, 1872-12-01
MEAD'S LINCOLN.

A Visit to the Studio Of the Sculptor.
Florence Letter to tho Rome !Setrs.
Among the many stndi Of Florence one OF the
most interesting to the readers Of this paper is
undoubtedly that OF Mr.. &. l.. Mead, situated
near the Piazza dell Independence, not only on
account Of it's beautiful piece Of sculpture rep
resenting Columbus receiving from Queen 1sa-
bella of Spain the jewels by the sale Of which
he found funds to prosecute his voyage, but
principally from the fact that that hero vera
Conceived and executed the figures which are to
crown the monument to be erected to tho mem
ory OF Lincoln at Springfield, ILL.,, formerly the
home OF that lamented P1 resident, who little an
ticipated the fame and murtyrdom awaiting him.
nr, Mead is extremely happy in portrait
1ous; I think that the work could hardly be
p1aced in better hands, and the proof that 1 am
not the only Of this opinion ia, that in spite
OF the conception Of many most able sculptors,
Mr.. Mead has had the entire work intrusted to
his hands.
The statue Of Lincoln WIS filished some time
ago; the bronze casting have beeI successfully
completed in America, and has met with the full
approval Of the Committee appointed for the
purpose OF examining the work.
The figure is nearly twelve feet high and
when mounted on the pedestal cannot fail to be
very striking.
Around the base, ut eaela corner, will be a
group representing Infantry: Marine, Cavalry,
and Artillery
The hrst-na1ned group is already on it's way to
the States; it consists of q standard-bearer, q
drunmer-boy, and soldier Of the line; from
the base to the apex it stands over eleven feet
in height.
The natural pose Of tie figures cannot be too
much admired; there is m amount of life in
them that carries one at once back to the battle
field where
"Red Battle stamps his foot, and Nations feel the
The expression in each face shows that all are
determined to conquer Or die" Tho Officer, with
outstretched arn1, points to the enemy, and
waves his flag as he leads on his 1non; the drum
mer-boy, his head uncovered, and with c fear
leas look. strides on, revolver in hand, prepared
to do al he can in support Of bis cause; and the
simple soldier, with bayonet fixed and gun at
the "charge," has such determination in his
him.
Every detail has been carefully worked ont.
AL the arms and accoutrements are modelled
from originals which have probably 6een plenty
of hard fighting, and the whole shows Al amount
Of care bestowed upon it that is very creditable
to AH. Mead's conscientiousness.
Some idea may be had of the labor required
when mention that this one group has occupied
q year for the modelling alone. The metal
casting will be done in the States, and Of courso
will be the work Of some months, so that when
the tour groups have been safely delivered, Say
in another three yenrs, thu monument Will not
be completed for some time after, possibly at
the end of 1877.
The second group Q1arine) is now in hand.
aud we venture to predict will be as successful
az the first. It shows us naval officer, tele-
scope in hand, on the lookout for the foe;
sai1or-boy, perchod on the top Of mortar, points
out some object in the distance. and . third
figure is striving to gain more prominent posi-
ton in order to see what is going on. Alto
gether, the second group is worthy Of the first,
and live in hopes that my opinion will be in
dorsed by all who may See the completed monu-
ment.
The third and fourth groupings, cavalry and
artillery are as yet in embryo.