Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-05-07

The award of the commission to Signor
Ru so under these circum stances by such a
corps Of judges and the minister of public in
strucion, was a very great honor, and when
the name of the successful competitor was
announced the most general satisfaction was
expressed.
The award being made, Signor Russo,
though much occupel with other orders,
commenced Immediately the execution OF The
commission mud soon had the model of the
f IRE, the column and the pede tal complete,
with the basso relieves in wax ready for ca t.
ing in plaster
The entite monument will be II feet In
height It's terraeed pedestal and octagoDal
co her oolufiins will be Of the handsome and
durable red granite Of haveh, against wh.eh
the noble figure of the genius That ctowiis the
second terrace of The pedestal md the Hiagni;
fcent Alpine eagle-the strongest, most fear
less of all the eagle falnily--that has alighted
on the other side at the back Of Genius, both
in marble, will lie seen with great effect.
The graceful column is Of the same rel
granite rs the pedestal, from which it is
separated by short terrace OF CaTrara marble.
The ornamental pitnl Of the column is of
marble, and the plain ped sal that is crowned
with the marble statue Of the great navigator
is also Of red grnnte. The basso relieves
below the gciiius aud at It's sides are of bronze;
50 dire the six brows-thfee OH each side of the
adnital's small Spaiiish fleet and the anchors
and centfal ihscripton-"A Cfistofero
Colbnibo" -fdrming comntinglihg Of color
and material that is very bedbtlful.. The size
of the basso relieves is l0x2 feet The gehihs
is 10 feet inches in height the figure Of
Columbus is l2 feet inches in height, and It's
feet are 80 inchts long.
u is very Singular; but 10 PORTRAIT Of
C5iimbtis whose authenticity tah BE- thhr-
oughly proved has ye. been discovered: the
sketch for this monument was made after long
aud careful research and most critical COM
PARSONS of those Of the earliest paintings and
engrayings which have the greatest possibility
Of q real likeness.
As the architecture of the monument as
well as the commingling Of its materials and
its design, was to be considered, nine judges
SIRE appointed--three architects, three
painters and thfet sealplors-all famed In
their lines.
The figure below the statue is one of the
uoblest. II represents the genius that sprang
full-hedged from the discoveror's brain at the
time of his meeting with the council Of
Salamanca genius strong and perfect la its
symmetry; msgnifcently proportioned
youth upheld by the wings of faith, yet frm
on the ground Of It's own understanding and
holding in its grasp the whole globe, which 1t
is study ,hg With All intensity like that which
attsurbs m asttunrpeF who has Just discotPfed
ehu is taxing tue latltute OIL Il neF anu Inns
portant star.
The ca lie at the reverse side Of the monu-
ment from the genus is as ! said, the
imperial eagle, that king of all eagles, whose
ho6ie Is in tie hi chest peak of the Snow
covered Al ps He is In al titnde of defense,
and the treasures he is guarding are the arias
of the United States of America and those OF
the Republic of Genoa. The shield Of Geaoa
is the one aopted during its rule by the
German Empire and retained for many
centuries.
The space between the basso relieves and at
the sides of the genius and the eagle will be
filed with bronze tablets bearing English in
s-fiptions composed by ugo Fleres, the
fatisus italian tcrt,
This monument is the only one of witch
there is record that has been accepted by and
sent from one country to another without any
previous and formal inspection. but owing to
the high standing If both the judges and the
artist, it was thought in this case unnecessary.