The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-12
ART MATTERS.
Macdonaid's General Lyon.

MacdOnnid's General Lyon.
Mr.. Wilson Macdonald. at his 0teter lis West
Thirty-flth street, has just completed. alter two
years hard labor the largest work OF the kind
ever accomplished in this country. We allude to
his equestrian statue of General Lyon as that
officer appeared at the most eloquent moment of
his life, during the battle of Wilson's Greek. 1t
was in this battle that General Lyon slain, the
event occurring August 10, 1861. In that engage
ment, when no one seemed eligible to lead the
reserve force, General Lyon rode forward and In
spred the f0rOrn men with the needful courage
and enthusiasm. This Is the moment selected by
Mr.. Macdonald for representation. The General
sits erect on horseback, hat in hand, and counte.
nance expressive of that exaltation which accom-.
panies generous devotion. And here
it may be remarked that Mr.. Macdonald has
inserted almost as much individuality into the
horse as into the hero. He has labored to get rid
OF the conventional and to prove that the steed
upon which Lyon Is mounted has vital interest in
the fight. Everyone who has studied the horses in
the lreZe OF the PartnenOn must remember that
each OF them is thoroughly harmonious in action.
This result Is what MIR. Macdonald has striven
strenuously to secure. HIS deep knowledge OF
daily study OF the best models. More thOrOugbreds
than would easily be believed have subserved the
cause Of the sculptor in his roomy dtelier, and In
particular one owned by Mr.. Ferguson, of this
city, has been his chieI text. The value OF this
plan OF working is seen in the truthful muscular
development OF the steed upon which the General
is mounted, and In the strong individuality which
specifies it at once and distinctly. There are the
massive ana powerful hams, the deep and sloping
shoulder, the small and bOny head the diminutive
to the pon Of the ocK
the thoroughbred. To those who wish to form an
idea OF the size OF the whole work 1t will be
interesting to be told that the complete distance,
from the point OF the shoulder to the
point Of the hip. IS eight feet; the height OF the
General seven feet, four inches; that the entire
height, including the plinth, is twelve feet, and
that the pedestal will be plain and leave enough to
permit the feet Of the horse to be only nine feet
from the ground. The pedestal Is to be of the red
Missouri granite, obtained from the famous Gratz
Brown quarry, near Iron Mountain not far from
cast in bronze is estimated at $4,000. Within
day or two the present work is to be sent to the
American Foundry at washington to be cast and
the 10th OF next August the twelfth anniversary Of
Lyons death. 1t was ordered OF Mr. Macdonald by
the Lyon Monumental Association OF St. Louis, and
has engrOssed that sculptors attention for the
greater part of the past twenty-four months.
The same sculptor has several other works Of
subsidiary interest, among them full-length figure
OF the late Fitz-Greene Haleck. The treatment is
tailoring conventionalisms thrust upon him by the
clothier OF the period are as ingenious and tasteful
as they are successful.
Halls Series of American TrOtters.
We have received from Caldwell & Co. the first
part Of elegant series Of oil chromos of the trot
ting horses OF America. From the prospectus we
learn that in this work Will be included all the
leading and foremost tr0tting horses Of the present
day, such as Goldsmith Maid, American GIRL Henry,
Occident, Lucy, Judge Fullerton, Camors, Gazelle,
Huntress, Rosalind, &c. Part 1, just issued,
embraces the first four named horses, and the pic
lures OF them are not only admirable portraits Of
the animals, but beautiful specimens OF the chronic
art, and considerably in advance OF any horse pic
lures heretofore published. Being OF convenient
size, and published in folio form, they make suit
able addition the parOr library table OF all in
terested in horses. When we think ofthe growing
popularity of trOtting horses In all parts OF the
country, OF the immense sums OF money paid for
and invested In them for public and private use, Of
interest in the subject, it would appear certain
that favorable opening is presented for a work
like the present. Judging from the handsome pic
lures before u.s. we think the work, IL continued in
the same manner, must ensure success, for II cor
portraiture, finely executed, merits encourage
menf then Ii Is deserving of a large sale.