Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-20
ART FOR THE FAIR.
Details Of the Great Fountain Now
Being Chiseled in Paris.
M'NoNNIES Is MAKING FAME
The Two Awards to Be Made BY the Society
Of American Artists
slLI OF THE CUTTING COLLECTION

sALI OF THE CUTTING COLLECTION
| CORRESPONDENCE OF THE prsrArcH.1
NEW YORK, March 19.-Tbe most inter
esting things have seen for long time are
some photographs recently sent from Paris
by Mr. McMonnies, who, as everyone
knows, was once pupil of St Gahdens',
and, after St. Gaudens had refused the task,
was commissioned to make the great foun-
tain for the Chicago Fair grounds These
| photographs show the central feature of the
| fountain partially complete-7 of the IL
| figures which will compose it being finished
and in their places The sub-stEucture is in
the form Of an ornate barge, with an eagles
head at the PROV and q range of dolphins
| encircling its bulwarks, and on either side
horn of plenty emprying itself over the
edge. On the prov, with one foot planted
well In advance Of the other, stands Q
winged figure, which we may call Victory,
or Progress, or Success, or something of
that sort, her chin uplifted, her right
hand holding trumpet near
her mouth and her left extended
with laurel wreath. Father
Time, with his wings and his beard and his
scythe, stands on the high poop steering the
craft. Near him. along one of its sides,
stand four maidens, oymbolizing the arts
and sciences, and each WELDING great oar,
which rests in q tall ornamental. fowlock;
and similar series Of four, not yet COM
pleted, will hold the same positions on the
other side. Between these two groups rises
massive pedestal with the national shield
on its forward face. From this rises Sec
ond, smaller pedestal, encircled by four
children bearing garlands, and on this, high
above the other figures, enthroned in a
curule chair, sits America. Father Time
and the children are nude; the Victory and
the lateral figures are partially draped in
thin, clinging garments, and the America is
undraped above the waist.
The first thing that strikes us is the dig
nifty, combined with great decorative effect
iveness, of the composition as whole. The
next is its freshness and spirit, its fire and
'tgo" Then we note the admirable treat
ment Of the fgures-their beauty Of form
and purpose and the vigor and grace of their
draperies. And finally We realize that in
these clsssic-seeming figures MI. McMonnies
has been surprisingly original He has e1-
pressed American nationality more clearly
than 1t has ever before been expressed in
purely idealistic art No one who has ever
seen American women could mistake the
birthplace OF any Of his women. Each of
the six heads differs from all the others; but
each is q clear and strong portrayal of
genuine American type.
The four rowers are spirited and charm
ing, but the Victory is more remarkable.
She is daring, energetic and inspiring.
There is youthful power and the ardor
Of life and progress in every line Of her
slight, yet vigorous form and in
her noble face, rightly conceived in
. more serious mood than those OF her
less Important companions The blood
tips of her outspread wings curl defantly !
upward. And yet the most interesting
figure of all is the America With her |
feet on the globe she sits erect and alert
but very quiet, . torch proudly extended |
in her left hand and her right arm lifted to |
rest on the high back of her chair. There |
is no need for her to exert herself Every |
thing is being done for her-au she has to |
do is to sit aloft and exult, to show her
self to the world and 90 where Victory and |
Time are conducting. The flame Of her |
LOIcH IL plo"u ny INC Wluu Oi ucI sWlIt
advance, her draperies are swirled around |
her feet and long scarf floats out behind
her But she is 1mpassive-a naughty |
Young queen on her throne who knows that /
her people adore her and fears nothing |
whatsoever from the outer world. It may
look if it WILL and may criticise if it chooses
but it can't stop her or hurt her, and she is
very sure that it will not even try.
The figure is just what one the crowning
statues Of q great national and international
exhibition ought to bean apotheosis Of
national pride. And yet its serenity and
dignity are so great that it does not seem too
piece of sculpture it is beautiful enough TO
delight even those who care nothing for
meanings in . work of art
In the photograph only one fault can be
pointed out cannot think that it was q
good idea to make Father Time use his
,cythe a. rudder. This is not true SYM
bolism but Q mechanical effort at symbolism
unworthy Of the hand that could infuse so
much meaning into the figures of Victory and
America Naturally, the scythe could not
De dispensed with, and it was easier to make
held nothing except the rudder. But Mr..
is too Intelligent and too imagin-
tive to have allowed difficulty like this to
launt him.
Of course this part of the fountain is to
tand in the middle of large basin, and
many accessory figures will complete the de-
ign. I believe It is to be executed, like the
Paris decorations, In some more cheaply
worked and less permanent material than
marble. But it Is impossible that, when
he Fsiris over, it will be allowed to perish.
+ not Chicago, then some other city will
urely see that it is put In lasting shape, for
promises to be one of the most remarkable
f all the many remarkable things that
;hicago will have to show next year.