The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-22

NERC{E'S MODEL VIEWED BY TTP
GENERAL PUBLIC.


del Generally Satisfactory and Combine.
Simplicity with Strength and Dignity.
As previously announced, VI. Mercie's
model for the Lee monument was thrown
t open 10 The public yesterday, and as uni
versal interest is felt In il, crowds
/ thronged The Senate Chamher through
opt the day 10 look and criticize. il
takes oil sorts Of people 10 made a world,
and VIXEN all SORTS O.. yeCple look al Z
work 0f art. each one feels tcallcd upon
to express bis CT her individual opinion
regarding il from bis or her individual
standpoint In consequence, many, and
diverse we're The sentiments YESTERDAY
uttered regarding this particular work Of
the eminent French sculptor.
The TINES has already expressed It's
opinion, viz: that l. represents, 70 the
fullest extent, simplicity and strength,
and. so far as SO small IA figure can dis
play what is 10 be portrayed in an eQues.
trian statue Of heroic sire, it is mag.
nifcent specimen Of quiet dignity and
grandeur
But great many people offer from
the TINES special art critic Some saiu
that at least one foot Of the horse should
have been in the air others said thG.
General Lees sword was al least quar-
ter Of an inch too far behind his back.
others still who never saw the grand Old
man in their lives that il was poor
likeness, and still others that, no horse
could possibly stand in any such
position. The lady members OF the
Monument board, however. effectually
si.enced all such CaTping criticism by de
clarinc that they were perfectly satisfied,
and that a. an end Of it. and theY
were right. The model has been accepted.
N Mcrcie has been ielegrapheG congratu-
laii0ns, and his idea OF Ar equestrian
statue Of Lee vii remain for the admra
tion Of thousands yet unborn, who
will view il long after every man, woman /
and child now living shall have becum. (
dust.
Bat to make sure tba; Tie TIMES vas /
right in lis views, two OF our wellknowu |
artists Mr John 4. Elder and Mr. VII |
liam /. Sheppard, were requested % give |
their technical and professional idea re-
rarding it. Both said that they looked !
upon it as a splendid work Of art. OF
course, they said, no miniature could be
expected 10 convey the idea which would
be presented when the statue Was finally
They thought that ;here we're
number of minor faults, which could. |
md would. be easily corrected Viewing
I with professional eyes, they regarded
I as the work Of master hand, which
would meet with the fullest appreciation
# pOsterity Both rider and iOIse had
,een carefully modelled, and, the position
# each was perfectly natural, while the
LIKENESS TO General Lee was, 10 every
me who had ever seen him on the battle {
Ield, as near perfect as could be. Taken
together il was AS tine a piece OF the
culpt0rs art as any one could have any .
cason 10 expect. :
The views OF these gentlemen give /
reai weight 10 the correctness Of Y. a
iercie's ideas. Many think that here
hould have been more fire about the 5
roup. but the Board Of Directors Of the \
ssociation instructed ". Mefcic to con- i
ruct figure of quie: dignity, combin- y
~ in itself simplicity and strength, In q
ccOrdance with the well known charac. =
n Of Lee.
This be has done, and in word, he Y
as united the genius Of the artist with {
le idea of the board who knew and I
ere familiar with the appearance of
ie hero designed TO be immortalized by
IL monument. \
At any rate the model has been accept :.
J, and that is the end of the whole !!
after, for the Monument Committee is y,
e court of last resort, and there is no -
'peal from their decision. "