The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-20
LOCAL MATTERS.
The Lee Monument.

xo DECISION AS TO THE MODELS OFFERED IN
CONGRATULATIONS OF THE LADIES AS
sOCIATIoN-A SELECTION POSTPONED FOR A
YEAR-FURTHEE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN ART
IsTs TO OFFER DESIGNS,
The following was made public yesterday !:
The undersigned committee, appointed
by the Legislature to collect funds Tor the
erection OF an equestrian statue OF Robert
E. Lee in the Capitol Square, at Richmond,
in pursuance OF the authority vested IN
them by the statute entitled "An act to IN
corporate the Lee-Monument Association"
approved January 25, 1871; also, by an act
entitled can act to authorize the invest
ment OF moneys belonging to the Lee-Mon.
ument Association in State bonds" invited
on the 1st day OF September, 1877, an eXhl-
bition CT models a: Richmond city, Va, by
artists from all the world, who were de-
sirous to execute the work prescribed for
the monument to Robert f. Lee.
The advertisement was published in the
United States and in Europe, and was made
under the hope that some model worthy OF
the subject and those who projected II
might be presented OF such excellence rs TO
enlist most suffragcs in its favor, and that
the work might be commenced during this
year by union OF funds in their hands and
those OF the ladies, who held considerable
sum of money previously collected for the
same purpose, with fair assurance OF the
ability to pay punctually such sums as might
be necessary to be furnished.
Finding that the first dav OF September,
the day first mentioned, was considered by
the artists as calling upon them for models
before q sufficient time had been given for
their preparation, the day was postponed
IL, - ir,stnnf ot
which time many artists with various mo-
dcls appeared. These last were offered Tor
the insDection OF the managers and various
gentlemen supposed to have more know
ledge OF art than the commissioners them
selves. who were invited to examine these
models and give the commissioners the aid
OF their criticism and judgment.
Some OF these models exhibited great ge-
MUS on the part of those who made them.
But as things turned out it became unne-
cessary for the commissioners to decide be-
tween; for after examination and retec-
ton the ladies in possession OF the other
fund addressed a letter to the commission
ers declining to contribute their money to
the execution of any OF the models exhibit
ed. The funds in the hands OF the COM
missioners were not sufficient to pay the
cost of executing the equestrian statue
alone, to say nothing OF the compensation
for the artist.
Under these circumstances the commits
sioners have felt that it would be imprudent
to contract for the work, and il another year
may be necessary to collect sufficient funds
to Justify a contract for the statue it would
seem to be best to give the artists the same
time for the consideration and execution OF
their models. A wide competition, too.
might be thus invited, and monument Gc
secured more acceptable to the friends and
admirers of the great eXemplar whose I'M
age we wish to hand down to posterity to
instruct tit may be with the thoughts,
feelings, and emotions which habitually
covered his life. ...
Under the circumstances we have con-
Guided to postpone for year the time for
making the contract, and Of this due notice
will be given by public advertisement OF
otherwise. .-
JAMES L. KEMPEE,
Z. NJ. T. HUNTER (Treasurer),
WILLIAM F. TAYLOR (Auditor),
.........,.....,i .....- Commissioners.