Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-01-28

A New York paper says Very few c
those to whom Henry Kirke Browns
equestrian statue of Washington In
Union square is n familiar figure are
aware than it is the first bronze statue
| ever wholly executed in this country.
| II was commenced in 1858 and dedicated
July 4, 1856 so that it is not 'et a quar-
ter OF century since the first statue in
bronze was actually produced in the
United States independent of foreign
assistance. Its locat on in Union square
was provided for Dy the private subscrip-
tions of gentlemen OF veal b ard cri iture
resident in that vicinity, who have long
since moved uptown, leaving an artistic
property which belongs to them by pur-
chase to embellish a quarter devoted to
business purposes. And this recalls
some facts as to existing statues OF
Washington which it may be worth the
while to remember. The three earliest
were executed by artists OF great repu-
tation, but only one OF them was taken
on life. This was provided for in
1854 by a special act of the legislature OF
the State of Virginia. Governor Harri-
son, of that State, applied to Thomas
Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, who
were then IN Paris, to assist him in the
selection OF com petent artist, and they
e gagged the Sc vices of Jean Antoine
! Houdon, regarded rs one OF the most
distinguished sculptors in Europe, who
visited this country in 1895, and passed
the major part of the month OF October
at Mount Vernon iii modelling the bust
of his illustrious subject. Having tin-
ished his task, he returned to Paris and
executed the only statue OF w aShInRton
which represents him as he appeared In
lite. He was then fifty-four years of
age. The figure, which now graees the
| State capitol, is valuable not only as
work of art, but for its remarkably ex-
act reproduction of the lineanents of
the great Revolutionary hero. CanovA's
statue, which presents Washington in q
sitting posture and in Roman costume,
was, unfortunately, materially injured
by the fire which nearly destroyed the
capitol at Raleigh, N. G. Chantrey's,
which is one of the attractions of the
State house in Boston, conceives the
Father of his Country as military hero,
and displays TO advantage his command
ing figure; but, like Canova's, it is an
ideal conception of the classical school,
with no pretentions to authenticity.
The next attempt of note is tL9t of
Horatio GreenOugh, one of our earliest
sculptors, which was finished in lS43,
and engaged the nd OF the artist dur
ing eight years residence in Italy. 1t is
a colossal statue, representing Washing
ton in a sitting posture, the lower part
of the figure swathed in a graceful
drapery. Originally intended for the
rotunda of the capitol at Washington,
it row graces the eastern front OF the
building. Tue treatment is poetical
rather than historical. The next i'm
portant work was that of Brown on
Union square; and two years later, in
1868. Crawiord's colossal statue, designed
by him under a commission from the
State of Virginia, and surmounting the
| Washington monument on Capitol hill,
was completed and dedicated with great
/ enthusiasm. 1t was cast in Germany
under Ora Words personal supervision.
! On February 81, IS6O-the one hundred
and twenty eighth anniversary OF ms
birth the celebrated Mills statue, exc
cuted under an order from the govern
ment, was dedicated in the city OF
/ Washington. 1t is a purely military
conception of the central figure in our
Revolutionary history, and portrays
! WASHINGTON with the fire of conflict in
his face, as he appeared (jn the imagin-
alton of the artist at least) at the battle
OF Monmouth-on of the most desper-
ately contested fields of the war for in
dependence. The Ball statue in the
| Public garden in Boston, finished in
1863, is an equestrian figure similar in
conception to that on Union square,
and, like its pred ecessur, was erected by
private subscription. The heroic figure
| executed by j. @. A. Ward in 1879 as a
/ present 10 the old town of Newburyport,
by Mr.. d mel ingalls, Tenney, for many
years resident of New York city, pre-
sents Washington in halfmtitary Co.'S
tune, the coat carelessly fastened atthe
pliddle button, and sloping back upon
the thighs in graceful lines The left
root is advanced, and the lett knee
slightly bent Tue right hand is open
ard extended. while tie left rests upon
the pommel Of his sword, whose point
Dites the ground q little behind The left
heel. The countenance is mild, and
the marks Of action are very slight; but
the conception is picturesque and pleas
! ing.