The record-union., 1897-02-01
SHERMAN STATUE MODELS.
THE PROPOSED EXHIBITION OF
THE1 WILL NOT BE nADE.
Statement Made by the..Secretary of
the National Sculpture
Society.

NEW YORK, Jan. 31-It is definitely
announced that the proposed exhibition
OF the models of the Sheman statue to
De erected III Washington, between
which the award was finally made ar d
announced by the National Sculpt Ire
Society some months since, will not be
made. Barr F'errere, Secretary of the
society, with reference to this, makes
the following statement:
THE National Sculpture Society
deeply regrets that it must withdraw
It's announcement that the models in
final competition for the Sherman
statue are TO be exhibited, but feels it
is without blame in the matter The
announcement was not made until all
concerned, including Carl Rohl-Sm'.h
the successful competitor had con-
sented to this use of their models, and
the delay was caused by Mr. Rohl-
Smiths absence in Europe. Everything
hibition, which must have been not
only interesting, but instructive to the
art world of America, when a letter
from Mr.. Rohl-Smith made further ac-
ton impossible.
Writing from Chicago under date Of
November II, 1896, to the Secretary
of the society, he says: My last IN
tercourse with the National Sculpture
Society was an exchange Of kilograms
upon the day after my model was
chosen by the Sherman Statue Commits
sion, in which / stated / would exhibit
my sketch model together with other
competing artists when | returned from
Europe in the fall. Since then the ac-
ton of the National Sculpture Society
toward me, a member of the society.
and toward the Sherman Statue Com
mission has been such as to make it,
under the circumstances, impossible for
me to take part in any further exhibi-
ton of models
Mr.. Rohl- Smith certainly wrote un-
der a singular misapprehension of the
case. since the National Sculpture So
ciety has never in any way reflected
upon his character or standing per-
sonal or professional, nor questioned
the artistic merit of his work nor even
criticised his procedure. 1t has not
called him to account in any way, nor
has 1t taken any steps to, which he, as
an artist, or as man, could take the
slightest exception.
What the society did object to was
the manner in which the competition
for the statue was closed and the
award made 1t objected to the as
sumption on the part of a committee of
soldiers and civilians that they, the
soldiers and civilians, knew better than
committee of sculptors and architects
men chosen by themselves, and who
had especially studied the original
model-whch was the right design. 1t
objected. moreover, to the apparent
breach of faith by which competing
sculptors who had every right to ak
pect the award would be given accord
ing to that chosen expert opinion, yet
which was given partly in disregard
to it. partly in despite of it.
mo one had blamed Mr.. Rohl-S Smith
for accepting a commission which was
offered him by those having legal
power to make the offer. Those whom
the society has blamed are the officials
who selected a work of art for other
than artistic reasons.
ut is not necessary to speculate as
TO the motive of those who have misled
him into taking such a stand They
have succeeded however in furnishing
another example as to methods which
in this instance, the society has de-
plored and have done everything pos
sible to preclude even helpful criticism
until it is too late to be of use