressive, and vet
to meet the reasonable expectations of the many
who knew the original personally so well, is to
achieve greater success thsn is usual in art
90 1t is an ordeal requiring courage and the
faith OF genius to meet; and especially must
it have been to Miss Keam, under the circum-
stances, which have lately attracted 20 much
public attention to the artist and to the work
She nov submits to the criticism OF those who
commissioned it.
1.-The proportions of the work are very exact;
An extraordinary merit, which well repays the
years of silent and labOrious study given by
Miss Ream to modelling the entire anatomy of
the Hgure before casting the drapery upon it.
" The features of Mr.. Lincoln are admire ably
rendered, and It was this faithful delineation OF
character which obtained for Miss Ream the
commission for this statue over many ADLER COM
petitors. The head and features are forcibly
yet truthfully modelled, the hair boldly man
aged in flowing masses, As by the skill Of expe-
rience; and the expression Of sadness, mingled
with benevolence, is touchingly portrayed, well
conceived. and appropriate to the expression
and meaning of the statue. The head, bending
slightly forward and downward, seems to regard
with anxious solictude the multitude Of q newly
liberated people, to whom is presented, by the
right hand, the proclamation of their emanc-
patton. A long circular cloak covers the right
shoulder aud arm, falls backward of the left,
being held partially under the forearm and
caught up BY the left hand, which grasps its
ample fields Is if in readiness to cover with the
protecting mantle Of the government the de-
IeDceless Doln8s VINO are 10 receive tne lneStls
mable boon Of freedom; . beautiful thought
Of the artiste-aptiy and ingeniously symbol
lied. The cloak Is happily arranged to give
breadth rs we'll as dignity to = very tall and
meagre figure. II plays also . useful part in
aiding to support, where 1t touches the ground,
the weight Of the statue.
The figure Is well poised, standing firmly
and naturally; and its action is in perfect har-
mOpy with the idea represented. There are no
unnecessary or trivial details in the drapery to
mar the grandeur Of effect, large and varied
masses being introduced with such artistic
knowledge and feeling as to give manliness and
dignity to the subject. Indeed, there seems Q
unity Of idea and design expressed throughout
the work, and IN absence Of those Convention
alities which are - often visible in tho produc-
ton Of those who have derived their ideasof art
principally fron the schools In which they
study"
HISTORY OF TIE ARTIST.
The fact that this young artist has achieved
this undoubted success at an age when most
artists are commencing their educatiop, vill
make her personal History one of no little in.
terest, and We subjoin q brief sketch, which
viii serve at least to correct some errors in pub.
iished statements regarding her romantic career.
She was born in Madison, Wis. Her father,
Robert l.. Ream, held the position of Terrific.
IT. AgIr.--