New-York tribune., 1876-09-28
RoGERSS STATUE or SEWARD.

After the ceremonies of unvailing the statue
OF seward in Madson-sqIare were over yesterday
crowd of coming and departing spectators fingered
around It until twilight Obscured the gimer OF the new
bronze There was now ample opportunity 10 inspect
the work from a Sides and to estimate the value In Art
OF this last monumental decoration Of city, No pho
toaph other delneaton OF 1t having been given to
tho public the statue to ALL except to the few
who may have seen tho original model in the studio OF
Mr.. Randolph Rogers in Rome.
The location the first place, is Of the very best
that could have been selected. On the southwestern
side of Madisonquare facing the large triangular open
space made by the intersection OF Broadway and Fifth
ave. IT enjoys all the necessary advantages of light and
distance BY "a lucky chance, its proportions, which
might be called moderately colossal exactly adapted
10 the position II Is large enough TO be distinctly seen
from the western side Of Fthave yet not so large as
to impair its details on nearer view. Being seated It
is rcs while the attitude attention is pronounced
as almost suggest action. As whole, Mr. Rogers has
been decidedly successful in his conception; and he
had carried out the latter simply boldly without
gard 10 conventional expectations, he might have
given entirely admirable work Tho 20
OF the body Ia wen chosen; tho head Ia
slightly turned TO the right, the trunk is easily
erect without being rigid, and the right
Leg thrown over the left knee gives the lower limbs
direction opposite to and balancing the head The right
arm holding pen, Is thrown back naturally outside the
arm Of the chair the left arm supported, holds
script The head lifted has IN intent listening air, but
IL Is that OF listener who Is the point OF speaking.
The Likeness Seward Is not marked in the front
view account OF the now, FURNISHED appearance Of
bronze will be when the metal is darkened by
exposure; hut I'm the profile Tewespecally from the
eastern side-t out strong and clear Mr. Rogers
has made the chin, which retreated aud was decidedly
the weakest feature in Mr.. Sewards face little more
prominent than in life. In doing 30. however, he has
only carried out the promise Of the heavy eyebrows and
the aqune In the spirit he has added very
little to the cerebGllum and the result is head which
will be instantly recognized by any one who ever saw
the original because it exterory expresses the inteec
tual qualities OF the man.
The faults OF the statue are suchs might easily have
been avoided. In figure OF colossal proportions IL Is
difficult TO indicate stature, and although this might
have been done by bringing the back Of the chair high
as the shouder-bades something OF the grace and free
dom of the attitude would have been lost Future gen.
eraiiOns judging only from this monument, may suppose
that Mr.. Seward was a TALL imposnglookng gentleman:
the legs and certainly too long for the body;
the latter well modelled, however, and in harmony
with the head and trunk but the legs from the knees
down. marred by trousers apparently made OF leather
or buckskn soaked in water No mon can involuntarS
throw one leg over the other without shortening Of
what the recent Dress Reform Convention in Phiade
phla calls the garmenture !" the cloth VIII be drawn
up, showing the complete outline Of the foot and
ankle. But Mr. Rogers makes 1t cling closely TO
the SHOE giving the contours especially OF the left les
character which ia positively disagreeable This Is
especially apparent when the statue s Viewed from the
western side. Mr. Seward sits ia o1rule ehAir OF
Renaissance character This not matter OF much I'M
portance except hs the hight of the scot suggests
greater stature than he possessed But tho two piles OF
heavy foes and tae parchment scroll under the seat
what DO they meant They have evidently connection
with the clear, decided expressive action OF the figure
and they od the eye In every yiew OF 1t except from
tie rear They are slowed under the chair their use