Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-15
The Women of the South,

The movement inaugurated by the
Richmond HowitZers to erect Il monu-
ment to the women of the South. should
touch a responsive chord throughout the
entire southern country 1t is meet that
the inspiration the mothers, wives, and
daughters of the Confederacy, by their
patriotism, fortitude self-sacrtice and
devotion gave to the cause. should have
imperishabe recognition. and that their
memory should be enshrined in some
lasting, distinctive object-leSson to the
generations that are to come. 1t is our
duty to see that their place III the his
tory of the great struggle of 1s6l-'65 be
oommemorated in some tangible illustra-
ton
But the contamination Of the work in
the perfection the theme demands sug-
gests questions that should have the
most thoughtful consideration. We as
sumo that d monument to the women Of
the South contemplates female figure.
This will call for great art in all the
phrase implies. There Is a radical differ
cnce between female figure that would
typify the South and one that would
typify the women OF the South. The
former might be of bronze; the latter
must be of marble.
The statues that have been erected in
honor of the heroes OF the late war on
both sides are necessarily confined to n
conventional type. Where they differ one
from another the difference is within GER
tain circumscrbed limits. and is in pose
and minor accessories. Originality and
freedom of treatment have been pract-
cally exhausted. The art point of view
Is largely the same in respect of them
all. The sculptor who accepts a commits
sion TO add to this class of work is Sc
rously cramped, no matter what his tai
ent. How far he will be compelled
TO be initiative is only a question of de-
gree. he his work never 50 superior OF
its kind. public familiarity with the type
and the consequent natural failure &C
discriminate touching fine points place
his production ON the same plane with
those of inferior artists.
The mind that would conceive and the
hand that would model a statue intended
20 tell the story of the women OF the
South have before them the broadesl
possible domain of plastic art. Such a
statue must prove a GROWING success OF
travesty. There can be no middle
ground And To be a success 1t must tar
the noblest capabilities of sculptural crea
ton. The dawn of the conception of such
q statue was upon Calf when during the
war he modelled his composite bust Of
the southern beauty. No conventional
figure illustrative of abstract beauty. ever
though II should follow with absolute
truth the purest Greek lines, could do
justice TO the subject The statue must
not be the design OF talent and of mere
skill In the manipulation of form. but the
creation OF genius The sculptor must he
the master. not the slave. OF schools of
art. a figure that would represent the
women OF the South must have charac-
ter. individuality. refinement, depth OF
sweetness. II must express courage, faith
fortitude. and suffering. Ruskin I'm one
OF his lectures on the School Of Athens
asks respecting the Greek sculptors: "Can
they give divine sadness? Shall We find
In their art work any Of that pensive-
ness and yearning for the dead which
fills the chants Of their tragedy" We
must have supremacy in the statue to the
mothers. wives. and daughters OF this
confederacy what Ruskin implies the
Greek statues have not.
Plastic art is capable Of comprising
and celebrating the theme. but cannot do
II in day. nor In year. nor In several
years. Every touch. whether for express
sion or the subtle effects OF drapery. must
be instinct with art, must mssn some>