Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-21
THE SHERMAN STATUE.
What an Artist Thinks of the De.
cfsiOn.

What nm Artist Thinks of the De-
cisiOn.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
The worlds fair of Chicago must ever
stand pre-emnent and respected as Great
Ing new era and revival of the arts gen.
| orally, and its results and influence on
Decorative Art, Architecture and Sculpture
| are notably evident, year after year, in
the advance of true knowledge and subtle
rkill, displayed IN the designs which are
called forth by public competition and pri-
| waite enterprise.
The competitions for the Sherman Eques-
| TRAN Statue intended for this city has nat
| urally absorbed the attention of art crit
les. and the citizens Of Washington during
the past few weeks, and the decision of the
! professional experts and military commit
tee has been most anxiously expected, and
the following list of successful competitors
was duly announced in your issue of Sat
urday: p. w. Bartlett, Paris; Carl Rohl
Smith, Chicago; C. H. Niehaus New York;
]. Mussey 'Rhind, New York, and H. K.
Bush Brown of New York.
The question Of selection was, doubtless,
no easy task, as there were certain good
ana bad features, and Indifferent knowl-
edge, In each individual work, and in sew
eral instances the bad was more marked
! In some of the accepted models than in
those that have the misfortune to be re-
jected, and unnoticed.S Now, since the COM
mittee has allowed the shove sculptors the
privilege Of reconsidering and further
celebrating their models under it's direc-
ton for final decision, why would 1t not be
reasonable and desirable to recognize the
ability and standing of certain Of the other
competitors, whose work clearly shows
knowledge, skill, and refinement of feeling,
and, in fact, give these gentlemen an equal
opportunity with those named of improv-
ing and developing their models, with an
equal chance Of their final success in the
competition?
I would especially refer to the designs
Mr.. H. ]. Ellicott and perhaps one or two
others. These gentlemen are not unknown
to fame. and the merit of their work speaks
for itself.
mittee been announced as final" the DOS
sibilities of further action would have been
barred; but, under the circumstances, 1 re-
specially submit that it would be a era-
cious act on the part Of the committee to
extend the privileges, above claimed, In
favor Of the sculptors to whom I have spe-
cially referred.
December p, 1896 WALTER PARIS.
Space is given to the foregoing because it
expresses the opinion of an artist, well
qualified to form fair and intelligent judg-
ment on the subject, and not with the expec-
tation that it will influence official action in
the premises, since it is understood that the
case is closed, so far as the list of chosen
sculptors is concerned. There is, moreover,
authority for the statement that Mr.. Par
fridge was in the list of five selected by the
original awarding or advisory committee,
composed of artists and architects, and
that his name was subsequently dropped by
the military committee, and that of Mr..
Charles Rohl Smith, Of Chicago, substituted
therefor. It may Furthermore be added, in
this connection, that Mr.. Partridge's designs
were highly commended by the artists and
architects of Washington, generally, many
Of whom express both surprise and regret
at the result arrived at.