Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-12-26
THE BENNINGTON MONUMENT.



The Bennington battle monument com
mittee-Mcssrs, +. j. Phelps, \. II. Rice,
b. +. Prescott and j. G. Mccullough
have published a statement in regard to
the plan they have adopted in which they
say
The committee have been favored with
various designs from very competent
hands, all meritorious, and some of great
merit. Without further referenceto others
which the proper limits of this report
would not allow us 10 describe, we have
unanimously and without any final hesita-
ton concurrcd in recommending to the
directors the design of Prof. John f.
Weir, Il model and drawings and ground
plan of which are herewith submitted.
They explain themselves, as far as Il mere
model and suggestion can anticipate its
successful realization in the artistic con
ccption and execution. The structure is
designed to stand about twenty feet square
on the ground. and about fifty feet in
clear height, and to be on II mound
ten feet high. making 4 total height
Of about sixty feet. The mass of the
base is to- be composed of rough blocks Of
New England granite. From these rises
Il shaft of unheWn granite, irregular in
FORM suggestive OF the character of the
aye anu VI CbllNfi lllE lpN al u
the top. This is surmoUntcd bya figure in
brOZe of strikingattitude, fifteen feet high,
which may be either Il portrait statue of
Gen. Stark or a representative ideal figure
typifying the Revolutionary leader On
the corners of the base ut the foot of
the shaft are designed 10 stand four
bronze statues eight feet nigh, repre-
sentative of those who took part i'll the
fight and it incidents. These need not be
portraits of individuals, but types of he
time and the event the farmer and the
artisan turning from their avOcations to
take up arms to resist invasion; the wOnl-
an of the time, not less memorable than
the man, Sheltering her child from the
coming storm; the minister of re-
ligiOn, whose words animated his flock
and invoked upon them the divine
benediction. These sculptures if com
petently designed and executed, will eX-
press most forcibly the event which is to
be signalzed, and what is much more, the
national spirit of which that event was
the outcome The battle of Bennington
was not fought on our side by regular
troops nor in the course of systematic
war. 1t was the spontaneous uprising Of
the yeOmanry OF the time to repel inva-
sion, and to strike for political and per
sOnal liberty. That is the distinctive
story and the national impulse which the
sculpture should perpctuate, i'll such man
ner that the Wayfaring man and the
/
mistake. The model that we place before
you, and the small figures that indicate
the place and general character of the
sculpture, can only promise and SUG-
gcst this success: they con not realize
ii. That must be left, as every work
OF art must be, to the genius and skill OF
the sculptor. True, it may fail of its pUr
pose. as sculpture has failed before Int
in the right hands we no not anticipate
failure. More especially rs the design OF
each figure will remain to be considered
and accepted before it is actually eNecut
ed. And it is Che expectation of the com
mitt1c that these figures may probably he
designed and finished by separate artists
SO aS to give to each more striking indi
vidualty. This, however, can he the sub
iect of future consideration. should the
design we recommend be ultimately
adopted. On the four sides of the bast
are spaces for suitable inscriptions. AND
on the pcdiments of the statues maybe in
trOduced, if desired, as shown on tn,
| model. baS-relietS i'll bronze, representa-
scenes connected with The battle anC
bronze wreaths emblematic of victory.
In respect to the general effect of Il mon
umcnt constructed from this design. the
committee entertain no doubt. And theil
opinion ON this point has been confirmed
by that of many persons whose iudgmen
is entitled to respect, and to whom the
model and drawings have been shown. 1t
size will be quite adequate to the require
mentS of the locality where il is proposed
to place it, and will make it sufficiently
conspicuous and commanding both neai
and far. In the harmony and dignity of it
proportions, the beauty of its outlines anC
the significance of lis expression, it ap
pears to us likely to command both popu
lar and critical approval. The main shat
especially, we regard as original and stlik
ing in conception, as well as singularly
I apDrOpriatt to the subject of the mOnu