Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-03-26

Ike Michael Angelo, united In himself the
highest qualifications of both professions,
and had given ample evidence of his execu-
tive capacity. Such an artist can scarcely
be said now to exist in Europe, much less in
America. Yet we are ambitious of erecting
monuments which require, both for their
composing and carrying out, artists of first
rate power, on the one hand, while we are
so solicitous to hurry them forward and have
them done cheaply, that in the execution of
good design, we overlook the idea, and
fancy that it needs no more talent and knowl-
edge than would a factory chimney. Sup
posing Phidias, Michael Angelo. or Giovanni
ID Bologna had let out on cheapest contract
their colossal statues, to be executed by the
"Granite Companies of their times, to be
sub-let to the cheapest stone cutters, not
even their genius in designing could have pre-
served them from becoming colossal scare
crows. The feeling and knowledge that in
spired the composition must interpenetrate
the execution TO the last stroke of the chisel; !;
otherwise, we get only hideous monstrosties
In proper hands, even if made in blocks,
the statute of Faith" might be made artisti-
cally beautiful and effective and no joints be
seen. There is nothing in size alone to pre-
vent correct modelling and graceful draping.
1t needs, however, thoroughly-trained
SSuiPtoA W Oul SuCu luSttdu vi
increasing the number of our failures in
monuments, let us give some money and
time to the training of class of competent
architects and sculptors men of absolute
genius, or at least talent, and put the respon-
sibility on them of carving out the Nations
Ideas providing them with the necessary
means. This becomes the more expedient
because the Nation itself is beginning to ap-
prOpriate considerable sums for the erection
of monuments and for other works of art
commemorating public men and events be-
longing to its history. But in doing so, Con-
gress too frequently gives the subject no seri-
Gus consideration, either as to the actual i'm
portance Of the particular enterprise or the
best means OF carrying it out. An instance
in point has just occurred in the passing of
bill appropriating 100000 for the erection
of monument at Yorktown, in Virginia,
in honor of the closing victory of the revolu-
tion which established America as an inde-
pendent Nation and Republic. An event
OF such paramount importance to us, and so
pregnant with results bearing on the destinies
OF other people, both in its immediate and re-
mote consequences, should have material
monument. if any at all, somewhat commen-
surate TO these results. We have seen that
impoverished Italy devotes nearly 50 ,000,-
OOO toward symbolizing in the person of
Victor Emmanuel, her late king, the accom-
plishment of her political unity under his
auspices. The Italians do not do too much
In devoting so large sum TO mark their new
birth and fresh start in national life. They
are equally wise in their endeavor to get their
moneys worth in art by putting under con-
tribution the best genius of entire Europe
Further, they place their monument on the
most conspicuous historical site, where it
must be seen by not only the whole Italian
people, as 1t were, but by all the races of men
who come up to the Eternal City" In this
way, if done well, it will be an aesthetic
joy to all eyes, besides the lessons it gives of
patriotism.
What does our Congress do p? First, it ap-
PIRATES sum entirely inadequate to the
ideas it seeks TO put into monumental shape
as an honorable record of the past virtues,
and e stimulus to coming generations to do
not less should similar peril over,ake them.
1t provides penny-whistle in place of a
huntsman's horn to sound the calls of patriot
ism. But even penny whistle is useless if
there are no ears to hear it. One hundred
thousand dollars put into the hands of ignor-
ant contractors and stone-cutters to spend is,
doubtless, refreshing to their pockets, and it
matters not TO them-nor, indeed, to art-if
their work is piled up in a wilderness.
Little ~ it is, it is vastly too
much to spend thus. A simple
stone inscription would be quite suf-
ticient for this locality. If not placed at
Washington, the political heart of the nation,
where it would do the most good, be most
effective, and be on the whole peoples
ground let ii be placed at Richmond, on the
soil of old Virginia, through which the
great tide of Northern and Southern travel
flows, and i'll the midst of a dense population
but little removed from the actual site of the
final great triumph of the Revolutionary ar
mics and their gallant French allies Wait,
at least, until 100000 or ) 600 900 can he
devoted or raised for this honorable purpose,
and the art capacity of the people, both TO
execute aud appreciate, has risen TO tho Lowell
of the occasion. There is too much of a dis
position either 10 plan and finish monuments
with the same speed with which we build
railways, needless of other result than to
have them quickly done and off our hands.
or else TO tire of them and let them die of in
action before they are fairly begun. The
gist of the remarks of Mr.. Phelps of Burling
ton, at the meeting of the Directors of the
bennington Battle Monument Association, in
Boston last year, in regard to that enterprise
is pertinently applicable TO all. He said, in
effect, it was not incumbent on this genera
ton to build the monument at all one hun
dred years had gone without one, and an
other hundred could There was no obliga-
tion TO act now. In undertaking it, the asso-
citation was undertaking q great work. II
was the duty of all TO recognize this fact,
and not enter on it without proper reflection
and study. Ii was incumbent, however. to
do thoroughly and well whatever was under
taken. II there was to be any failure from
lack of present means and knowledge. it
were better to abandon the enterprise alto
gether and leave it to be done by coming
generations more willing and competent.
These remarks, seconded by the good sense
of the other Directors, saved New England
from the infliction of some cheap sham
design, guitless of all true art feeling and
shape, hastily chosen aid completed simply
to finish up and end work which some Of
those interested had become tired and want
cd to see the end Of | commend their moral
and application to the minds of our legisla-
tors and all those engaged in getting up our
national monuments. Whatever they do, if
they would escape disastrous failure and
avoid making themselves and the country
ridiculous, they must employ competent en-
pcris and artists to decide for them just as
they would seek, in any line of business
which they undertake, to secure the best
talents 10 insure its success. Art, particular
ly, cannot stand the hazards of spontaneous
impulse or action 1t is the uncommon sense
born of heaven, bestowed genius, that makes
art great success. In their own good time
the gods will doubtless add this gift to their
many others to America.
JAMES JACKSON JARvKs.