Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-04
THE POPE IN MARBLE.
Splendid Statue of Leo Kill TO Be Un-
veiled in Washington September rs.


tFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3-Joseph r. DeLoubat.
wealthy man of New York City, has lust
been honored with the title of Count by Pope
Leo XIII. as reward for his presentation
of two statues of His Holiness, one to the
city of Perugia, the birthplace of the Pope,
and the other to the new Catholic univer-
sity in this city. Several years ago Mr. De-
Loubat inquired Of the Archbishop of New
York whether permission could be granted
him to present to some Catholic institution
of learning q statue of the Pope, which
should perpetuate the head of the church in
marble. Permission was granted, and the
Catholic University of Washington, then
scarcely opened, was selected as the recip-
selected Giuseppi Luchetti, one Of the fore
most sculptors Of the modern Italian school,
to carry out his intentions.
A model was prepared under Mr.. De Lou
bats personal supervision, just as the whole
work has been conducted to its completion,
and submitted to Pope Leo for approval. So
highly was His Holiness pleased with the
forerunner of the sculptor's final effort that
the donor ordered an exact counterpart OF
the statue now in Washington, which he
presented to the city of Perugia. The sculp-
tor, Luchetti, at once began his work, which
was in tho early part of 1890 and several
days ago the statue arrived through che Gus
tom House at Georgetown, and was placed
in position at the University. The formal
uuNoltiHS tdhoS pldco W UDo OpoHiHE vi
classes, September %, when the statue is to
be seen for the first time by the public. The
cost of Luohetti's production is in the neigh
borhood of SIC, 900.
The work is IA feet in height, including a
cubical pedestal almost square in dimensions
aud with perpendicular of 4 feet inches.
The base is Of the finest italian marble, and
the rich dark blue coloring OF the material.
with the numberless veins running across
the face, is in striking contras. to the snow
like whiteness and purity of the surmount-
ing figure of the Pope, which has been
sculptured from Carrara marble. The three
sides of the pedestal exposed to view con-
tain square panels, of a slightly darker
shade, upon which have been delineated the
Pope's coat-of-arms in bold relief, and oppo-
site, those of the donor, Count de Loubat,
bearing the motto OF his house, "Orphano
Adjutor."
The figure represents Leo seated in the
Papal chair and clothed in cassock, alb,
stole, cape and tiara. One sandaled foot eX-
tends slightly from the flowing robes, while
the body Is given a faint forward tnclina-
ton, the right hand being raised in the act
of bestowing the benediction, while the left
hand rests easily upon the arm of the chair.
The minutest portion of embroidery on the
Papal robes has been preserved in the mar
BILE, down to the finely traced and most
delicate outlines a sculptor's chisel is
capable of representing.
The formal ceremonies of unveiling on
September 2s will be very elaborate, and
while no definite programme has yet been
arranged, it is thought likely that some of
the most distinguished Catholic divines in
America will be present at the ceremonies.