The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-10-31
Virginia's Statues.
Ist. Louis Republican |


Tho bronze statue of Stonewall jackson,
one of the latest tasks of the lamented Fo- |
ley, has safely arrived at Richmond, Va,
and was recently formally presented to
Governor Kemper, as the representative of
the state: This splendid did. work; is the
number of other distinguished English
gentlemen, who have thus in an exceed
ingly graceful manner not only commemo
rated the valor and the virtues of the great
Southern chieftain, but testified the pecu
liar Affection which England has always
cherished tor the &" Old Dominion. The
statue, now temporarily lodged in the base
ment of the capitol building, awaiting the
erection of a suitable pedestal, will be
unveiled with appropriate ceremonial dur
ing the State fair, which occurs early next
month.
Virginia can boast of at least three speci
mems of what may be termed historic
sculpture, the superiors of which it would
be difficnlt to find anywhere outside of
Italy. Indeed, we think that one of these,
| Crawford's equestrian statue of Washing
ton and its accompanying groups, can
not be equalled in the world. AS relic
of ancient art, the x" Marcus Aurelius" on
the Campidoglio, Rome, is infinitely more
valuable than any production of the mo-
dern chisel; while Rauch's !" Frederick the
Great, in front of the old palace at Der
lin, has a vigorous life about it which we
have never seen surpassed. Yet, even
master pieces, Crawford's Washington
has no reason to fear its illustrious
rivals. Its effectiveness, too, is vastly in @.
creased by the figures which surround it.
These colossal portraits of some of Vir-
ginia's greatest sons give completeness
and symmetrical finish to the whole which
would otherwise be lacking. We know OF
no other equestrian statue in this country
or Europe which has such q noble setting
as this.
But precious as in the chef d. GnUrs Of
Crawford the dilapidated Capitol close by
has richer and rarer gem. Virginia ought
to be ashamed to have no better shrine fol
Houdon's "Washington " than the dark
and dirty rotunda where it has stood sc
long, and where, in case of fire, its destruc
ton would be inevitable. This statue
done in marble, was, as our readers are
aware, modelled from the living body of the
original by the best French sculptor of his
day, who was sent over by Jefferson and
Franklin for that express purpose, anC
spent six weeks at Mount Vernon. L
is a faithful-the most faithful-like
ness of "the immortal rebel, F" and wal
so pronounced by Lafayette and others o
} Washington's friends and contemporaries
The copy we have in Lafayette park
though scantily appreciated by it's posses
sors, is a most excellent reproduction ant
worth hundred Hosmerised Bentons.
Now that Foley's Jackson" is added t.
the contributions of Crawford and Houdon
Richmond deserves to be called " the Cit.
of Statues" If, as is now reported, Lee
and Stuart are to receive similar honors
the beautiful capital of a gallant State will
become by far the richest depository of tn
plastic art in America, and as such will
amply repay a pilgrimage. 1t is to b
hoped that the example set by Virgini
may arouse q spirit of emulation anon
: her sisters commonwealth, and thus il
,, time provide the country with a grand gal
1 lery of sculpture not inferior to thoe
which lend 30 powerful attraction to land
, beyon the sea.