National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1876-03-17
STATUES In THE CAPITOL.
Ethan llsa-Lu Kin 6. Mad, sculptor.
fConifnred fron Firsf PGqe.


In the early Development Of his genius Ethan
Allen was TO Larkin @. Mead lavorite study.
Thempson's story OF tie "Grea Mountain Boys"
creates in tire breast o! all young ve:monters an
extrsordi1 airy admiration Of the character and
exploits Of Ett an Allen, and a. eA= Of the con-
spieuous beI oes OF the Revolution his name Is
held In al ;et.onate fementran,e by all Ameri-
cans, and he now conner, By immtrtal art, into
the National Hall OF S.stuary By light, and he
has created CONSERVATION equal TO the oae at
MAY, Ills. As q work Of ars IL Is msss p5werfui
in its varied attractions; hence wondering
crowd 10 always standing around It, and remarks
level with the hard pan Of ignsrsncs. Tafer
as whole, the statue is full of yigor
and power and heroism and majesty. It is
williams, it has the gin Of expansion
It grows larger on acquaintance, Just
slated g H. strep Is anseIdsS This IN ssn.
eral sense. In the mere matter Of detan It
aocupds in faults, the nrst and most striking OF
too small block Of marble. The size Of the
plinth proves this and accounts for several un-
pleasant effects. fhe was only standing on
BY the plinth, It would be better. The concsp-
tion OF the sculptor is one Of singular complete.
ness as regards history, action and dress, and
ment, but as the expression In marble Of q grand
tboux ut OF the brain Il satisfies In good degree
the inexorable rules pertaining to the logic and
rhetoric OF art. These words Of praise, however,
do not conclude the duty Of criticism, for We have
said IL abounds in faults, and they are BY no
shoulders, they are not thrown back enough.
and on this account there is lack In the fulness
Of the chest. The body rests with great firm
OF the LEFT there is . weak Stiffness; the knee
does not seem 70 be doing anything. Altogether
the left leg is lackadaisical. Had the body ofthe
statue been thrown forward the left knee would
have come into nrm action. The legs are large
enough, and are nnely moulded, but there is an
apparent want Of size in them. owing exclusively
grasp and position Of the sword In the right
hand is fine, and the left arm cleBched over his
left hand there Is . wonderful power Of express
sion. The modelling or that hand alone is
enough to give sculptor fame. It has much to
arm, from the shoulder 70 the elbow, is defective
In anatomy and much more constrained than Is
peeesfsIy, even for so hIm . doubling OF the
freedom. This grows out Of the error 10 per-
hitting too much shruggipg Of the shoulders.
Of the chapeau, pretty efectusily destroys the
upper part of the head. One sees q massive pro-
lection over the eyes, but above that all is lost;
the chapeau, and this error Is still further per-
petuated by lamentations in the ehapeau, " tich,
N some of the shadows falling around IT, have
the appearance OF holes in the head; Il is too
small and too close. The details OF the costume
are very precise, and there 10 nicely about It to
which come % Ke exception. IL may De that Eth6u
Allen was net so we'll dressed on that eyentful
Gay, but for all We know he may have been. It
certainly is the uniform Of officer Of his rank.
csr be found. The lace work. the spanIettes. the
sash and the carving Of the sword are all beau
tiiui TO the last degree. The face has fresh,
aud splspdor Of the expression. To this some
object, without remembering that Ethan Allen
was only thirty three when he captured TIeon.
Burlington. In this matter MIR. Mead has bsen
t1ceeoinsly baPpy.-Asa work OF art his statue
VII n9Scsa permanent value Tor me nation, anc
&rt1l ever Ink Mead's name with the pride and
glory OF Vermont.
John winthrop - Richard g. Gresnough,
Sculptor.
Mr.. Richard S. Greenough belongs to q race Of
artists. His brother, Horatio, was very eminent
as q sculptor, and his ''chanting Cheruos" was
the first original group from the chissl OF an
American artist. He modelled busts Of John
Quincy Adams, Chief Justice Marshall, Fenimore
Cooper, and Lafayette. He designed the Bunker
Hill monument, and he made that grand, sublime
statue Of Washington, in front OF the Capitol.
Mr.. Richard s. Greenough has been fortunate in
adding TO the gift of genius most useful expert
enee and patient study in the art capitals Of Ea-
rope, and some Of his works. produced abroad,
have been very fatteringly received. He is un-
dCubtecIy the best sculptor Massachusetts, can
S scnops Of soos 81
see the States Of this Union active and ambitious
in contribution OF bronze and marble statues of
to art however patriotic It may be- in the idea that
q contribution from q State must be modelled by
patiVe artist Of that State. In fact, only very
lists Of acknowledged ability. For the stimula-
tion Of art we should be glad TO see O national
studio in Washington, in which every great
commissions be open to honorable competition-
but to return to Winthrop's statue. In 1929
charter was obtained creating corporation under
the name and title Of the Governor and Company
OF Massachusetts, Bay in New England. Win
throp set sail from Yarmouth, April I, 1889, with
nine hundred persons, and the 18th of June he
once transferred TO him by Endicott. Tho statue
represents WiBthrop landing, with the charter
lett. He was . man noted for Learning and piety
and great placidity Of temper. This last charac-
teristic Grtenough has introduced into the ex-
Il ts@eEess and SesEnssa He Spg d sasiS d
It of all animation and force except In the profile
view. The features are nodded with great exact
in vitality. The eyes see nothing, the ears hear
rothipg, the nose smells nothing and tho mouth
expresses nothing. He is represented as stepping
from the gang. plank to the shore, and his right
foot is already on the land. In handling the right
arm Mr.. Greenough has been excellent. 1t is
finely modelled, the suspension is easy and grace
ful, and the hand is really beautiful. The feet
and legs-are in hne proportion, and the body Of
the statue Is entitled TO great praise, but the
the neck and the impossible natural combination
Of IuH and hair quite destroys Its life. L. ia SO
stiff, so inanimate, so breathless, as to border on
GhostIana. There isn't one single natural
mstttr much, but It is an outdoor scene and II
might be well enough TO inquire as to what the
hair and ruff make one piece, and that is as hard
as iron. The drapery is good but Il gives an idea
OF scantiness. The chest is altogether too fat;
the forehead is fiat; the entire statue is fiat. In
q n