The morning call., 1893-05-28
SCHMID'S LARKIN MONUMENT

The monument TO the memory OF Thomas ..
Larkin in the Laurel Hill Cemet cry is a credit
alike TO the sculptor who designed and executed
II, and TO The city which 1t adorns
Taken in detail every part OF the design is
artistic aud will bear the closest inspection
and criticism. out the beauty and grace of the
sculptors conception can only be fully appreei-
ated by viewing the monument as a whole.
Marble, granite and broDZt are the materials
skllfully combined III the construction.
Three massive granite steps form the founda-
tioD, so 10 speak, OF the design. These cps
are In the shape of rectangular parallelogram.
The lowest being IA feet by II and the other
two narrowing as they ascend
Upon the tOpmosf step stands the pedestal.
The four corners OF the base terminate In lions
paws. finely modelled and cast in standard
bronze.
The front of the pedestal is a beautiful
medallion chiseled ~ Carr marble. 1t repre-
sents a portrait OF Thomas o. Larkin. wrong
~ more tDan life size Although this medallion
was merely copied from small photograph,
ttiends OF the deceased pioneer pronounce 1t to
TIE eliminating figure OF the design and the
cTowning beauty OF the monument is the heroic
fOi m OF kneeling angel. which is carved In the
purest Carrara marble.
he outline of the figure Is grand in its majesty
an ana slmnilciIy' ana galnst the deep blue OF the
striking as 1t Is impressive.
The mild yet classic face OF The angel bears
the impress OF power and of triumphant peace.
Bending forward, one of the beautiful hands
steadies a tablet inscribed with the word
PAX" while the other hand bears a palm
branch. The figure is chseled from nineteen.
ton block OF Carrara marble, and the work OF
executing 1t occupied the sculptor seven
months.
One Of the most beautiful details of the work
is the drapery OF the figure, which eXQuislteiy
rendered.
The angel If erect would stand eight feet blgh
considerably more than llfe-siZe, vet no one can
fail tn be struck by its lightness and grace,
which are extremely rare in massive works OF
art.
7 his appearance is, in a great measure
owing to The perfect harmony of the figure. aud
perhaps also to the fact that the half-spread
wings are in such just proportion to its size.
Viewing the monument In detail in this man.
ner It IL, as before stated, well worthy of MI
mute attention, but IL is principally for its
beauty as 4 whole that IL Is remarkable.
The gradual tapeling upward from the solid
foundation OF the lowest step, 14X12, TO the
head ana shoulders of the angel which form
The apex of the design, is extremely artistic.
This tapering gives the monument au air OF
symmetry and grace that Is as pleasing as 1t is
Iare.
In some of the most admired monumpntal
creations, not only in America, but in Europe
angels of rare design and beauty are too often
placed upon massive square cubes and other
clumsy bases, that ruin The effects OF the monu-
ments as a whole by breaking and jarring the
symmetry OF the outline.
Occasionally, too, beautiful figures are found
upon too 81 nder columns, that give the statu-
aTy the appearance of being top-heayy, aud de-
siroy The proportion even more than too
massive bases,