New-York tribune., 1896-02-03
TROUBLE OYER THE MODEL.
w o. PARTRIDGE APPEALS TO lhH
SECRETARY OF WAR.
HIS FRIENDS THINK HE HAS BEEN
TREATED IN THE COMPETITION FOX IN"
ERECTION OF THE SHERMAN EQuES-

TREATED IN THE COMPETITION FOR THE
ERECTION OF THE SHERMAN E0uEs-
TRAN STATUE.
Some time ago the Society OF the Army OF ',-
Tennessee invited the most eminent sculp'oiS "
America and abroad TO compete for an equestrian
statue Of General William T Sherman. TO De e'eVeu
in Washington In response 10 this t"ei'S nm
models submitted in competition anu
this number Art Commission composer oi
gustus St. Gaudens. On Warner. Daniel - 80 80
J. Q. A. Ward. Bruce Price and George +. roo'
selected fve-those Of P. W. Bartlett. OF ran -
H. Niehaus Of this city, and William oru"ay
Partridge. OF this city. To Bush BROWNE ~
awarded a prize Of 81, 900. but he was not pc''''
to enter the final competition.
The announcement OF the result was fo"o"
few days later by decision emanatng lro',' 49, 80
members of the committee Of the Army u Wv
Tennessee overthrowing the verdict OF the Ai'
Commission. In turn. they submitted scheu
of their own. to which the final competition - I'M
tied Mr.. Partridges model dropped, WIN o"e
OF Mr. Nehaus's and those OF Carl Rom smith, =.
Chicago, and j. Massey Rhind. Of New-forK' "ei.
substituted As a matter of course, the decs'on "a
this committee met with severe criticism from ''e
friends of the unsuccessful competitors.
Mr.. Partridge was yesterday at MS s'uu'o
in the Madison Square Garden tower He discussed
the action OF the committee Of the Army OF tlie
Tennessee IN unbiased, impartial manner re
did not upbrad the committee for Its action anu
his remarks were FREQ from bitterness lie sa'u III
part: The general impression among the scu'po
who entered the competition was that the dec.S'o"
OF the Art Commission to be hnaI' anu Wv
not suppose such list Of prominent artists "ou'a
have submitted models, involving so much thoush'
and work. II such not the case. The jurors
were all eminent artists from the Natlona' sup
ture Society and the Architectural League "p
pointed by the committee OF the Army OF 'ne 'e
nessee to Judge the artistic merit OF the "oiA
Instead OF marking In art In the ,hi'eu
States Il IL TO be feared that the competition WI"
result In the old farce which has characterized 'oo
many awards In this country. / do not criticse the
committee OF the Army as being incoihpe''". "
Judge art matters and should have no word OF
protest II had not been dropped without see'nS
10 me- some Just reason. With several OF the COM
peting sculptors | have gone TO great expense III
making a life-size model OF the statue. ihVoNihs
several thousand dollars not TO say anything aoou'
the thought and time expended upon the statue
Mr. Partridge at the urgent request Of his irie'ds
has written d protest to Daniel Lamont secretary
OF War who with General Miles. has been APP
pointed act in advisory capacity win Ten
eral Dodge president Of the Executive committee
OF the Society Of the Army OF the Tennessee Ihis
letter drafted on Saturday evening at meet
ing OF the Shakespeare Society. and VIII he signed
by many prominent men in art circles, as well a
by Mr. Partridge The letter says that there has
been considerable dissatisfaction IN the art cIces
OF New-York. Boston and Washington because Mi.
Partridge's name stricken from the list IL
declares that General Dodge conceded Mt F.rI-
ridges request TO compete. and thht ne lurtnc'
AK ccd to permit the sculptor to submit Life
model In June General Dodge issued cIcu-
lar limiting the models to the small scale OF one one
inch the foot. II Is asserted that Air Partridge
was the only competing sculptor VINO shoN"'i
large model Of the statue. In view OF the iac that
he third man among the co'nprutofs M',
Partridge requests that he be allowed. with the
other artists selected. TO enlarge ana appniy thc
designs and present them In the second comp.u-
ton Unless this request be granted II is saiI that
Mr.. Partridge Will enter suit for reeompense ior
I, is the opinion OF many artists in tho city that
Mr. Partridge's statue was likely to win the com
Henry Austin. Editor OF The Illustrated Ameri-
can" IN speaking Of tho matter. said
THE ART world has been much disturbed over the
fact that a member Of the Sculpture Society and
the Architectural League. namely. Mt farrik'
hodv Of iinrors and experts who wen, to Washing
ton from NcwYork TO pass according TO the crcn-
lar Issued by General Dodge upon tho artistic
The dropping Of Mr. Partrldre's namc might
have some possible excuse had ne been man OF
no record but IT Is known here ,hat his work has
been accepted in the leading exhibitions of Eur0pe
and With the exception Of MacMonnies. he has had
: he most Important commissions % any man or MS
age In America. viz. IN" shake 3carc 1tAtnr IN
Lincoln Park Chicago. The Hamilton IN hrookyh.
and the Grant equestrian statue that II ah9ht 20
be erected IN front Of the Union lengue CIub IN
: ,cllyn Mr.. Partridge has worked longer than
.y other man. and many other architects anc
artists have openly spoken OF his inofel az h'Ii,s
tho most appropriai" as monuinehth Worh.
carefully thought out. lie Is the only man 50 fal
as we know. who made lf"-sze in9Hei OF morse
md rider We are sorry that TINS u "A matter
that will not end h'vc. but VIII become pait oi
tho history OF these two societies whose representa-
tivcs went to Washington 70 render cNp'rt drclson
in a question Of art. There Is much tax among
The newspapers. that are taking mp TINS matter AZ
a foet case and We wish that II might De stright-
nue1 out WithC-it NOR" publicity ana s'ihlhi
Eliminating The personality of Mr.. Partridge "h"
is tho unfortunate In this case. n Is the un-
haDpv decision that causes the trouhlc. - urr"
anv reason why he should not Dee allowed o ainp'lly
his designs and 10 tat" the place III tne "9'' WIN"
his work has mcritcd''