Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-28

STYLE of architecture with the sohdlty
of modern requirements. The horse and
rider will appear as if supported by four
columns OF polished granite. These are
Grecian, but with their ornaments
brought into accord with the Ornamental
ton of the cartouches which combine
the laurel and the oak, the combined
elect OF the entire structure will he
grand. But few monuments IN tins coun-
try will approach it in size or artistic de-
sign.
The lions head shown in the picture
is intended to portray the undaunted
courage of the man the oak his great
endurance, and the laurel proclaims his
right 10 he crowned as one of the worlds
heroes.
THE TWO MONUMENTS.
The height of the ma
sonrv OF the Washing
ton monument above
the surface Of the
ground is........... 10 feet.
Height Of the bronze
work ...,......2 20 feet 3 inches.
Total height of the
Washington m Onu-
ment from the top Of
the riders hat to the
surface OF the ground. 90 feet inches.
The masonry OF the Lee
monument above the
surface of the ground
isto to be. ...........3 80 feet.
Horse and rider will be- feet inches.
Total height. 81 feet , inches.
The cornerstone of the Washington
monument was laid on the 22d of Feb
ruarv. 1851, and the equestrian statue
WAS unveiled on the 22d of February,
1853. but on account OF the war and the
interruption of communication with
/ Munich. where the bronze casting was
done, as well as by reason Of the death
of Crawford, who undertook all the
statuary. the monument was not fully
completed until some years after the
close of the war.
Mr.. Crawford died about 1886, and in
accordance with his wish Mr.. Randolph
Rogers WAS chosen by the Virginia au-
thorities to complete the monument
Mr.. Rogers married sister OF Mr.. =.
II. Gibson, of this city. and hls son Mr.
Edgerton ). Rodgers, who was the archl-
feet of the Exposition building, IS resi-
dent OF Richmond. The sculptor now
ouite advanced N years, Is Iyl0g ID
home. ~, g.
At the time Of the death Of MIR. Craw-
ford he had completed the equestrian
statue and four of the standing figures.
/ He left three-foOt model OF Marshall,
and from it BlaSsetti. one OF his work
men. pointed up the figure to the requl-
site proportions. and 1t was cast III Tie
+ form In which It IS now seen on the
monument.
The modelling Of Nelson and Lewis is
wholly the work of Mr. Rogers Oh
Lewis he sent 10 the Monument Com
missoners four sketches. The first, and
( tho one which he himself preferred,
represented Lewis with his camp-blenkei
thrown in graceful folds around his
shoulders in the manner the valiant old
hunter was accustomed to wear 1t when
in the West fighting the Indians and
openine up the way Tor civilization; but
/ tbis design the board rejected and sc-
cepted another OF the sketches. when
MIR. Rogers proceeded to model and
have cast.
There were two sketches made for the
Nelson statue OF these the board Sc
lected the second one. The only differ
ence in them was in the position OF one
arm.
As originally contemplated 10y Cray
ford. instead of the sllegorieal figures
now seen on the lower pediments OF the
monument there were to be eagles WITH
ou,stretched pinions. Rogers altered
This. very much for the better, substi-
tntinc the allegorical figures, each one
of which is a volume of history in itseli
and giving 10 the monument much
more artistic finish.
Thus il will be seen the monument Is
the Joint production OF Crawford and
Rogers While Crawford did the greater
nortion of the work the Indebtedness Of
the country 10 Rogers csnnot DO toe
highly estiInssed. II 10 conceded thai
there is no such grand group ofstasuary