The herald., 1897-02-01
Sherman STATUE MODELS
Will Not Be Exhibited to the
Public
A SUCCESSFUL COMPETITOR
Declines to Permit the Use Of Hi
Model
His Artist Soul Seems Sensitive t.
Criticism Passed Upon the Judges
Decision
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, Jan. 31.-It Is definitely
announced that the proposed exhibit
tions Of the models of the Sherman
statue to be erected in Washington be-
tween which the award was finally made
and announced by the National Sculp-
ture society some months since, will not
be made.
1.-THE National Sculpture society
deeply regrets that it must withdraw it's
announcement that the models in COM
petition 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 Carl Rohl-Smith, the success
full competitor, had consented to this
use Of their models, and the delay was
caused by Mr.. Rohl-S Smiths absence in
Europe. Everything seemed favorable
for an effective exhibition which must
have been not only interesting but in
structive to the art world of America,
when letter from Mr. Rohl- l-Smith made
further action impossible.
Writing from Chicago, under date of
November 21, 1885, to the secretary of
course with the National Sculpture So
ciety was an exchange Of kilograms on
the day after my model was chosen by
the Sherman statue commission, in
which l stated / would exhibit my sketch
model together with other competing
artists when / returned from Europe
in the fall. Since then the action of the
National Sculpture society towards me,
member Of the society, and toward the
n q fIIn 1vV1dco oJn hoc
such as to make it, under the circum-
stances. impossible for me to take part
in any further exhibition of models.
Mr.. Rohl-Smith certainly wrote un-
der singular misapprehension of the
case, since the National Sculpture So
ciety has never in any way reflected
upon his character or standing, personal
or professional, nor questioned the ar
tistic merit of his work, nor even criti-
cised his procedure. 1t has not called him
to account in any way nor has it taken
any steps to which he, as an artist, 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 assumption,
on the part OF committee Of soldiers
and civilians that they, the soldiers and
civilians, knew better than commit
tee of sculptors and architects, men cho-
sen by themselves. and men who had
especially studied the original model
which was the right design. 1t objected,
moreover, to the apparent breach of
faith by which competing sculptors
had every right to expect the award
would be given according to that chosen
expert opinion, yet which was given
partly in disregard of it, partly in de-
spite Of it.
mo one had blamed Mr.. Rohl- Smith
for accepting commission which was
offered him by those having legal power
to make the offer. Those whom the So
ciety has blamed are the officials who Sc
lected a work of art for other than ar
tistic reasons.
1T is not necessary to speculate as to
the motives of those who have misled
him in taking such a stand. They have
succeeded, however, in furnishing an
other example as to 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"