The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-14

tered the quadrangle where stands the maies-
NC washington IN silent marble. The veneer
hoie VISITOR had come far enough. His evil
dent and only desire was 10 look once more
upon the counterfeit p~resentmont OF nm
whose memory he so much venerated. After
many minutes of silent contemplation,
and as II endcavOring in tins snort
time to fix more endurlngly upon his
mind the figure and features OF Washing
ton, he slowly ana with more imam
usual solemnity addressed his companion IN
the following words: Nj H., / look
upon this IA perhaps the most valuable pee 9
of marble IN all the world. Virginia undOubt-
edlv has i'm her keeping the most precious
relic on this continent Then slowly turn
ing his bent form he retired from the spot as
II he never again expected TO appear IN that
AUGUST presence. but evidently IN the spirit of
one who had been granted the privilege OF
once more renewing the feryor Of his patr-
otism 40 this shrine OF human liberty.
HoUDoS's FAME.
When one is informed that the sculptor Of
this historic statue was Houdon he does not
always feel an interest IN tho work proper
Tomato t. the fame of the artist. This is cen
orally because he knows little or NOTHING Of
him.. The value OF "a work of art is often
estimated more by the subject and the fame
OF the artist than from the merits Of the work
itself. In the case before US fortunately we
NNAN 10 NA AL2 WIZ -" aAAAN A0MADAAfAa 81
less the ordinary reader has taken the pains
o. find out for himself, we feel u all impor-
tant that be should realize who this HOudOn
was. and how he was noted among the gifted
al the time he lived. IT is therefore only ne
ccssary TO say that he was by far the first
sculptor of his day, especially ID the matter OF
making portrait statues. For this reason 1t
was that Mr.. Jefferson. who was IN Paris and
was familiar with his works. secured his ser
vices Oh create this wonderful pOTtTalture OF
Washington.
lie was with difficulty persuaded to cross
the Atlantic for the purpose, anxious as he
was 70 make a statue of tho man whose fame
az the time had reached the remotest corner
OK the earth. 1t was not until his life had
been insured for the benefit Of his family that
ths per,uasiOns of Mr.. Jefferson at last pre-
vailed. lie came TO America. spent two weeks
at Mount Vernon and accomplished the pur-
pose OF his extraordinary mission.
his FAMoUs WORKS.
Houdon was not alone a faithful portrait
sculptor. He was perhaps tho most gifted
idealst of his day. The parks OF Paris and
the magnificent esplanades and avenues OF
Versailles are indebted 10 the adjoining
powers of his chisel Tor most of their art
treasures. His busts abound IN private homes
and IN public place, wherever faithful de-
hueatlOus of prominent people were wanted.
The great, the wise and the good at tins very
day speak 10 the traveller at every turn IN the
museums and palaces OF Europe through the
magical power of his subtle chisel and
discriminating intellect. Dlderot and DAlan-
bert. Mirabeau and Button, Chuck aud Nous
seau. the great Catherine OF Russia. IurgOt
and Franklin. of america, andhost5 of others,
are chief among these.
NOllAIHE's BUST.
Nor should we forget the remarkable statue
of NOltalre I'm the yestlDule OF the French
Theatre III Paris, I'm which the flexible and
1.-the form OF the famous satlrest seems All
agl0w with life. and the features OF whose
cynical face are instinct with those powers
oi intellect which made his brain more pro-
life of books than perhaps any other writer
that ever lived.
And here. too. in Justice TO the fame OF the
same great artist. we must not fail 10 recall
one Ot the most noted triumphs ~ al ms pro-
tesslOual career.
THE SILENT BRUNO.
Among the canOnlzed on the rolls Of CathO-
lie saints was tine self-abnegatlng Bruno.
Not the one who was condemned to the stake
for his too liberal and philosophical
opinions at a later day, but tie
Bruno who felt himself constrained,
iu his great sense of humility. to take upon
himself the VOW of eternal silence, ana thus
deprive himself forever of that mysterious, bat
GOd-Ike gift. which some philosophers insist
constitutes the only difference between man
and the other animals. In the latter part OF
hIs life HOudOn WAS employed 10 construct a
statue OF TINS seli-lsOlated devotee, Tor
one OF the prominent churches oil
Rome. IN due time the work was
finished and carried in all the pOmp of ritual
istic display to It's appointed place. The iaine
OK Do soon went abroad. DevOut wOrsnlpers
hOcked from every quarter 20 eaten lnsplfa-
ton from the faithful representation OF their
patron saint. At last the Pope himself went
In state to look upon the image OF HIM whose
w%eu-knOwn plety had long been an honor t.
the Church at large. When His Holiness
reached the sacred precincts whore hrunD sat
in purest marble and fixed hls wondering gaze
upon the silent form before HIM he could not
longer contain himself. but gave vent TO his
admiration Dy eXclalmIug. 'Oh. Bruno, but
for thy vow thou wOu.dst speak. And II we
could bat realize the llct in regard TO tie
Washington statue we might with equal truth
feel that the artist has done ms work 30 ttuth-
fully IN tho latter case that nOushtls needed
but HE itself 10 make IL complete.
TWO FIGURES IS THIS COUNTRY
From the lights before US there can be no
doubt of HOudOns genius and " nderiul
powers of execution. There are but two
SPECIMENS OF his work in this country so lar
as We are infOrmed-the Washington IL the
Capitol at Richmond and q bust of Lafayette
Occupying q niche in the san building. In
ANA AAL NNIAA0 Va 0NNAH AALLHHAHNN a. a. NHAAN hAA
not To be surpassed In the world Tor dellcacy
o. execution, taste and arrangement. The
Observant and practced eye cannot tall to adj
mire the wonderful fexlbilIty of the drapcry
as 1t grayItates III graceful and natural lOlds
over the person. breaks into easy relief or
holds IN lis strong embrace the stalwaIt limbs
of him whose figure we know II al respects
gave assurance of a man.
lu cOrrODOTatIOn Of what has Just been SAID,
about the year 1898 or is the writer had a
long interview with one whose opinion of this
statue was entitled % great consideration.
The venerable Rembrandt Pealo was IL itch
mond. In his bOyhOOd he had become IA
miliar with the features and form OF Wash
ingtOn. While the latter was President.
Charles Wilson Peale. the father or our
visitor. resided in Philadelphia and within u
few doors on the same block OF buildings with
Washington. 10 was the custom OF MI. IeaIe
% visit the city market every morning about
the same time that his lllustrlOus nclgADor
performed the same domestic duty and they
usually proceeded together. While the
Younger Peale carried his father basket u
servant in livery performed that office for the
President.
Later on and while quite a young man
Rembrandt Peale became still more familiar
with the features IF Washington by painting
INN from hfe. lie had succeeded TO his
fathers pencil and afterwards became quite a
distinguished artist. lie had seen Houdon's
Washington but once, and had now fingered
IN Richmond Il day 10 revive the impressions
OF his hrst visit. The writer at his request