Evening star., 1898-08-06

Ihe work was TO De SUBJECT 10 the approval
of Mrs. Douglass and the three children of
Frederick Douglass, Mrs. Sprague Charles
and Lewis Douglass. In order that he
might consult with members of the family
and be where they could see his work Mr..
Edwards came to this city last April.
Search for IL Studio.
1t was easy task for him to find
| suitable place in which to go to work. All
the art studios were occupied and were not
available for his Use. The statue was to
be of heroic size, and necessitated not only
a room with high ceiling, but where
there would be ample space in which the
work might be viewed from distance as
it progressed, and, above ALL where abun-
dant light could be had. Finally Mr.. Ed
wards found the old First Methodist
Protestant Church, we'll known to the col
ored people of the section as Frog Eye"
en- Virginia avenue between 9Th and Gth
streets southeast The church had long
been abandoned by its congregat ton, and
the property was readily rented and the
work begun.
The figure was first constructed in clay,
and while this work was being done it
stood on the platform at the altar of the
church. Mr.. Edwards secured clothing
actually worn by Mr. Douglas during the
last three years of his life, and with this
as a guide to the size of his subject pro-
ceeded to secure a colored man as a model
1t was at this stage of the proceeding that
the artist became suspicious character
IN the eyes Oh the colored people living
about the Frog Eye church. Several of
the colored men whom he solicited in turn
to become his model believed he was a
might DOCTOR" and, communicating this
suspicion to others, it was not long before
the artist was the terror OF the neighbor-
hood. He finally succeeded in overcoming
this prejudice. a n odel was secured and
the work begun.
The Preliminaries.
Previous to this Mr.. Edwards had pre-
pared himself for his work during a period
of couple of years. In that time he en-
deavored to learn all about his subject and
read everything ever written by or about
Douglass. The personality of the man in
this way became impressed upon the mind
of the artist almost as of one whom he had
always known Intimately.
1T seems to me. said Mr. Edwards,
speaking of his work to a Star reporter,
"the predominant trait in the character of
Douglass was his strong Self-will and self
reliance, and that made him what he was.
The other side of his character, and an an
tagonistic trait, is shown by his life work,
which was one of appeal to the better ma
ture of man for his race"
/ In order to bring out these traits forci-
bly, the artist has made his subject stand
firmly on his feet, with shoulders thrown
back. The hands thrown forward in
appealing attitude. The pose represents
the orator addressing an audience in
Rochester Immediately after the proclama-
ton of emancipation.
Il stand before you tonight for the first
time as an American citiZen,' Mr.. Doug
lass said, in beginning his speech on that
occasion.
Photographs taken at the height of Doug
lass fame, when he was about fifty years
of age, served as guide in making the head.
A death mask obtained by Mrs. Douglass
was also available for securing necessary
measurements.
Approved by Family.
The figure was first modelled in the nude
and then the drapery was placed on it, and
by this method the artist has secured a
lifelike pose that is as remarkable as Is
the likeness Of the features. Every MEM
ber of Mr.. Douglass family has given ap
proval to the work in the most fattering
terms and large number of Mr.. Doug
lass friends who have seen the statue have
been struck with its remarkable likeness
as well as with its artistic qualities. 1t is
the Douglass who was known all over the
world during the stirring days that pre-
ceded and followed the PRONUNCIATION of
the emancipation proclamation, and those
who see the statue and who knew the man
are carried back to the days of his great
ness and feel that they can again hear his
thrilling appeals for the liberty and uplift-
Ing of his race. There is more In the like
ness than could be placed there by copying
the features from photographs, however
lifelike they might be. The work shows
that the artist in portraying the features
was in full sympathy with the man and
knew him AMI his aspirations.
The statue is eight feet in height, Doug
lass himself having been one inch in ex-
cess of six feet and weighing 230 pounds.
The bronze casting will be made by Bu-
reau Bros. of Philadelphia, and the COM
pleted statue Xin be erected on site now
selected in thtabusiness part of Rochester
and will be ready for dedication September
IL
A F1attering Tribute.
Perhaps the most fattering tribute that
has been paid to the wonderful likeness of
the statue to the man. came from a group
Of colored men who were employed near