The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-25

This was the ilTht vliciihE VI "a. 49,
The beauty of his work and the great
fame of the artist, however. were not
overlooked. and when the question OF
selection again came up. many per
oous who were undoubted Judges
Of art and had sincerely at heart
tho success of the statue, urged
that the sculptor who sent the msdel
marked GLORY to the Hero should
hove another trial. This the board
agreed TO give him. He was told now
he had miscOnceived his subject ana
was asked TO send another model OF
horse in a less fiery attitude, and II IL
were not too great a sacriice OF aiIis'iC
requirements, to have all four ieet on
the ground. The response to TINS was
small. but very beautiful, model OF
horse. with o man on him, not intended
for General Lee. for be had no ma
terials for a portrait statue and no IKE
ness was attempted. The statue OF the
horse was entirely satisfactory and the
question Of likeness only remained.
MERCIE's FISAL MODEL
Early in the summer Of 1887, the best
attainable photographs ere sent 10 the
scultor. as well as the General s uniform
and one of his shoes. IL has already
been mentioned that he received plas-
ter cast Of the mask, weathercd, az 81
were. at the last moment. Miss Ran
dolph. who was in Paris that summer,
impressed upon Mons. Mercie that n
would be q bitter disappointment 10
the countrymen Of General Lee II the
likeness were not successful. lie prom
ised his best effort, and begged that be
might not be asked 20 model the
General with q hat on. Gazing att very
fine profile likeness. given him by Miss
Randolph. he exclaimed: "WhO would
cover such head :" On second visit
to Paris in 80, Miss Randolph also car
ried a small spur, such as General Lee
wore. Mons Mercie told her that when
General Lees shoe was sent to HIM
there was no one in his household with
foot small enough to wear II but his
twelveyear.old son.
SKETCH or THE ARTIST.
Ii working out the likeness 20 Gen
eral Lee in the life-sized model. Mons.
| NeIce bad tie great advantage oil
working under the criticism OF Miss
/ Mary Lee. who was often 30 his studio.
/ The history of Mons. Mercis and of his
! many tfiumphs in art has been publish
ca 100 often during the progress a his
work to need repetition. IL J. much TO
BE regretted that the artist cannot be
present 10 witness the enthusiasm with
which his statue is received. lie Is de-
-cri5ed as "a shor,. thick set. squarcly
built man. with dark hair AMI eyes. and
a snort black beard lie is a native
OF Toulouse, and h0ldiug the
emiuence which he does m art,
he is much sought IN Partisan
society: he has handsome establish
mcnt. whose window, look out Oh the
charming gardens Of the Avenue DC
L-Observatoire. and in the rear OF Lis
/ house is his tudio. one OF the orders
! ne received during the past year is foi
tomb 10 be erected in Constan,iuopit.
| Mons. MeIcic il "a painter. as sell as
sculptor. lie is a rapid worker; ana a.
an illustration Of his merit. It may be-
mentioned that be generally has three
works In the Gallery of The Luxembourg,
lhat first camping ground OF a work o.
/ art on lis way to the Louvre, into which
noble collection an one Is admitted,
until ten years after the death Of the
artist: and no artist .s allowed t.
have more than three works az
the same time ia the Luxembourg
ORIGINAL PLAN OF THE PEDESTAL.
Nous. Paiol. the architect Of the pc
dos,al of the. Lee monument. though
short and dark haired, is. in his slight
ly built. airy figure, the opposite in
personal appearance TO Mons. Nercie.
/ but. ike him. he j. Of easy and grace
lul address. with cordial manners. 1t
should be noted. in reference L. bis
beautiful pedestal, that a, il I3N
I stands, ID does not do justice 20 bis
original design. in which It's masslye-
ness is in better proportion 60 the SIZE
of the colossal statue surrounding d..
For lack Of funds the two beautiful
groups modelled for the front and
rear n tho pedestal could NOT bt
ordered. This being the case, Mons.
Paiol was asked 20 suppress the
two projections intended To support
them. and 90 do 81 ia such % way tnat
the design might be carried cut aJ some
| future DAY. Ii is most desirable tnat
the money should be- speedily raised go
add tEese groups to the monument. ami
so tOpul the finishing touch To- It's beauty
and grandeur. The rear group represents
/ The Angel Of Peace sna'chius the
weapons from the hand, VI the Goodies,
/ of War, The front group originally
| represented the women III Che South
offering bIaucnps of laureis 20 General
Lee.
with the authority Of the board.
/ Miss Randolph. in personal interview.
requested Mons. Nercia o. replace this
group with Il figure Of Liberty, taken
/ from the colt-of-arms o. Virginia. lean
/ ing on her spear, with one ouis.relcncd
arm holding wreath of laurel over ne
/ head of q Confederate soldier Who D.
sealed at her feet. The standing figure
was intended for an impers0ua.luO a.
the South These suggestions Nh.
Mercle soon elaborated into q beautiful
group. Let US hope ihat for want OF "a
| few thousand dollars. this noble monu
ment Of General Lee viii not be left
| ia an unfinished state, ass IL must be
while It's lacks che Two groups Of aculp-
ture which formed put If lhe origi-
nal design
DISCUSSING TIE SITE.
Libby lilly, Candles Hi aud the
Allen lot IN the western part OF the
city were successfully discussed aud
voted on as the site Of tine statue. We
ought to be TOO thankful 20 have dis
posed Of this question at last. - be viii
/ ling 10 renew the argument. The Allen
lot was at last chosen and accepted aa
the gift Of Mr.. Osway Allen. by lnc
/ following resolution: June leth. 1881
Resolved that IN view of the original
advantage Of the location. the donation
Of Mr. Otway Allen, heirs and devises.
! # the circle of 100 feet. radius as TIE
monument site, aud especially IN con-
sideratlOn of the surroundings proposed
by them aud submitted TO Us in tbe plan
aud survey OF Capt. G. p. +, Burgwyn,
including the broad iniersecting
avenues and open area or place about
the monument circle, which dedication
and survey are to be parts of tic deed
and recorded herewith, the location
and site upon the Allen property are