The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-11
STRONG P[l. E |: !. FOR
OUR OWN ARTISTS.
Should be Allowed 10 Compete for the
Lafayette Monument.
HAS BEEN REDUCED IN SCOPE.
Proposition TO Put Gold and Silver in
the Statue Not a Popular One-Work
OF the Commission Criticised
by an Artist

There las been no art DroJcct OIL s ucii
,n,nor,ance and general interest to the
american, people within our national ms
tnrv as that which purposes to dedicate
In Paris on the Fourth OF July next at
tho Exposition. a monument TO Laiay-
cite.
To further this movement the aid and
support OF the governors OF the various
states and Territories, together with the
supcrintcndonts OF Education throughout
the country, was solicited and secured
Together with q number of prominent
and respected citizens these officials form
a commission, responsible in the premises
for the conduct Of the movement ha'lLS
for its purpose the presentation 10 France
of q fitting memorial to the generous ana
gallant Frcnchman. whose services Al
the cause of our liberties were dnestim-
able.
The response to the appeal made oy
CHS commission to the school children
the States, and the general government
has been most generous, resulting Al
Sum exceeding 500. 0D.
To the end of securing for the eXecu-
ton OF the work the best available Amer
lean talent. the services of the pres!oeaitS
of the National Sculpture society. Inc
Society of American Artists ana Tie
American Institute e Architects were
secured.
. In the appointment OF these o'sl uisue
ed artists. Representatives because y,
their official positions ana lhulsie ..i
ability. q committee of experts. an hi
tial movement for securing the best pos
sible results, world seem 20 have beeh
natrly made. The outcome, however,
has been far from satisfactory
Mr.. bartlett, young man. born IN TINS
country. but French Through lifelong
residence in Paris, was selected 10 90
this, which should be made the mos
notable achievement of American SOUP
ture. He is not widely KNOWN IN
America
REDUCED I'm SCOPE.
It is presumably IN consequence. OF TINS
SeeIing.tt,at the projected monument has
been reduced in scope to 4 simple edues-
trian statue and TO a small scale, ailat II
may not dwarf adjacent monuments IN
the Garden of the Tnillerles
ut has been publicly stated, ana 1he
statement has not been questioned, mat
more than s5o,09O has not at any Time
been paid for simple equestrian statue
together with its pedestal
In reply to repeated questions as 10
what is 10 be done with the great sum
OF money already in land. and in view.
tire commission has answered that II IS
!s,tended to enrich the bronze by adoi-
1;ons of gold and silver ard that addi'
:ticoal expense is 10 be entailed by the
castinr- of the statue in one piece by the
-cere predue process
This writer has secured statements
from the Roman Bronze Works and Johh
sayiluams. Of New York. the BoSeau
u, others. pf Philadelphia, the American
Bronze Foundry ConpanGT,-of Chicago.
and the Ames Foundry, OF ChicoIec.
Mass. 10 the effect that goiu and silver
are not ued IN large castings, lor inc
reason that they add nothing of uura-
bility or beauty and that not only Il
nothing Ezined by making large casting
An one riece. but that there is risk OF
having it come out spnngy and ce1ec-
tive
These authoritative expressions dispose
Of this possible means of eSpendIl'E lnde-
finite sums and make it incumnsnt on
1he commission to explain what is 10 we
done with the $4,000 and more in excess
of the exorbitant estimate OF $ou,0oo 1or
the statue and pedestal. Indeed the Ia
NOUS French sculptor, M baTtholdl,
whose experience is probably greater
than that, of any living artist, has SAID
:.
TO nav Bartlett for his statue. Taking
this estimate and allowing $4,000 for the
G,edestal the whole expense would De
covered by s3T.0A.
The secretary of the commission mas
sid that 1t is hoped the fund may be
made, Through the sale OF Lafayette dol
lars. to exceed sl59,0OO. Various state
.meuts have been made In the Press as
TO what Is to be done with this money,
but officially nothing, except as TO SINK
;ny ii in gold and silver into the bronze,
and in useless attempts 70 CAST ule
statue entire.
COMPETITIVE CONTEST.
II the statement made that no contract
ms been given is correct, it is hoped the
Expert Committee may recommend that
the matter be open TO general compeh-
lion. Such action would subject Mr..
Bartlett TO no greater injustice than that
to which Mr.. Barnard and other sculpt-
ors, who gave their time TO this work
an ats earlier stages without compenSa-
ton, have been compelled to submit
There will be an abundance of money.
however. wherewith to compensate MIR.
Hsartlett for whatever work he may do.
and enough left TO secure for the perma-
nent representation of the American peo-
ME in France production which. II
not indeed worthy of us. shall be, at
least, representative of the best we are
capable of at this time.
g Artists VINO, through merit, good-tor-
tune or otherwise. have obtained p!epon-
dcring influence. and are alluded to as
the foremost American so and SO. and
who are, also, much employed, will, in
the order of things. refuse to enter com
petitions. and, as matter of fact, dis
courage them. IN order that they may
recommend their friends for such work
as they do not care to do themselves.
we have an example of the kind in the
unfortunate monument OF Lafayette in
Washington.
There might be a sort of poetic humor.
Sc not Justice, in giving France as bad as
she sent. and It may be We are In a fair
way TO heap even a greater injury upon
her.
1t may be safely said there IS not an
American sculptor OF foreign birth, ex-
pa,riated or otherwise. who would not,
IL he had a fair chance, enter compe-
s1tton for this monument, for the simple
reason that it affords the most conspic.
nous opportunity yet offered to conspicu-
o{siy place an American work in the art
capital of Europe. Not in the whole his
tory of our country has such a chance
offered for the achievement of q worlds
wide and exalted reputation
GIVE THEM A CHANCE.