Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-03-26
a BLIND scuLProR.s mnDn
statue OF Washington Irving Made u.a..
Remark able CtraamstAnca.

" "Sfss -" AFNihS Made Undas
Remarkable cireamstaness
There is blind sculptor resldIro 4,
Tarrytown who has eomplete5
wonderful statue OF Washinn,.a
Irving, says the Boston Herald. !, ~
one-third larger than life and y.n.a
sents Mr.. Irving as sitting in an ~.
attitude In an armchair with one lss
crossed over the other In the ~
hand Is held a pair of eyeglasses nv
right rests naturally upon the arm /,
the chair. There Is no other instsso'
on record OF a blind man prolueirgs
successful statue. unless we eves,,
the French sculptor Dantan VIVA I,
said 10 have executed some portraI,
busts which bore strong Resemblance
TO their originals. A writer IN Prank
Leslie's Weekly thus describes M
sculptor John Merchant Mundy anS
his work;
The writer paid visit 10 Mr.. Munsv
In his studio and questioned him q.
garding his methods Of work In ma.
elling the statue. The blind sculo,o.
CROPPED his way from the house n
which he resides 10 the little bulldlng
In tho rear which serves a. his studio
IL Was an unpretentiOus place ana
had II not been for the beautiful staiae
which completely tilled the room
might have passed for an ordinary
I mechanics workshop
Il have worked on this model aigbt
and day for the past eighteen months
said tho blind sculptor. laying his hssa
careaslngly upon the plaster model
II say night because night Is the SANE
a. day TO ne. When ! come mere d
tho evening the only ligh, I have d
that from within have lived 3
long with my work that | kaoH IA
every feature. and impeEicctioas 10 Il
come out moro strongly before my
mlnd's sye Ia tho darkness than ihey
would during tho day when there Is
dim glimmering before my eyes that
dlstracts my attention. You ask ma
how work BY measurements ana
with rude tools The bust was ani
modelled. ghun the chair upon which
the figure sits Tho height d. whseh
tho head Is elevated from the t00g
hal next 20 bu determined This 70.
must understand. II accomplished b
. the exact knOwlrdgeu % tho properties
. u tho human form when placed In
. sitting posture and II tho basis o. a.
other calculations.
, II Will now give you 40 example d
; how | modelled single pieces 81 ID
! statue II will servo rs an example
{ rlars yourself ID sitting posture
) throwing ono Log over the other 20 .
I 90 bring tho folds In your trousers 4
1 nm easy. natural and graceful position
You will observe that pass my hand
over tho folds 80 made. nov haF
my idoA With IL I 90 direct 10 u
statue and pass my hands over ID
folds I have made Ia tho clay.
there Is anything wrong 10 M med'
am enabled BY this means 10 dcie'
Il AZ oncr. No matter how slight u
difference may BE-. twill not eaoSpc ny
Y nor will tho slightest roughncaa 10 q
!, surface Of tho plaster ~ course y
y work can BE- done BY mo rs easily
= the darkness as tn tho light i ms
y, :, bo interesting 10 know how made q
= plratcd shirt front which Mr. irylt
;" 40 much Affected procured Of
similar 70 tho ono wished 10 prpdu
aud spread II upon pillow, Thea
passed. my hands carefully oveF =
pleatA I thon had strips Of 10
\ made which woro very pliahle q
were 70 represent pleais IN tho sh
IL 'front.' Of my model. Laying these up
tho rough clay. spread thick lay
., Of now clay over them which was
,crward scrnpod OF by tools and m'
it olod into shape"
Upon tho writer's expressing !
Of greatest admiration for Mr. Mund
heroic work. tho iatter said Win
a. sigh. II am glad you Ike IL y
n. be- tho Inst statue shall ever mod
q II Is satisfactory work, ] think a
d. represents Irving "a he was at tlc I
~ period OF his liic about 80. II
ho boon labor Of love with me 9
tinued the blind sculptor rs his y
nb dropped and tears bedimmcd his cy
q Knowing rs did that II must
my career as an artist ] have giye'
20 my undivided attention By nighi
~ day. II has boon ever present y
mo during my waking hours ana
haunted my dreams ~ night y