The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-30
MODELERS' BUSY TASK.
rHET BBAUTIFY THE CITY NALL.
Plastic Work That Is Pretty VIII Adorn
the Walls Of tho Massive Granite
PiIe-Models of Hands

Looking into the new City Hall Yesterday
my attention was drawn to room on the left
Of the Broad street entrance, whore pleas
ant-faced. foreign-lookine man was busily
at work up TO his elbows in white material.
modelling many beautiful forms that are to
sdorn the interior of the building nearing
completion.
Entering on his cordial invitation and
telling him was from Tx TINES and try
ing to find something Of interest for It's
readers he was all attention. aud his talk
and the view had of his work was interest
ing. especially as It demonstrated the fact
that 10 the line in which he IL an artist
Richmond people need not send OF 20 10
the North for work they have TO be done.
BEKS HERE TWO YEARS.
Mr.. NJ. A. Delhaye is his name and he is
native Of Belgium. though he has been resi-
dent here two years and associated with 60
old citizen and devoted one of Richmond,
Mr.. Creed T. Davis. AS ornamental model
ers and sculptors in plaster and clay. Mr..
pelhaye was modestlv silent az 10 his ar
tistic education and capacity, but Mr.. Davis
told me that he had studied at the Academy
Of Arts Brussels. and had done most excel
lent work there and in Paris and New y ork.
] was not surprised when taken from bot
tom 20 top of the beautiful build
ing 20 see the work already
Ia place, and then into other
rooms piled high with spotlessly white
caps. brackets. centre pieces, pilasters and
panels. IS they are ysriously called. all
waiting ready 90 be placed IN their proper
position. Especially striking even now. in
she midst Of the incompleteness of the
grand corridor around the top gallery Of
the highest floor, is the beautiful plastic
work, which. in harmony with the balance
of the architecture. is of the stately Gothic
order
COMPETENT AUTHORITY.
ID was ENJOYABLE. q delight TO the eye in
deed. and / was glad to find that my humble
opinion was backed by such competent au-
thorty as His Excallency Governor Nc
Kinney and other State and city officials.
and the Council Retrenchment and Reform
Committee who went through the building
lately. with every eye open wide to discover
and report everything sayoring OF careless
ness and useless expense The artistic side
of all these decorations is none the less
practical, for they are a perpetual object
lesson 20 the ambitious and talented to 60
and try and trying do likewise.
Noticing on the work bench in the room
frst entered a lot Of what seemed a heap Of
human hands of very white and CHASTITY hue.
INQUIRY elected the fact that thev were plas-
among them several OF NJ. A. lie Masurier.
who represents in a consular capacity our
great sister republic across the water. La
Belle France. and Of Mr. Davis, who is the
partner of Mr.. Delhaye. and TO whom the
art loving citizens owe gratitude for bring
ING him among us.
SOMETHING OP A FAD.
Speaking of these hands of plaster re-
calls the fact that il has been something of
fad at the North to have these plaster I'M
pressions of hands and feet. too (think of
t. We corn-cursed moItals) and sent to
friends and relatives instead of photographs.
Queer fancy. Mr.. Davis mentioned that
lately "a certain love-sick youth whose
Dulcinea had refused his profered natural
hand ordered plaster one. and writing on 1t
When this you see, remember me- sent
it 20 her. Temsrhng that she should have
some sort Of hand of his. recOllect SEES
ing in several places in Boston plaster casts
of the big right arm of the pride of the
Sean-eating city. the great John Lawrence
Sullivan. proudly displayed on the wall.
The extent of the work and number of
separate pieces of each of the different fig
ures NAV be imagined when one reflects
that there are nearly five thousand Of them