New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-04
STATUES ~ THE GREAT PARKS.

Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted deserves the
heortiest thanks Of every lover Of the beautiful,
whether in nature or in art, for his lucid and
convincing utteranccs on the subject of statuary
and other architectural objects in Prospect Park
He has said. 1t Is true, only what many others
have thought and said. Their words, however,
were largely in vain, because they were not
backed by special authority and were directed
against merely individual cases. Mr.. Olmsted
sneaks with the highest authority and not con-
corning some one case but upon principle Of
general application. There Is thus reason to hope
that his words will be needed. and will be made
4 part OF the policy Of the Brooklyn Park De-
nartmcnt at least rs long as its present enli ght-
cncd management prevails. In that case New
York will have cause to envy Brooklyn and to
wish similar policy had been pursued in Cen
trail Park
The multiplication Of statues, monuments and
other architectural structures would, says Mr..
Olmsted mar the quiet, rural landscapes Of the
mark and make Ii resemble confused and
fussy-looking garden. or "A rural cemetery. That
Is exactly true. and for proof Of 1t one needs to
look no further than to some parts Of Central
Park. The Mall, It is true. is not altogether
rural IL NtS h't ih''h''h ~ w. 49,
northern end is distinctly formal and arch-
tectural Yet il surely would be more appro-
pirate central feature Of the great park had 1t
been left in more Of the simplicity of a forest
aisle or series Of aisles, and free from the dis
tressing array OF distorted etligies which now
dsfgure H. Then 1t would have recalled memo
rics Of Hoods shady avenue where lofty Gins
abound" and would have harm0nized more per-
fccily with the broad cxpansc Of meadow on the
one hand and The rocks and groves and tangled
wildwood on the other. Now. II recalls nothing
50 much as the famous Groves Of Barney" with
Statues growing that noble space In
or heather gOddesscs most rare.
Homer Plufarch and NebuchadncZZar.
Al! standing naked In the open air.
Even good statuary seems out of place In sich
a spot. Bad slatulry j. insult added 10 injury.
II i not easy. says Mr.. Oimstcd. to make peo-
pie understand why statues and other works OF
art should not be- set up in our great parks. Ana
vet II ought not 10 be- difficult. Surely II SHOULD
be- sclfcyidcnt to AL men ana women Of taste
that a great park. like Central or Prospect.
should BE- essentially rural; that statues and
monuments. generally speaking. are essentially
formal and artificial. and that 10 mix the two
1. incou.rIous Every one would recognize the
absurdiiy Il hanging oil paintings upon the
trunks II trees Why Is 1t any better 10 set up
siafnes among them Unless. indeed II be some
group representing Wild beasts. or dryads. or
satvrs Siaiuary. meaning formal portrait stat
ucs on finished p.-lcstals. j. IN art closely allied
with architecture and such works should be
placed where they will have IN architectural en-
yironmrnf or background Any ono can SOC Tho
fitness ~ placing statues AT the fronts Of build
incs ike that II Washington on the sub
urv steps and that II Greeley AZ the door Of The
Tribune Office The statues In our small parks
and ~ the intersection II streets are also wei
plac,d. because those parks are not rural bui
formal in design. and have an always visible
hack GROUND OF architecture. But 10 put those
same statues of IN the fields or woods would be
hopccssly absurd.
There has been In both Ncw-iork and Brook
lyn. too much Of tendency to put all decorative
objects In and around the great parks and to
leave the streets and public buildings bare. We
trust Mr.. Olmstcd's wise remonstranc" VIII go
far toward checking and correcting II. The
streets and the buildings which line them VIII
he improved by the addition Of statues and monu'
,ncnts provided these b. Of crcdtabe design.
As for the parks. they will be- all the better for
being left nearly as possible In state or
nature All the artlhcc needed in them Is such
as will make their natural beauties accessible.
and preserve them from decay, or perhaps serve
~ q foil. Art that vaunts itself and strives to
place itself in rivalry with Nature is in such
places an intOlcrablc intruder
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