The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15

to the public when its purpose is remembered to
be to represent our great senator in his public
character and relations Unveiled to general
view, Oliver P. Morton at his best, at the acms
of his physical and mental strength, will be seen,
and will be admired not only by the hundreds of
thousands who knew him and honored him as Il
representative Indianian but by still larger
numbers of people who, in future years, can
only know him through the history he did
much and so grandy to make.
THE ARTIST AND HIS WORK
Franklin Simmons. the artist who designed
the Morton statue and pedestal, was awarded the
work four years ago his designs and ideas meet
ing the approval of the association He is about
fifty years old, and native of Maine though he
has had his studio at Rome and resided there for
the past fifteen years, with the exception of oc-
casional visits to this country. In last July Mrs.
Norton who was then living at Oxford England,
where her youngest son attending college,
went to Rome to see the clay model of the statue.
After IA critical inspection of the work, she ac-
corded it her unqualified commentator, and
preparations were entered upon for the casting
of the bronze 1t was expected that the work
would have to be done III Munich, but "A bronze
foundry having recently been established in
Rome, the casting was made there, to the entire
satisfaction of the artist. 1t arrived in this city
on the 2lst of November where, after being UNI
cased, it was seen by but few persons, and
then carefully covered. Those who saw
it, however, were agreed that the
effigy of the great Indianian was all that
it was expected to be. Like Hiram Powers,
Mr.. Simmons began modelling in clay at an early
years, receiving as good instruction as was OBJ
tainabe in this country, and finally, during
President Lincoln's administration, went to
Washington, where he remained several years.
During that time he made number of portraits
in bronze and marble of the most distinguished
public men-Seward Chase, Wells, Grant Sher-
man, Sheridan, Meade, and Thomas, and Adj
mirals Farragut and Porter. He has also made
several statues for soldiers monuments in diff
ferent States. In 1868 Mr.. Simmons received a
commission from the Legislature of the State of
Rhode Island to make statue of Roger Will
Jams for the national gallery in the hall of the
House of Representatives at Washington. To
execute this commission he went to Rome,
where he has since resided. At the beginning
of his soiOurn abroad he made the marble stat
ues of Roger Williams and William King, the
first Governor of Maine, both of which now
in Washington The naval monument in marble
which has for some years stood at the foot Of the
Capital grounds on Pennsylvania avenue is his
work. He also made the monument to Roger
Williams which occupies prominent place in
Roger Williams Park at Providence, r. l.
When not engaged IN the execution of
special commissions. Mr.. Simmons has devoted
himself to the study of the ideal in which he
has produced some works that have achieved
widespread reputation. Among the best known
of his works are ''Jochebed and the Infant
Moses" now in Boston; ''The Promised Land
nowin Paris, owned byJ.W. Mackey, the bonanza
king; Miriam in the Wilderness The Prize of
the Medusa," now owned in England; 'Penel-
ope at the Departure of Ulysses" Benjamin in
Egypt with the finding of the cup in the sack of
grain. The Morton statue will, in the opinion Of
capable judges add still further to Mr.. Simmonss
reDutafiOn