The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-08
RICHMOND, VA, March

YOU stated t1at the Lee MONUMENT AsSOcla-
ton had concluded to invite artists OF all
nations to send in designs for the Lee monu-
ment but had limited the time within which
designs would be received to the beginning
OF September next. This mornings issue
confirms this statement by the publication
OF the "Proposals - Of the secretary OF the
Association. .&
While these proposals in terms are nd
dressed to the whole world, are sculptors OF
all sections really invited to send in designs
for this great southern monument? The
American sculptor reads the advertisement
this morning, and being familiar with the
history, lneaments, and bearing of Lee, can
commence at once his design. How differ
ent with the foreign sculptor, who barely
knows Lee even from some roughiy-eXe-
cuted illustrated paper, to say nothing
OF his history away from the Con-
iederate records. 1t will be three
weeks before the Italian can read
this advertisement; six weeks more
before he can get n good likeness OF Lee
and learn the incidents Of his life; and after
the design has been finished month more
will be required before it can be sent from
Rome to Richmond. Thus thirteen weeks
are taken from the nominal six months al
lowed to send in designs from abroad, and
only three months really allowed to the
foreign artist within which to execute de-
sign. Were the order simply to design a
man on horseback to look like Lee, it might
be easily executed; but we propose to erect
q monument within sight of that Of Wash
ington, and one which we trust, for the sake
not only Of Lees memory, but also OF the
memory of the Southern Confederacy, will
bear no mean comparison with its neigh
Dor. Will any foreign sculptor with any
reputation at stake undertake to design
such a monument in three months? 1t
must be remembered that besides the eques.
trian figure the sculptor is required to de-
SIGN the pedestal, which must be adorned
with reliefs representing different scenes in
the life of Lee, like Frederick the Seconds
monument at Berlin, or with allegorlcal
figures like our present monument OF WASH
ington. II the pedestal be mere block OF
granite, the close comparison between the
two monuments will necessarily be. to the
disadvantage of the Lee monument. The
committee, in calling for designs OF an
equestrian statue to be placed in the Capt.
tol Square, require a monument that will
stand well in comparison with that to Wash
ington.
I ask, then, are foreign artists really in
yited to compete for this great honor OF
erecting monument to Lee? And is it not
n mere mockery to invite them, and not
give them time within which they can send
in their designs?
Again, how can any artist send in bis
design until he knows within what Is the
limit of the cost of the proposed monu-
ment? The finest designs by the greatest
sculptors will probably cost the most. and
are they to be refused simply because they
-, fa1 hxt
this committee? Had any sum been named,
the same artist might have sent in most
beautiful design, the cost Of which would
not have exceeded that amount; but with
no named sum, how can he tell what kind
of monument you wish-whether like
Washington here or the ridiculous efigy of
jackson at the national capital? Are these
proposals like those for the public printing,
to be given to the lowest bidder?
Again, how can sculptor tell the COM
mittee what the pedestal will cost! how
does the Italian or German in Europek know
the price of granite-work in Richmond?
For these reasons think the foreign
artist is really excluded from competing,
and it is unnecessary to incur the additional
expense of advertising abroad. The money
in the bands of the ladies who have SO nobly
exerted themselves in collecting fund for
this monument came, / have been told by
one Of them, chiefly from other States than
Virginia. Very little of it was collected in
this State. It is true, an act Of the Virginia
Legislature did incorporate the Lee-Monu-
ment Association, but that act gave the AS
sociation very full power to exercise their
Judgment in erecting the monument, without
restriction US to time, cost, place, or design;
aud it is all error to suppose that the Legis-
lature enacted that an equestrian statue Of
Lee shall be erected In the Capitol Square.
The Legislature seemed fully aware Of the
difficulty in erecting such monument in
the Square, within sight Of Washington,
and limited the Association to no particular
spot, even within the limits Of this city.
To discuss, however, this now would eX-
tend beyond the epistolary bounds, and
must leave it to another time, and only hope
you will see from what have above said
that no foreign artist Of any note can really
offer design for Lees monument by Sep
tember next, in this city. j. D.
lIt may be added that northern journals,
travellers, and books, may have produced
in the minds of foreign artists, ideas as to
General Lee which need to be cerrected].
s