The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-04
sQUABBLE AMONG ARTISTS.
Models for the Sherman Statue Will Not
Be Placed on Exhibition.

New York, Jan. 31.-It is definitely an
nounced that the proposed exhibition of
the models for the Sherman statue to be
erected in Washington. for which the
award was finally made and announced
by the National Sculpture association
some months ago. will not be made. Mr..
Barr Ferre, secretary of the society, with
reference to this makes the following
statement:
"The National Sculpture Society deep
ly regrets that it must withdraw its an
n0uncement that the models in the 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, in
Guiding Mr.. Carl Rohl-Smith, the sue
cessful competitor, had consented to this
NE of their models, and the delay was
caused by Mr.. Rohl-Smith's absence in
Eufppe. Everything seemed favorable
for an effective exhibit, which must have
been not only interesting but instructive
to the art workers in America. when a
letter from Mr.. Rohl-Smith asked for
further delay.
Writing from Chicago, in December,
1896, he says:
"'My last communication with the
National Sculpture association was an
exchange of kilograms after my model
was accepted for the Sherman statue, in
which stated that would exhibit my
| model, together with those of the other
competing artists, when / returned from
Europe in the fall. Since then the ac-
| ton of the National Sculpture Society
towards me, member Of the society, and
| towards the Sherman Statue association,
has been such as to make it impossible
for me to take. part in any further exhi-
bitiOn of models.' NJ NAG
"Mr. Rohl-Smith certainly wrote un-
der a singular msapprehensiOn of the
matter, since the National Sculpture as
sociation has never in any way reflected
| on his character or standing, personal or
| professional. nor questioned the artistic
merits of his model nor even criticised
, his model. 1t has not called him to ac-
count In any way, nor has it taken steps
tOwhich he, as an. artist OF a man, could
take exception. What the society OBJ
| jected to is the manner in which the COM
petition for the model for the statue was
conducted and closed. It was subjected
| to a committee, of soldiers and civilians,
| on the presumption that committee Of
| soldiers and civilians knew better than q
committee of artists and sculptors, men
chosen by themselves, which was the
| right design. 1t was a competition on
merits, and every artist and sculptor had
n right to expect that 1t would be sub
mitted to committee of experts. No
one has blamed Mr.. Rohl-Smith for ac-
cepting 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 N
work of art for other than artistic reav
| sons.
| 1T is not necessary to speculate as t.
the motive of those who fave misled him
into taking such stand. They have
succeeded, however, in furnishing anoth.
| er example as to the methods, which, In
this instance. the society has deplored.
and has done, everything possible to pre-
clude even helpful criticism until it is too
late to be of use now"