The times., 1899-12-17
CAPITOL WORKS OF ART
Congress May Seek to Bring About
More Decorative Harmony
The House Session Chamber in Need
of Ornamental ETectS--The Beauty
of Frcscoes, stntuary, and Paint
ings said by Connoisseurs to BE
EcIipsed by Poor Arrangements.


of FreScocs, stntuary, and Paint
ings said by Connoisseurs to BE
EcIipsed by Poor Arrangements.
1t is barely possible that the new Con-
gress will find the time at its present ses-
sion to consider the project of providing
extensive improvements to beautify the
hall of the Representatives. The House
chamber is said to be decidedly in need
of overhauling. and if Congress decides
that the renovations shall be made, this
action may inaugurate a complete reform
in the matter of Capitol decorations. Ac-
cording to those who have made art
study, many innovations and rearrauge-
ments are needed at the massive structure
to bring the various portions of the build
ing into a harmonious whole, so far as
the decorative effects are eonceEned.
The proposition to inaugurate changes
in the art of the Capitol building, has
brought prominently to notice the deco
rative effects Of its interior, and those of
its surroundings There is a great 6eaI
TO admire and a great deal to cTiticise in
the haphaZaTd association OF the art
works and the inharmontous arrangements
of decorations in various parts of the
building.
Many admirers of the beautiful who daily
visit the National halls of legislation eX-
pecting to find interior decorations of
superb character are more or less disap-
pointed by the incongruities that exist.
/ Their anticipation of the attractions to be
found inside the structure is strengthened
as they approach from the west
the huge building designed after
the old Greek more than any
other particular style. They view its
symmetrical proportions, its imposing en-
/ trance and massive columns with genuine
pleasure. They are gratifed with the ap
/ pearance of the colossal bronze Goddess OF
/ Liberty which rests upon the summit OF
the great dome, and which was designed
! by Thomas Crawford at Rome in 1855 and
/ cast in the foundry of Clark Mills, near
! Bladensburg. The finishing touches TO the
/ Indian Goddess, as it is sometimes call
/ ed, were made December >, 1863 when the
/ head and shoulders were placed in position
and a patriotic salute Of thirty-fiye guns
was fired
The Exterior Attractions.
From this truly fine work of art the Wis
itor's eye descends and rests on the bronze
statue OF John Marshall fourth
/ Chief Justice of the United
States which has been placed
at the front OF the terrace. This admirable
work was the creation of the American
sculptor w. w. Story and represents the
learned jurist seated in a chair. On the
north side of the base is a bas relief in
/ white marble representing Minerva dicta-
ting the Constitution to Young America.
tod md
/ Congress of the United States. If the
( stranger happens to approach the Capitol
I from the east he cannot fail TO observe
with admiration the colossal statue in mar
bic of Washington in the plaza. 1t rests
OF a low granite pedestal. The figure is
partially covered with the toga Of a Roman
. Senator is in a sitting posture, and while
the left hand clasps a small sword the right
/ points heayenward. This is the work Of
Horatio Greenough, and critics have
united in declaring it a splendid piece OF
sculpture. Vandals during the recent pres
/ entaton of the sword TO Admiral Dewey
by Congress partly defaced this statue.
Al the central stairway entering the cas-
tern facade. attention is attracted by the
semi-colossal figure representing the ''Ge-
MUS OF America. carved in alto-relievC
from Virginia sandstone Nearby are two
marble groups upon the bookings over the
s.
one north is by Greenough and is called
The Rescue, " representing a frontiersmar
saving his wife and child from massacre
at the hands of an Indian brave; the other
is called The Discovery" The centra
figure is that Of Columbus triumphantly
holding aIoft the globe BY his side COW
ers an Indian girl. awed at the sight of the
white man. These groups were purchaset
by Congress for 200
III
the back OF this poItico, to the right anC
left Of the Rogers bronze doors, command
the admiration of critics for their grace
and dignity of pose, strength in modelling
1 and appropriateness Of design. These stat
ues. represent Mars and Ceres. They wer
placed in position during the year 1886
and were carved by Luigi Persico. Eacl
statue cost $4,000.
The Rogers Doors.
The beautiful bronze doors, Rogers
doors and the Columbus door" as the.
are commonly designated because they wer
designed and modelled in Rome in 1858 b.
Randolph Rogers. a young American. an,
represent scenes in the life of the illusui
Gus navigator. were cast in Munich by f
Won Miller in 1850. They were placed il
the arch leading from Statuary Hall in 1863
but were soon after removed TO their pres
eut position. The lowest panel upon th
left represents Columbus before the Coun
ell of Salamanca. WheEe he was denied as
sistanCe and his theories ridiculed by wis
men of the court Discouraged, he sough
the convent of La Rabida. whose worth
prior, Juan Perez, had before sympathize
with and aided Columbus. The next pane
represents the navigator setting out for tn
court Of Spain where finally. through
lot bn ba,. y,7,
time cOnressoT, the interview with Ferdi
) naud and Isabella illustrated in the thir
panel was secured. The upper panel show
the departure OF Columbus from PalOs o
| his first voyage Of discovery, Friday. Au
[ gust 8, 1892 The other panels illustrate i
detail the story Of Columbus on his yoyag
e / Of discovery.
] Ii had been the intention to have door
[ . 70 the House of Representatives to CORES
pond with the Rogers masterpieces, bu
p the Committee on Library has never mad
Y a successful effort to secure the necessar
$ appropriation, and the models by w
q Reinhart are stored away in some corne
in the basement, where they have bee
& since the close of the civil war. The Roa
ers doors are IS feet in height. 8 feet j
4 width weigh 10000 pounds. and cost tn
Government $2S,50O.
4 Entering the Senate wing. the yisitd
d behOlds what some call works OF art an
q others denounce as atrocities. The mai
corridor Of the Senate is the most ornaI
e apartment in the Capitol but its displa
= of arches and piers tend rather to expo
architectural features than other exam
e Piles of art. The corridors, however, hay
much that is in fresco and oils, but what
+ ever beauty there may be in these is in
. paired by the bad lighting Most of JheI
y, were painted in summer months. geuel
ally considered to be a bad season fc
- such work. The work was done under h