Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
a BLIND SCULPTOR
How He Finished the Statue Of Washington
Irving.

Irving.
From Frank Lssies Weekly.
There is q blind sculptor residing in larry
town who has Just completed wonderful statue
OF Washington Irving. IL IL one-third larger
than life and represents Irving as sitting in an
easy attitude in an arm chair, with one leg
crossed over the other. In the left hand is
held pair Of eyeglasses. The right arm rests
naturally upon the arm Of the chair.
II have worked on this model night and day
Tor the past eighteen months." said John Mar
chant Munday, the blind sculptor, laying his
hand caressingly upon the plaster model Il
say night, because night il the same as day to
me. When come here in the evening the
only light have is that from within. have
lived so long with my work that 1 know it's
every feature, and any, imperfections in 1t
come out more strongly before my minds eve
In the darkness than they would during the
day. when there is . dim glimmering before
my eyes that distracts my attention.
You ask me how / work. BY measui emen.s
and with rude tools. The bust was first mod
eled. then the chair upon which the figure sits.
The height at which the head was TO be ele-
waited from the floor had next 10 be determined
This, you must understand. is accomplished by
the exact knowledge of the proportions OF the
human form when placed in sitting posture,
and is the basis of all other calculations.
Il will now give you an example Of how
modelled a single piece of the statue. 1t will
serve as an example. Place yourself in a sit
ting posture, throwing one leg over the other
so as to bring the folds in your trousers into
an easy, natural and graceful position. You
will observe that pass my hands over the
folds SO made. now have my idea. With il 1
do direct TO the statue and pass my hands over
the folds have made in the clay. IL there is
anything wrong in my model am enabled by
tins means to detect II at once No matter how
slight the difference may be, it will not escape
me- nor will the slightest roughness in the sur
face OF the plaster. OF course this work can
be done by me as easily in the darkness as in
the light
lit may be interesting to know how made
the pleated shirt front, which Mr.. Irving 30
much affected. / procured one similar TO
the one wished TO produce and spread il
upon pillow. Then passed my hands care
fully over the pleats. then had strips of lead
made, which were very pliable and which were
TO represent pleats in the shirt front OF nv
model Laying these upon the rough clay, I
spread thick layer Of new clay over them,
which was afterward scraped of by tools and
modelled into shape"
at has been a labor Of love with me-" con-
tinued the blind sculptor. as his head dropped
and tears bedlmmed his eyes. Knowing as
did that 1t must end my career AZ an artist
pave gwen 1t my undivided attention by night
and day. 1t has been ever present with me
during my waking hours ana has haunted nv
dreams at night. Now that il is finished nv
life s work is finished also
The question of a site for the statue has not
yet been decided. The claims of New York TO
Irving as a representative citizen are urged by
many who would like to see him houored in
that city. The people of Tarrytown are also
DESTROYS Of securing this notable work of art
for their town, to be placed either at sunny
side. the homestead Of Irving, or some public
situation in the village.