Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-03
ART NOTES.

Travellers who make the tour of the Rhine next
season will probably have the pleasure of seeing
on the heights of the Niederwald, opposite Bin
gen, the gigantic figure OF sGermania Victrix,,
which the German government decided, soon
after the close Of the Franco German war,
should be erected on that elevated point, as a
lasting memorial OF Germanys dominion on the
Rhine. The statue, which was modelled by
Schelling, the distinguished Dresden sculptor,
is to be cast at the Royal foundry at Munich,
with as little delay as possible. tits to be 80 feet
inches in height, mounted on base of suitable
character. and can hardly fail to be an object Of
great interest in the landscape Yet noble as it
undoubtedly will be. in size and proportions, it
Will probably not be as conspicuous aud impress
sive as was expected by its OriginatorS, on ac-
count Of Its great elevation above the ordinary
surface of the river. In these respects 1t can
hardly fail to fall below the famous statue Of
Bavaria in the Theresa meadow, at Munich,
which is nearly double the size of the "Gernla-
nia," and has the advantage, besideS of being
seen from nearer point Of view.
"A portrait Of Mr. Corcoran has recently
been presented by that gentleman to the West
moreland Club, of Richmond, Va. The gift
grew, we understand, out of request on the
part OF the club that he would allow his like
ness to be painted for it, as expression of its
appreciation Of the warm interest he has always
taken in the welfare OF Virginia, and The pic
ture Is priced not less on that account than for
its value as work OF art.
- Gustave Dore Is at present engaged in Illus
trat1ng Shakespeare. 1t is said that he is so
completely absorbed in the study of his subject
that he can think and talk of nothing else but
Shakespeare, and is putting forth his whole artiS-
tic power in the endeavOr to interpret him in a
worthy manner. He has already made num-
Der of drawings, both large and small, of var-
Gus scenes, and in particular has utilized some
OF the sketches he made last year during his
tour in Scotland for his illustrations to Macbeth
His friends claim that this work will be one of
the greatest achievements of his art in the way
be Interesting and valuable as a collection of
picturesque drawings by so competent master
In that line OF art as Mr.. DOre but it is doubtful
whether any Frenchman is capable OF truly ap-
preciating and interpreting Shakespeare.
Some of the readers Of The STAR may be in
terested in knowing that late advices from
England (where the "Keramical Kraze" may be
meaningless practice Of turning plates into pic
tunes, and hanging them about all over the
walls, is sinking into disfavOr, and the more
legitimate uses of china are being recognized"
OF course, the writer says, there are rare cases
where it is allowable to hang up plate, which
is too precious to be used In any way, and which
Is decoration in itself, or in the particular po-
sition given to it; but the practice OF making
like kitchen wall furnished with dressers for
all the spare crockery in the house, has had its
day, and Is rapidly going out Of fashion. 1t
may be adde also, that this practice was never
greatly in vogue with persons of solid Judgment
and sound aesthetic taste.
"A monument to the late Associate Justice
Nelson, Of the Z. s. Supreme Court, is proposed
by the citizens of Cooperstown, N. Y. The
Journal Of that place says: ''He alone from
the time of Samuel, the first Circuit Judge
among the Jews, till the present era, sat upon
the bench for term OF fifty years."