The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-30
A BUST OF BISMARCK.
A Work of Art That Will De Exhib-
tied Next Week.

A work OF Art That VIII he ENh1b-
tied Next Week.
Down on Broughton street. between
Montgomery and West Broad, there is
a small office building painted white. Its
windows are curtained and the passerby
would never tell from it's appearance to
what use it is being put or what was in
progress within it's walls.
This little room is the studio of Mr.. John
Walk. sculptor and artist. 1t would never
be taken for a home of art. yet inside
there is now being developed under the
masters hand a colossal bust of Ger
many's ex-chancellor, Prince Bismarck.
The bust is modelled in plaster. and the
features have been drawn out almost en-
tirely from a study of Bismarck's photo
graphs.
1t was more than a year ago that Mr..
Walk decided to undertake this work.
He has received little encouragement In
carrying out the design; it is work, prin-
cipally Of patriotism and love OF the
character of the man who has done so
much for the Fatherland. Notwithstand-
ing this he has devoted weeks to the task,
and has now but to add the finishing
touches to make complete a piece of art
that would attract attention in any gal
lery where it might be placed.
The work has been seen by those who
have seen the iron chancellor. The feat
ures. they say, are remarkably true and
life-like. To those who have only had
opportunity to compare various pictures
of Bismarck the bust is a revelation, for
it will almost invariably coincide with
the conception drawn from that COMPARE
son. The ex-chancellor appears in the
&c AL al he
bears. and from his collar is suspended
the medal known as the order pour lie
merit" conferred upon him by the former
emperor.
Monday will be Bismarck's sOth birth
day, and ii will be observed by Germans
all over the country. Monday night a
number of prominent Germans now liv-
ing in Savannah will gather at Winter s
at Thunderbolt, where they will dine and
spend the evening together. Mr.. Walz' s
bust will be taken out on that occasion,
and those who attend can do honor to
the ex-chancellor almost as though in
his very presence.
Mr. Walz is an artist of no little note.
and Savannah is to be congratulated tha-
so able and well known a sculptor has de-
cided to become a citizen here. He for
merly visited Savannah for several sue
cessive winters, but has now decided TO
give up his home in Philadelphia alto
gether and locate in this city.
Mr.. Walz was educated in his profession
in France. Germany, Austria and Italy.
He is a linguist of considerable ability and
at one time went to the Austrian court as
Interpreter TO the French commissary
general, and afterwards to the French
minister. 1t was after the expiration of
his term in that capacity, while with
Prof Tilgner of the Austrian Royal Aca-
denny of Fine Arts, that he cut the statues
of the famous artists that now ornament
the grounds of the Telfair Academy. He
holds four prizes awarded him by the
academic Franchise, and his work has
given him a wide reputation in the old
country as well as in this.
Some of his works here are the Schaefer,
Dieter, August Meyer and Watson monu-
ments in Bonaventure, the Stegin monu-
ment in Laurel Grove, busts of Mr. Carl
N. Brandt. DIR. Geo. II. Stone, Mr.. John
l.. Hardee and Mrs. John Nicolson, besides
a number of medalions of different persons
in Savannah. He has creative as well as
executive ability in art, and his next
work will be one of his own compositions,
which he considers his best, called "The
Spirit Ascending"
Mr. Walz years ago executed a piece
of work in flowers for a gentleman in Phil
adelphia. The design, a delicate and
handsome one. was made with much care
and tedious labor, but for the work the ar
fist received only the modest sum of S45.
Shortly afterward a friend of Mr.. Walz s
patron offered 500, but it was retained.
This Mr.. Walz learned some years later
from the gentleman for whom he had
made the design