Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-30
WARDS WARRINGTON.
Tho Statnc which Was Unveiled In
Now York, Monday.

The colossal bronze statue Of Washington
which was unveiled on Monday on the steps
of the sub.treasury building in Wall street,
on the site OF the old Federal buildug-ihe
building on the balcony Of which Washing.
ton took the oath Of Office before Chancellor
Livingston as first President of the United
States Of America, in the presence of an i'm
mcnsc multitude of people, on the Both day
of April, 17S0-is the work of the sculptor
John q. A. Ward, who designed the statue
OF Lafayette on our college park, and the
pedestal of the Washington statue was de-
signed by Richard NJ. Hunt, who also de-
signed the pedestal for our Lafayette statue.
Wards Washington is thus described 1t
represents the first President as he
appeared on the historical occasion,
when, having taken the oath, he says, 81
swear-so help Inc God" The costume is the
civilian dress of the day, the only thing
military about it being the cloak, which,
resting but lightly on the shoulders, as if
about to fall off, it is the sculptors intention
10 have typify the REIMBURSEMENT of the mil
itary for tic civil career. The costume is
sedulously plain, reproducing carefully that
chosen by Washington for the occasion as in
| consonancc with tho simplicity of republican
| ideas and iua itu,ions. The coat of the suit
| of brown American cloth, which wal made
especially for the occasion, being single
breasted and thrown well open to display the
long square cut vest, falls in effective straight
| folds from the right shoulder and under the
| left arm, whose hand, appearing between it
and the heavy folds of the military cloak,
rests upon the steel hit of the simple civilian
sword. The knee breeches are buttoned
| about stockings which were of white silk, and
the square tOed, low quartcred shoes are
| furnished with plain silver buckles The
keschief wound about the neck, the rutflc be-
low which fills the opening left by the un-
| butloning of the upper buttons of the vlst,
and the sleeve ruflics were of cambic in
| stead of lace. The pose, as has already been
SAID, is chosen with judgment, aud tho
| statue is an admirable work, which composes
well and is modelled with the knowledge and
| skill which are pre-cminent in the works OF
| one of the most distinguished native sculp.
| tors. Ia opposition TO The IDEAS of the
| special committee of the Chamber Of Com.
| merce In charge of the work. who desr.
| ed to have the right arm raised in the act OF
taking the oath, Mr.. Ward, with much
wisdom, decided to have it in its present
position-eXtendcd downward and out,
with hand open. The body rests firmly on
the right leg, the left being slightly adj
vanccd; and the long cloak falling from tn,
left shoulder, with the drapcrY behind ar
ranged about column of fasces on which
| lies the Bible, f1rms firm support to The
figure, as well as an effective background
Earnest and calm in expression, the eyes
well opened and turLed TO the right, and the
firm, thin mouth closed in resolutc manner
he hair rising from the forehead and caught
in queue behind, the face and head cola.
mand immediate attention.
Mr. Ward says: ''ln designing the statue
l was at first very anxious TO produce some
fresh and novel treatment Of the subject, ant
with that purpose made many sketches
some of Witch were rather bold and original
but upon further reflection found that how.
ever effective artistically, they did not truly
represent the character demanded for tht
occasion, and the serious dignity and repos,
OF The man came back to Inc as the only true
guide. BY the way, i. may seem strange &c
| advance arguments to sustain tue popular
| idea of Washington, but when the keen re.
searches OF the hero killers in current itera.
| ture can find in life so full of trying cir.
| cumstances but two or three instances where
in he lest his dignity or repose, either as 9
gentleman, general or president, then we
may safely accept the most exalted idea of
his wisdom and virtue. Perhaps at one
stage OF our history certain Cavinistic ex-
uSBclhllou VI HIS SERIOUSNESS leu 10 an an.
surdly severe and dry presentation of his
character, which may be the excuse for re-
vising certain little story books.
las to the protraiture, it is scarcely worth
any artists while to experiment much out
side of Houton's bust and Stuart's portrait ;
neither art nor the Republic demands new
likeness of Washington. The peculiarities
of his figure, except for slight corpulence
in latter life, were not SO remarkable as TO
call for any serious departure from good
sculpturesque proportions all accounts give
him splendid physique, noble and impress.
slve, even majestic The costume is such
as he wore on that occaslon-very simple
AS this was his second entrance into public
life, the first being as military man, the
cloak is shown partly falling from his Shout
ders. 1t was supposed by some that the
incident of his taking the oath should be
represented by an Hplifted hand, as in af-
firming. lie probably did not raise his
hand at all. mean the statue to express his
feelings at the moment, wheE, after resting
his hand on the Bible during the administra-
ton of the oath, and then kissing the book,
he said 4 swear-sD help me God " and
stands with his hand still extended"