The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-31
NEW SCULPTURE
AROUSES PARIS.
Violent Political Discussion Of
Jules Dalou's Triumph Of the
Republic."

Jules DalOu's Triumph OF the
Republic."
THE recent unwilling in Paris of Jules
l Dalou's immense monument In bronze
representing 1.-THE Triumph of the Re-
public" furnished the occasion for violent
political discussion; but as to the artistic
merits OF Dalou's work there seems to be
but one opinion, namely, that 1t ranks
among the finest Of the modern monuments
erected In Paris.
The female figure personifying the Re-
public stands erect In a triumphal chariot
drawn by two lions. The body is draped In
a floating cloak. The head Is surmounted
with the Phrygian cap. The left hand rests
upon the fasces. With the right hand the
figure invites the city of Paris to recon-
Citation and peace. The sculptor has sue
ceeded in imparting to his central figure an
impression of strength and grandeur. Seat
ed on one Of the lions Is a nude female, rep
resenting the genius of Liberty. The right
hand grasps a torch, while from the left
hand hang the chains that have been re-
moved from the people. Two other figures
are at the right and left Of the triumphal
car: one Of them is a robust smith, with
barred chest. personifying Labor, and the
other Is massive female wearing a long
robe, symbolizing Justice. Behind the car
IL nude female with joyful expression
holding armfuls Of fruit and flowers. This
IL the personifcation Of Plenty. Groups of
children dance and gambol in charming
pastures.
The female figure Of the Republic Is four
and a half meters In height The chariot
and the pedestal upon watch 1t rests are
six and a half meters high. The figures
at the base are each four meters or forty
centimeters In height. Each lion is four
meters In length. The total weight of the
bronze is $1,000 kilogrammes. The sculp-
tnr no1 ha0 he In CHI
ly after the close of the Paris exhibition
Of that year. Dalou, VINO had been in
volved In the commune outbreak in May.
1871, was living in exile in London when
the city of Paris opened a competitive
examination for a statue to be erected
In one of the large squares of the city
in commemoration of the republic. The
model presented by Dalou. then quite an
unknown youth. secured the prize. The
original model has. however, been re-
peatedly changed, and the work as II now
appears Is the result of twenty years la
Dor.
M. Dalou has also completed a monu-
ment in memory of Alphand, the archi-
tect of the city of Paris, which was re-
Gently erected in the Avenue du Bots de
Boulogne. He is now engaged in finish
ing the sculptural decorations of the
Alexander III. bridge across the Seine at
the entrance to the coming worlds fair
OF 1900.
In the cemetery of .Pere Lachaise. fac
ing the main entrance, there is an abrupt
rocky prominence. This has been shaped.
by the aid of masonry. into a sort of
Egyptian tomb upon which Bartholome.
the sculptor, has completed iils work in
memory Of the dead unprovided with spe-
cial tablets or tombstones. The vast work
is in admirable harmony with the sur
roundings. Two broad avenues of the
great Partisan metropolis encircle the
monument. Poplar and cypress trees near
1t mako an appropriate frame for the
grayish white stone upon which the fig
ures are chiseled The execution is ex-
celIent. The motive may be described in
a. few lines-a broad expanse of gray
wall. In the wall there Is a somber abyss
into which two nude figures are about
to enter. They, are husband and wife.
Their arms are enlaced and they step to-
ward the unknown. At both sides groups
of every age and condition of humanity
follow the two central figures. Beneath.
and in the same axis as the first abyss,
is a second chasm. Here repose at full
length the husband and wife and their
offspring. all three united in the common
earth. A being radiant in light persopify-
ing Hope invokes them to eternal life.