Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-10-17
Kretscllmar,s Bust of Grant.

The heoric bust of General Grant for
the War Department at Washington,
which Mr.. Howard Kretschmar has Just
modelled, is now, and has been for the
past few days, on view at the sculptor's
studio, corner OF Wabash avenue and
Jackson street, Chicago. While no formal
invitations have been issued, Mr.. Kretsch
mar is happy to see any interested friends
and followers of the dead commander
who may desire to look upon his counter
felt presentment. General Phil Sheridan,
Colonel and Mrs. Fred. Grant, and the
latter's little daughter Julia, the late
Generals pet, saw the bust, II week or
two since, before its completion. The
adults were fully satisfied with it, and no
better testimony to its fidelity and excel
lence as likeness could be afforded than
the fact that the child, who gazed on it,
but said nothing at the time, could speak
OF little else afterward than the bust of
grandpa which she had seen in that
studio, We know what has been said of
the praise that comes "out of the mouths
of babes and sucklngs," and child's in
stinct and intuition often go directly to
the issue that subtle reasoning and hyper
criticism miss. Other relatives of the
Grants, rs well rs many prominent citi-
LeIiS, nave itlely SccH MI. hIcISCilIHaT b
work, and have uniformly given it their
high approval and praise.
This work is u forcible and abiding
characterization OF the subject. The sculp-
tor has sought to render that repose of
reticence and fortitude, that concentra-
ton OF purposeful intelligence, and appre-
ciable sense OF responsibility and COM
mand that were germane to the man. No
mere mechanical aptness at facial confg-
uration or portrait-like fidelity in detail
could achieve the result. An apprehen-
sion of the mental unity of the person,
and Il power to inform matter with indi-
viduality, not so much of contour as OF
consciousness, were essential. Is this
the Grant that was known of men, not at
this or that epoch, but throughout his
career? If so, then it is worthy work
of art Mr. Kretschmar has not been
anxious either to soften or to emphasize
the marks and traces OF years, but rather
to subordinate details to the portrayal OF
the essential character. Opinions may
vary on minor matters. Carlyle, in his
downright fashion, was wont to talk Of
the critic-tly which, alighting on plinth
or cornice of stately building, could de
tect here flaw and there crack, bu
was wholly unable to take in the proper
tons of the whole. So it is too often with
those who see the work of painter oil
II sculptor. 1t is only breadth of grasp
and vigorous treatment that can give tn,
! bust OF great man its cumulative fore,
| and value, and this one may venture I,
assert, Mr.. Kretschmar has displayed
Seen in conjunction with sized cast o
General Sheridan's bust, by the sam,
artist, the individual and typical qualit,
OF each is emphasized, Sheridan is eager
impetuous, enthuastic; Grant grave
watchful, self-contained, Neither coul,
be mistaken for any one else, and by n
one, save the veriest blockhead, coul,
the intellectual and spiritual bust O
either be mistaken or confounded. lie
the sticklers for sickness" say wha
they like, it is this class OF work that tn
nation needs in any Mausoeum or Pan
thenon or Walhalla whatsoever that
may erect The character OF its soldier
and statesmen must be handed dow
along with their carven lineaments, an
only SO will the prophecy be fulfilled
aterna mem0rid crit justuS. To any +,
Elective mind, and to any American jea
GUS for the honor of native art, carefl
observation of this heroic bust of Graz
will demonstrate the reason for these ~
marks.