Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-02-26

" ~
RICHARD M. HUNT.
4 Distinguished Native of BrnttIrbOrO.
The portrait given above is that of Rich
ard NJ Hunt of New York, one of the
most eminent and accomplished of Amer
lean architects. Mr. Hunt is just now
prominently in the public mind from the
fact that he was chosen as the architect of
the administrative building at the Chicago
worlds fair, and this work promises to be
one of the finest creations of his remarka-
BILE genius. In recent issue Harper
Weekly devoted an illustrated article to an
exposition of some of the salient features
in the architecture of the building. \ dis
tinguishing characteristic is the recogni-
ton given by Mr.. Hunt to the value of
architectural sculpture in carrying out a
design Of this magnitude. Eight symbolic
groups will be introduced about the great
dome. not merely for decorative purposes,
but to break the mOnOtOny of effect and
harmonic the structural changes i'm pass
ing from the straight lines of the lower
building to the curved lines of the dome.
OF these groups three at the base of the
dome-those embodying the ideals of War,
Art and COMMEMORATE illustrated by en-
cravings in EIarper's Weekly.
war is suggested in "A group Of three figures
BellpnA sits on cannon, hplmed and blskined
with great wings outspread one hand raised,
graspng laurel wreath. the other supporting a
turled banner The attitude is one of instant
/ flight. rrpOsp alert for swift action the pXDrps.
sion that Of stern vigilance. Two minor figures
ON Blended knees at the feet of War cherubs with
tllimpcts raised To their lips may be supposed to
FlttaU alu.
bile peace, and the prompt dignity which is ready
to resent insult by an appeal to arms
These groups which are to be placed l15 feet
from the groundl will symbolic the great forces
OF civilization which have been developed i'm the
progress Of man, in contradstinction from the fig.
uTrs browning the base of the upper rotunda,
which will embody ideals of the attributes of the
civilized man as distinguished from the savage.
and from those filling the deep rtctSses on either
side Of the main entrances, typfying the primal
forces of nature in. their wild freedom and as
| Subdued by the needs Of man. The entire sys-
TEN Of decoration shows evolution from the low
est to the highest in its symbulcal design and is
intended to shadow the growth Of civilization
Accompanying these illustrations and
their descriptiptive text Harpers Weekly
gives portrait of Mr.. Hunt (of which the
above is an excellent copy reduced in size)
and sketch of his life:
MIR. Hunts History.
Richard Morris Hunt, president of the
American league of architects, represents
reputation and personality so widely
known in the United States aud abroad
that ii scarcely needs the trtlmpets of the
cherubS that decorate his building to bruit
it forth. The splendid public and private
structures which he has designed furnish
enduring monuments of his genius, and
his last structure, in the Columbian exhibit
ton grounds, is fully worthyof his art rank.
y Green Mountain boy by BIRTH his earlier
ambition was for military profession. for
which his temper and instincts would seem
to happily fit him. The energy and fire of
his conversation reveal that state of mind
wherein thought is always alive to flash
into action. Mr.. Hunt went abroad at the
age of fifteen to study and travel in Eu-
rope; and his tastes rapidly cryStallized in
the line OF that work which has always
been, in the best sense, a labor of love
with him. He studied in L'Ecole deS
Bcdur-ArtS, in Paris, and under Hector
Lefuel, architect to Napoleon H.. and he
made extensive tours through Europe and
the East in search for the secrets of archi-
tectural effect. On returning to Paris NJ.
Lefuel made him an inspector of public
works in his bureau and it was under his
supervision that the new building connect
ing the Louvre and the Tuileries was plan
ned and constructed.
son returning to his native land in 1855
(for ne was thoroughly tired of the Old
World, and longed for his native soil af-
ter an absence of twelve years, though his
prospects in France were of the most fiat
tering kind), he was engaged for a time on
the capitol extension at Washington. Since
that time Mr. Hunt has attained profess
sional rank and practice which, it need
scarcely be said, place him in the front line
of the .magnates. 1t is not now necessary
to catalogue the notable things he has
done, for they are craven in colossal char
acters Mr.. Hunt is an enthusiast in his
profession, and discusses it with a zeal and
ardOr which show how thoroughly he be-
lieves in the artistic future of his own
country. Art genius seems to have been
hereditary in his family, for his brother
William Morris Hunt was one of the most
distinguished of American painters. Mr..
r. NJ. Hunt has the finest architectural
library and collection of casts, photographs,
etc, in this country, and at his death these
will go to public institution"
MIR. Hunts Birthplace,
Mr.. Hunt as has recently been stated in
Iit toltlulllS vi L lie l-nu'llN, is native of
Brattleboro and a younger brother of VIII
liam Morris Hunt, the distinguished paint
er, whose death took place i'm 1879 and
whose body is buried in Prospect Hill Gem
etery, on the northern brow of the hill
overlooking the village and the beautiful
Connecticut valley and hills to the north.
Mr.. Hunt was born in the house now
owned by Col. Hooker, well known in
earlier years as the "Ilnt place" His
father Hon. Jonathan Hunt, was one of
the leading men of Vermont in his time.
Originally a resident of Vernon, he bought
the estate at the corner of Main and High
streets on his removal to Brattleboro, and
replaced the small wooden buildings, then
standing close to the line of Main street,
with the present brick house.
VIM. NJ. Hunt was born there in 1924
and the birth of Richard NJ. took place
four years later, in October, 1928, while
his father was a member of Congress from
this district, his term of service extending
from 1927 to 1882. The fathers death oc-
Cured in the latter year. and the mother,
who was woman of strength and force of
character, prominent in the social life of
her time, both in Brattleboro and i'm Wash
ington, then removed with her young fam
lily to New Haven, Conn.