The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-17

Miss Emma Stebbins-Tho Bethesda
Fountain mt Central Park.

Miss Emma Stebbins-Tho Bethesda
Fountain Mt Central Park.
Most OF those who have recently taken a pro-
longed walk through Central PARK will probably
have observed white winged figure looming
somewhat indistnctly at the extremity OF the Mall
Upon reaching that point and descending the steps
leading to the spacious basin located there they will
discover that the figure crowns bronze fountain;
that 1t has not yet been permanently freed from it's
canvas covering, and that the entire work was de-
signed some time ago and has just been completed
by Miss Emma Stebbins, the eminent American
sculptures.
The order for this artistic and valuable chez
d'te'trre was given by resolution OF the Board OF
commissioners of Central PARK, October 10, 1863
The scuptress' share in 1t consists OF the angel,
feet height; the upper basin. 10 feet in diameter
and the group OF smaller figures, feet each in
height modelled at intervals during the winters
OF 1864 1866 and 1867.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that the design
for this fountain suggested by the first few
verses in the nth chapter OF ST. John, where the
five porched pool by the Jerusalem sheen market Is
angel and bathed in by the blind, The halt and
the withered Miss Srebbns' inspiration and treat
ment are unquestonaby poetic; and though we
do not 20 quite 50 far as 70 say that the result is
such an Improvement upon the pool of Scripture
that the privilege OF immersing oneself IN This new
Bethesda would be lavish compensation for a life
time OF suffering, yet there can be no question that
the work Is so chaste so harmonious. 80 perfect
in Its combination of point breadth and delicacy,
as to constitute one OF the most attractive aud ele
giant embellishments yet given to the Park Such
opportunities as we have had Tor viewing the
figure uncovered permit us to state that is out
stretched wings seem to cause 1t TO hover over,
rather than aight upon, mass of rock in the
centre OF the upper BASIN that the right hand IS
extended, in the act OF blessing, and that
the lett holds branch Of lilies the emblem OF
manner from the rock and falls over the edge OF
the upper BASIN, scarcely yelling group OF -four
OF Temperance, Health and Peace. All this upper
| portion OF the work IS in bronze, the models for
bins in Rome. The models were then forwarded to
| Munich where they were cast In bronze under the
experienced superintendence Of Herr Ferd; Won
| that city, and well known to all travelled Ameri.
cans, and especially to American artists OF
| European experience, for his unvarying kindness
and courtesy, his noble probity and genuine and
cordial interest in true artistic merit. In the case
oil Miss Stebbins, whose genius and reputation in
| deed possess a claim that could not with grace
be ignored, he took the trouble unprecedented at
an establishment of the Importance OF the Munich
Foundry, to convey water from distance, at con-
siderable expense, to elevate the Bethesda angel
to the proper height and to test the perfection o.
the mechanical working by experimenting in pres.
Of the sculptress to the mutual satisfaction Of
that artist and himself
detained Tor long time at Bremen, owing TO the
uncertainty OF transportation during the Franco
German war. They at last arrived here safely July
2, 1871; but repeated delays nave retarded the
COMPLETION Of the work until the present date 1t Ia
hardly necessary Tor US to congratulate the Com
missioners of the Park upon their acquisition
Of exquisite piece OF craftsmanship. During
the long Summer days that coming the public
viii sufficiently do that and we snan not be sur
prsed II Miss Stebbins' Bethesda fountain shall do
almost as much in cultivating susceptibility to
artlstlc beauty among the masses as the pool by
the sheep market did OF old in giving health 10
those who waited for the angel to trouble it.
The costs Tor the various parts OF the fountain
are the folOwing:-
Paid Miss stebbns for design and models, 5000
in gold; in CURRENCY s.
Herr Won Muller for castings e. ......... I27si @
Patterson Tor basin I035o o.
Ames Manufacturing Company for columns 4,024 o.
Amcs Manufacturing Company, Tor bronze work 749 ~
work ...........,............. S72s %
Ncefus Company for copper work ............ go o.
BigeloW Blue Stone COMPANY for base 1000 %
The fountain will be uncovered this morning. at
ten O'Clock, for the purpose Of allowing the
sculptress to test the working OF the water and
other mechanical incidentals. There will be .
formal public unveillng week hence