Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-20
Tho Lee Monument.

The following letter from Professor
j. j. White, Of Washington and Lee
University, will be read with interest.
1t sustains fully the position Of the
Richmond press, that Valentines re-
cumbent figure Of Lee has been assigned
by competent judges a position in art
where it is not likely to suffer at this
late date from adverse criticism. 1t also
disposes Of the question whether MIR.
Valentine ought to have made arecum-
bent figure, seeing that it shows that
Dir. Valentine had no option. lie was,
in a sense, q man under authority, and
that under the circumstances, he should
have achieved the great triumph ne Is
acknowledged to have achieved is to US
one Of the strongest evidences OF his
genius and his fertility Of artistic re-
source:
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In the course Of the discussion re-
Gently held by the press of Richmond
and other cities as TO the artist to be
intrusted with the work OF the Lee
monument, inquiries by letter and by
verbal messages have been made OF the
writer manifesting desire to know how
the Valentine recumbent figure has
been received. While it is not pro-
posed TO canvass the general question at
issue. it seems to be due to the artist;
to the Lee Memorial Association, who
Ind the work in charge TO the
liberal contributors who furnished
the means requisite for its COM
pIetion, and to the general pup
lie respectfully to submit simple
statement OF the facts connected with
the selec,ion Of the design and the erect
Of the work as executed by Dir. Faien-
tine. Mrs. Lee, on learning that the
Memorial Association had not ue'er-
m;ned ON . design, suggested to a menu
bar Of the Executive COMMITTEE re-
ovmbent figure as appropriate to the
- IN the basement Of which the
kline 81 General Lee were inferred 1;
and in the same interview, named Mr.
Wa1sntire as the artist, assigning two
,s.sons for doing so--frst, that he had
,no1elled a bust of General Lee, some
,nontbs before his death, and had gotten
q faithful likeness second, that he was
q yirginian.
The Executive Committee, acting upon
these suggestions, which not only met
their hearty approval, but were in fact
a relief to them, proposed to MIR. Nalen-
tine to model . recumbent figure oil
General Lee. The artist, who had no
voice in determining the design, went
10 work, and in June, 1871, submitted
his small model for the inspection o.
the committee at Lexington. 1t was
approved without dissenting voice BY
the committee, and by all who SAW 1t
but in order to have the opinion Of com
! petent Judges in other places the mode
was taken by Mr.. Valentine, accompa
MED by member of the committee, 4
Washington and Baltimore, where i
met the unqualified approval of gentle
men thought to be judges OF works o
art. Assured by such unanimity o
opinion, the committee contracted will
Mir. Valentine, who completed the wori
entirely to their satisfaction.
When the figure was unveiled IL
June, 1883, it was seen by seyera
thousand spectators, and has been Wis
tied by as many since, among WHOM
were artcritics from this country an,
Europe, but no word Of adverse crit
oism has been heard Of in Lexington
on the contrary, the public, so ia
as heard from, have invariably ez
pressed their approval of the design a
very appropriate and of its executio
as conspicuous for grace and beauty
as well as for the faithful likeness tn
figure presents of General Lee.
Yours respectfully,
J. j. WHITE,
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