New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-08
THE STATUE OF LAFAYETTE.

Since the vail has fallen and the scafolding bans
ners, and pennant-staves been removed. Barth0ldfs
statue of Lafayette in Union-square stands before
us free and complete. The space around it was
thronged from morning till evening yesterday By
thousands of eager and interested spectators. The
heavy laurel wreaths arc allowed to hang upon the
nedestal: but the stone-cutters, who have still
little final chiseng to do, quietly go on with their
work. We are now able to examine this new piece
of monumental art and make report OF It's character
which was not possible during the ceremonies OF
Wednesday.
The period of Lafayette's life Is happily chosen.
He is the brilliant young Marquis in the costume OF
the Court of Louis XVII offering his virgin sword to
the Nation which has just declared its existence, and
the fate of which is still uncertain The pedestal Is
planted without regard to the lines Of the square in
which it stands and the statue faces angle, not
side of the pedestal This violation of the old hum
drum conventiOnalities impresses us pleasantly, az
once and when, following the direction OF the
statues action, we are led directly to Washington
whose raised right arm seems to answer it, we well
come the reciprocal effect. The figure OF La
fayette has strong merits, and ono serious
defect. 1t is colossal, yet does not seem
to be greater than life; it is characters
tic and expressive, TO an unusual dcgree
yet it is wholly satisfactory from only one point OF
view Let The spectator take position half way
between the eastern corner OF broadway ana the
statue of Washington: he will find in the face, IN
the right hand, grasping the sword by the blade.
under the ht, to the breast in the extended, open
ing loft hand, an expression Of frank, magnanimous
offer of service. which leaves nothing to be desired
But let him move westward until he reaches limo
drawn from the statue to the corner OF University
place! Then the right leg and foot are seen to be
thrown back so far that the action becomes con-
scIous and therefore theatrical the character OF
the figure is suddenly changed: the head, seen in
profile loses its fine, noblcase-oCge expression. ana
the work is transformed into something different
from the artists evident intention
II was also a mistake to represent Lafayette
standing on the PROV of boat about to land. TX
realism must be observed the fact is that the gem
erous offer Of his sword and means was made before
he left France: it accepted and confirmed after
he met Washington, and the circumstance OF his
landing is of 10 special significance Moreover, the
exigencies of space compel the artist to represent
boat which, from the lines of its Prov, could not
have been than sxOr seven feet long, and would
inevitably have swamped its passenger. The two
equal half-curled waves under 1t might
be easily mistaken for the unfinished volutes of an
Ionic capital; and these accessories only serve to
mako the exaggerated attitude of the figure, as seen
from the southwestern side. more prominent. we
regret to make this seemingly unthankful criticism
because the design Of the statue is excellent and
the execution, III other respects, so satisfactory IL
is so nearly what it should bc that we perhaps gvc
more weight to the single defect because IL migat
40 easily have been avoided. But we must DO
heartily glad that, in branch of art which seems
TO provoke failure VIC have received more thor
ouglly interesting and expressive example. There
arc few monumental statues in the United States
which are so alive.
The pedestal, of gray granite, is both novel and
agreeable IN design. 1t has heavy cornice. under
which is band. or abacus with q wreath of ivy
leaves, slightly raised and polished to darker tint
Around tho top of the plnth is looped-up wreath
of laurel brought out in the same manner; and the
first mombor Of the base which has convex front,
represents oalS-leaves crossed by fllcts. The in-
scriptions are raised and gIlded and the general
effect is exceedingly graceful II this style OF oa-
nentaton is able to resist the effects of our climate.
it will be an important gain to architecture and
monumental sculpture.