Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-23
A RI AND ARTISTS,

Mr.. Franklin Simmons, the sculptor of
the Logan monument which is to adorn
Iowa Circle, reached Washington about
ten days ago and has been experimenting
the erection Of the bronze pedestal that is
to support the Yet unfinished equestrian
figure. Mr.. Simmons worked in Washing
ton for a time at the close of the civil war
and has revisited the city occasionally since
then. but though there are two examples of
his handiwork in Statuary Hall at the Cap
itol and couple of busts by him in the
Senate chamber his art is not as widely
known here as 1t deserves to be. This is
partly on account of his long residence on
foreign soil, his studio having been located
in Rome for a great many years. Both at
home and abroad a high place among
| scuptors has been conceded to him and re-
| Gently the merit of his work led king
Humbert to decorate him, an honor never
| previously conferred on any American
| sculptor. 1t was in his studio in Italy that
| Mr.. Simmons modelled the pedestal which
| is now being set in place. and he will short
! ly return to Rome 10 complete the statue.
| The pedestal is the first large in the
| city to be made entirely of bronze, and IN
| its design and proportions is noteworthy.
| The entablature. which is supported by
| fluteu plldSterS. IL De2utincd by a pleasing
| architectural characterization, and is further
| adorned by eagles placed at the four cor
ners. On the sides CT the pedestal are TWO
well-a ranged groups in high relief which
represent the civil and the military phases
| Of General Logan's life. In one he is
| shown dressed in the uniform of a major
| general, comforting with the officers of his
| command, among whom one may easily
recognize Generals HaZen Slocum, Dodge.
LegSet, Blair and Mower. On the oppo-
site face of the pedestal General Logan is
represented taking the oath of senator
of the United States, and is surrounded by
| personal friends. In this relief the sculp-
tor has introduced likenesses of Vice Presi-
dent Arthur and Senators Voorhees, Of In
diana, Thurman of Ohio, Miller of Califor-
! mia, Morton of Indiana. Cullom of Hi
nois and Conkling and Evarts of New York
At either end of the pedestal Is an allegori-
cal figure, one representing war, or the de-
ferse of the Union, the other typirying
peace, or the preservation OF the Union.
Both figures are rather classic in their
lines. That personifying war is clad I'm a
modification of the ancient Greek curass
bearing a band of thirteen tiny shields
The pedestal is large and imposing being
Is feet II inches long, 8 feet II inches wide
and IL feet inches high, and its high ar
tistic merit leads one to expect a completed
work OF great artistic merit.
If no extension of the time is made the
annual exhibition of the Society Of Wash
ington Artists, now In progress at 1910 Con-
necticut avenue. will close with the end of
next week. In spite of the many rival in
terests that have been claiming the atten-
ton of the public during April the attend
ance has been moderately good though the
exhibition has hardly received the patron
age which such thoroughly good collec-
ton deserves. However, several sales indi-
cate that soma substantial interest is being
taken in the display, ard there is probably
less reason to complain of duilness here
than in New York. where according TO all
reports, the imminence of war has caused
something very closs to absolute stagnatiori
in the picture mart.
At meeting Of the s. w. A. held on
Tuesday evening three members were elect
ed-Mr. r. LIE Grand Johnston, Mr. Emil
Meyer and Prince Troubetzkoy. The artists
are planning to have a banquet similar to
those which have proved so enjoyable in
the last two years. The banquet which is
to be stag affair, will be gvsn about
the time that the exhibition closes and the
pleasure with which the previous occasions
are remembered augurs well for the sue
cess of this third annual dinner of The So
ciety.
y
Several new pictures which have baen
loaned for exhibition have been placed in
the Corcoran Art Gallery within the past
few weeks. Henry Bacon's large figure
composition entitled THE Boston Boys q
picture loared by Columbian University
portrays the famous interview OF the boys
OF that city with Gen. Gage. As The story