The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-15
WHY HE WITHDREW
LETTERS FROM SIACMONNIEs EN-
PLANNING HIS POSITION.
After Signing the Contract He Con-
cefved n Different Idea of the
Monuments Purpose.

The withdrawal of Frederick MacMonnies
the Paris sculptor, from his contract with
the State Board of Monument Commits
s1oners TO furnish the side groups, War
and Peace has excited a considerable
comment among those interested in the
completion of the monument. 1t is plainly
understood that the artist severed his con-
necion with the commission through spirit
Of pique. Doubtless the shock to his ar
tistic sense. received when the commits
sioners rejected his substitute for Peace"
impelled him 10 write the following letter
of explanation to President Langsdale, in
which he said
1T is not necessary. to repeat my ex-
planatory letter, which accompanied the
sketches, fully describing my reasons for
my departure from the programme, which
l understood to be subject to notifications
l hope to leave no opportunity for the pub
nc 10 place wrong construction on my
not discuss whether the committee is right
or wrong in its preferences. / say only
that for myself, otter study and reflection
l have conceived the monument my two
sketches show, and that, without my feel
ing and conviction thus settled, / find my
SELF incapable of as good an effort, in a
work which / would like to have perfect
or not undertake" In a postscript TO this
In discarding half of my project you
nautilate a whole. l could only recon-
mence entirely and / prefer to renounce.
lean heroism in it's two highest forms:
First group, Forward to Conquer or Die
for the Integrity of Our Country You un-
derstand cannot cut this in half | would
rather give up the work.
Sculptor MacMonnies was employed by the
commission after several months search
for competent artist. 1t was the desire
of the board to intrust the construction
of the groups War" and Peace" to a
skilled ban md tbo f,yaI
that the services of MacMonnes should
be secured. His contract for the work was
signed May 49, 1894. The first indication
that the artist apparently not satisfied
with his contract was a letter written by
him, in Paris, September, 1894. In discuss
ing the changes suggested he said:
L arrived at the conclusion that the
monument was erected, according to the in
Scription, TO IndianaS Silent Heroes and
not particularly in celebration of Peace
| should abandon that subject for the sec
on ono grSup, and decided ne upon ,in the Army
pirate instead of War and Peace since
the monument is known the word
the Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors
monument The groups, the Army and the
Navy will thus maintain the integrity
of the warlike motives of the monument
alike from every side and afford contrast
and opposition in action, while showing two
phases of Wharf.-The supreme heroism of
the charge and the heroic calm of the de-
Tense. 1 feel strongly that group repre-
senting Peace would weaken the monu-
ment, is trite, as a subject, and lacks the
originality that a naval combat would
The above letter announcing the artists
conclusion was considered by a meeting
OF monument commissioners English, Man
son and McCollrm. The letter was discussed
and the board voted to reject the proposition
for navy group. The artist was Informed
of the boards views and later came mis- let
ter of withdrawal.
a. the rigid character of the bond he was
compelled to furnish had something to do
With his it s The IT b whe a1
cast-iron character and was the subject
OF a good deal of comment. Many thought
he would be unable to furnish bond. For
each of the groups the commission agreed
to pay MacMonnies $4,000. He was to re-
ceive $4,000 on each group when the pre-
Iininary sketch or model had been APP
proved by the commissioners. and $4,000
additional was to be paid on the receipt of
the working models. On the formation of
the full-sized models into rough clay $3.50
more. on each group was to be paid: 4
when the groups reached the foundry and
IS 600 was to be paid when the bronze cast
ings We're, half completed. At 6od the compie e.
allowed. Another 5000 payment was stipu-
lated on the arrival of the groups at Mont-
ment Place and $4,000, the final payment
was to be forthcoming when the groups had
been erected and approved.
1t was claimed by the artists friends that
the commissioners had no right to exact
a bond, considering the form of contract
signed. The sculptor found himself greatly
embarrassed when ne SET apout So LIS a
bond but finally Forwarded one from Paris.
signed by his mother and number or
indianapolis citizens This the commission
ers rejected and a bond was filed.
John T. FrenZel interested himself in the
preparation of the last one and it was ac-
cepted 1t bore the signatures OF the FOL
lowing sureties, who pledged $1,000 each:
Frederick MacMonnies, Frank Mac Monies,
John p. Frenzel: II. FL Hanna, Robert n
Lamb Charles w. Fairbanks, Charles r..
WiIiiams. Otto N Frenzei, Edward Haw
kins, W. ]. Richards Eli Lilly. j. T. Pratt.
john H. Holiday. A. A. Barnes, Albert
Tjeber Rement Lyman, r. G.. Darlington
Nathan Morris. H. W. Lawrence, Joseph
Haus W T. Malott James +. Failey, Henry
Wetzel and William Haueisen.