The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-19

The Beautiful statue for Major cinier's
New Hotel Complete

The commission given boy Major Lewis
GInfer 10 Valentine FOR an IDEAL statue
of Thomas Jefferson 10 heautiiy ana dls-
Nifty the grand entrance 20 the magnii-
cent hotel which bears the great states
mans name. has been faithfully executed
and the result is cminently satisfactory.
The figure. which now only awaits the
completion Of the building for removal 10
its permanent pedestal is a triumph OF
art. and in securing, through the genius
Of "a distinguished native sculptor this
superb statue Of jefferson has placed am
obligation upon the entire stale or y IT.
ginia. and it will always stand 40 the
trucst conception and embodiment Of the
author Of tho nations Declaration or IN
Valentine Of an artists. was the genius
10 whom 81 was proper 20 enirust t4ls
important work for be had been i-ie-
long admirer and student Of the charac-
tcrigfics Of Mr.. jefferson. and ne can now
recall the description OF the sage OF
Monticello as given by his fathcr Wheh
be was boy.
When II is remembered that the Sage Of
Monticello was only thirty-three years or
age when the Declaration o. lndeDen-
dcnce was written, and that the portraits
now oXtant either represent MIN as an
old man or give him am air OF wcarlness'
then viii be- appreciated the hgh con-
ception Of the artist.
From careful study of the best p0r-
traits obtainahle. ana the rare privilege
Of clothing the figure from model
dressed i'm the garments that Mr.. Joffer-
SON wore. Ar Valentine has produced
statue that SIS instinct with physical ana
intellectual vigOr.
AIR jefferson. who was six feet two
ana one-half inches tall is represented IN
the statue Of little more than life size.
Tho figure is elegant and impressive, ana
tho posture easy and graceful.
Tho left foot IS slightly adVa1c j. ana
most of the weight Of the fE ire rests on
tho right foot. His left hand rests on a
d0rio column, which I'm itself is tyncdi
OF Mr. JenersOn's classical nature ana
the lines of the column are broken ny
the graceful contact Of the folds or ms
great coat, which fan naturally against
The right hand holds the original COPY
Of tho wonderful paper. which was so
mighty in the destiny Of this great re-
public. and bears tho faithful reproduc-
lion Of the endorsement on It's back, as
follows:
The Orlqinqi Dron or me
Declaration Of Independence
Passed ~ ne
Continental Congress
or ne
United States Of America,
8b Of Juy. l716.
The drapory. which. as before stated,
was modelled from Jefferson costume
gives a delightfully."- pctuIe I'VE enc ,... 10
the islre and consists of long sr'd
coat. with ornamental cape, covering u
lighter dress coat beneath. long waist
cont. knee brooches. top boots and "a
manv-foldcd neckcloth. with lace ruiiics
There is an entire absence OF stiffness
and cOnvcnti0nality about the hgure. ana
its simplicity and ease makes u the more
beautiful. and when the perfect detail
has once been studied So is forgotten IN
the general effect.
The position of the head SIS slightly benz,
giving "a thouchtul air 20 the nelfe, ana
the face Is pleasant, yet bears the me
of intellect. force and power. ana inc
whole Is a grand and noble conception OF
the great statesman. ,.,.
From the top of his broad and CLASSIC
brow. where the hair falls from the centre
each way in The small curls so famiilar
I'm am his portraits. to his eNtremh-es,
cncasod in substantial boots, the usure ls
grand. noble and impressive Ihe statue
also has that rare attraction Whi'n Al-
faches 10 an masterpieces 1t grows upon
tho spectatOr-and the guests or me new
hotel VIII have an ennopling OBJECT lot
fhcir contemplation as they rest IN lhe
grand entrance TO the jefferson.
Tine statue IS fashioned from the purcst
Carrara marble and is fauluess in mate
rial. The public must content themselves
until the hotel is completed, when IL Wall
he opened 20 inspection