The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-16
CRITICISM OF THE GROUPS.
An Article by L.. III. Meaktn, Cincin-
natl Artist.

The Cincinnati Commercial Tribune Of
Sunday had a criticism of the Indiana Sol
diers' Monument groups of WAR" and
Peace" the writer Of which is understood
to be Mr.. L. III. Meakin, the well-known
Cincinnati artist, who recently spent some
time in this city. After briefly describing
the general character of the monument and
the granting Of the contract for the sculptur-
al groups to Bruno Schmitz, Mr.. Meakin
says: 1.-THE result is about as bad as 1t
could possibly be. The really fine original
design is already pretty thoroughly spoiled.
and If the sculptured work still to be done is
of the same caliber the ruin will be COM
plete. We have SO many really magnifi-
cent sculptors In this country that going
outside of it for a work of this kind is
really absurd. 1t would seem as though
a monument commemorative OF American
vaior should be executed py american IN
telligenSe, by an intelligence that must nee
essarily understand and be in sympathy
will the America temperament and char
acter; that must know, as only one born
and bred amongst them can, the varied
American types. This. aside from any
question Of executive ability, is absolutely
necessary to the success OF such a work.
And this Is one respect. though not the
only one. in which these immense groups
are a dismal failure. The central figure
of the War group Is a fat and badly con-
~ ny Va liz
with which We are familiar from German
monuments and allegorical pictures, hav-
ing the most conspicuous attributes OF that
figure. The dignity. however, of the
Germania figures is entirely absent, and
it is simply a fat, coarse, angry. virago in
a chain mail bodice. The American scout
ON the left has nothing American about
him. He Is an unmistakable and typical
German poacher.
1.-The rest OF the figures in this group,
considered individually, are about equally
bad; in fact. perhaps. the worst Of all is
figure, War. or Germania, as one may
choose 10 call II.
The Peace group is not a bit better than
the War. AS regards the individual fig
ures, they are as devoid OF any touch OF
American individuality or character as
the others; even the conventional negro
with broken shack!es, looking sentimental
ly up into the face of Peace, who Is paying
figure that was supposed to have been
~relegated TO the Uncle Tom Cabin period
OF art Is not an American negro. There
is no question but that the experiment
of having this work done by foreign art
lists. ignorant. as they must necessarily be
of American life, character, temperament
or types. having no sympathy with Amer
lean sentiment or feeling, has been an un-
ly hoped that the same mistake VIII not be
Even if one of the best artists in Ger
weak one. it would still. for the reasons
given. have been a failure. 1t is very
certain that they would never be found
making such a mistake In any country In
s~culptors many honors over there-medals
and decorators like the Legion OF Honor.
and so on, but no one could for a moment
conceive OF France, Germany or any other
one OF them such a work as this. National
pride and self respect would forbid H."