The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-11
TIE LAFAYk1TE MONUMENT.
Demand for Further D%eliberat,on rs to thu
SCULPTOR.

TO THE EDITOR OF X SUN-SV' mere has
been no art project OF such importance ana
general interest to the American people within
our national history as that which IL TO dedi-
cate In Paris on the Fourth Of July next at the
Exposition a monument to Lafayette.
To further this movement, the aid and sup
port Of the Governors OF the various states and
Territories, together with the uperintenients
OF education throughout tho country. was 500
lIcted and secured. Together with a number
OF prominent and respected citizens. those
officials form n commission. responsible In tho
premises for tho conduct OF the movement
having for its purpose the presentation TO
France Of u fitting memorial to the generous
and gallant Frenchman whose services In the
cause OF our liberties were inestimable.
The response TO tho appeal made by this
commission 10 the school childr the States.
and the general Government has been most
generous. resulting in u sum exceeding
100000.
To the end OF securing for the execution Of
the work the best available American talent,
the services OF the Presidents Of the National
Sculpture Society. the Society OF American Ar
lists and the American Institute of Architects
were secured.
In the appointment OF these distinguished ar
fists. Representatives because OF their official
positions and individual ability. IA q commit
tee OF experts. an initial movement for secur-
ing the best possible results would seem to
have been fairly made. The outcome. however.
has been far from satisfactory.
Mr., Bartlett. a young man, born In this
country. but French through lifelong resi-
dence in Paris, WAS, through processes not yet
explained. selected to do this. which should be
made the most notable achievement Of Ameri-
can sculpture.
Mr. Bartlett. little known to US here. Ia said
by NJ. H~ovelaque. the most eminent Of French
critics. to he not quite seriously taken in Paris
as an artist In other than circles devoted 10
afternoon teas. This sam authority has said OF
the French that. W lille tolerant OF thoir own bad
works. they have no such feeling 81 indulgence
for those Of cNratriatei Americans. who are
much too initiative To be- even iiattcring.
II is presumably IN consequence. " this
feeling that the projected monument has been
reduced IN scope to Il simple equestrian statue
and to a small scale. that il may not dwarf
adj AGENT monuments IN the garden OF the
Tuilerles.
Ii has been publicly stated and the statement
has not been questioned. that more than
$4,000 has not at any time been paid for u
simple equestrian statue together with It's
In reply to repeated questions ms to what ls
to he done with the great sum OF money
already in hand and Ia view, the commission
has answered that 1t Is intended TO enrich the
bronze BY additions OF gold and silver and that
additional expense ia to be entaled by the
casting Of the statue in one piece hy the Gre
UprtitP process,
This writer has secured statements from the
Roman Bronze Works and John Williams 81
New York. the Boneau Brothers OF lhiladel-
phia. the American Bronze toMnhry Connany
~ Chicago and the Ames Foundry Company
OF Chicopee. Mass. to the effect that gold
and silver are not, used in large castings,
for the reason that they add nothing ot dura-
htlfy nr l,AAltI nnH fhAt NOT Dn.N IL I0fhlnU
gained by making a large casting in one piece.
but that there isu risk OF having II come our
spungy and defective.
These authoritative expressions dispose Of
this POSSIBLE means of cxpendlng indefinite
sums and make IL incum bent on. the commits
-ion to explain what ~ to be done with the
$4,000 and more in excess Of the eXorbitant
estimate of $4,000 for the statue and pedestal.
Indeed the famous French SCULPTOR NJ.
greater than that Of any living artist, has said
TINT $4,000 would be An enormous. sum to
pay Bartlett Tor his statue. Taking tins rst,-
mate and allowing sll.OOO for the pedestal.
the whole expense would bo covered bv
SO 900.
that il Ia hoped the fund may be made,
through the sale of Lafayette dollars. TO ex-
coed 10000 NariOu- statements have been
made in the press as 70 what IL 70 be done wItl
this money. but officially nothing. "xceut "a TO
sinking II in gold ami silver in'o the bronze.
and In useless ATTEMPTS to cast the statue
entire.
II the committee of experts had bccn con-
suited a- to these curious propositions tefpre
the report was given out. the amlaNle gentle
men OF the commission would donOtlesS have
been spdlei the murtllcation OF lurtherlng
purposes conceived without know ledge.
1t may appropriately be said that, when
uromincnt and honorable CItiZrns END their
names for the assurance OF public con. ience
in moNunlpnts Of This character. they should
he at paius 10 inform themselves hsto the
nature Of the duties they have undertaken to
perform. in order that confidence IN pOsed by
them may prove not TO have been misplaced.
Ia this instance, which ia but one Of many
which have been, and are being sadly mtsman-
aged at this time. the experts claim 10 have had
nothing to do with the selection Of the sculptor
said now to have this work. under way.
II the statement made that no contract has
been given IL correct II Is To ba hoped the
expert committee may ~rrcommend that the
matter b" open 70 general coIpretltion. such
injustice than that TO which Mr. Barnard ana
other -culpiurs. who CAV" their time to this
work in It's earlier stages without comtrnins1-
ton, have been com PEELED to submit. There
will he an abundance OF money, however.
wherewIth to rOmpensate Mr. Bartlett for
whatever work he may 10. and enough left to
secure for the permanent representation Of
the American people in France a production
which, if not indeed worthy Of us, shall be- at
lenst representative Of the best We are capable
Oi at this time.
Artists who through merit, good fortune or
otherwise have obtained prepOnderating infu-
encc aud are alluded 10 a. the foremost Am"rt-
can so-and-so. and who are also much am
ployed. will in the order Of things refuse to
enter com petitions, and as a matter OI fact dis
courage them IN order that they may recon-
mend their friends for such work AS they do
not care to dO themselves. We have an exam
pie of the kics % the unfortunate monument
OF Lafayette in Washington.
There might be "a sort Ot poetic humor. " NOT
Justice. in giving France as bad as she sent.
and II NAV he We are in n fair way to heap even
u greater injury upon her.
II may br safely said that there j. not an
American scuI ptOr Of foreign birth. exratrlated
or otherwise. who would not. II he had Il fair
chance, enter IA cOmTetltlon Tor this monument,
for the simple reason that II Affords the most
conspicuous opportunity yet offered 10 con-
spicuously place ar. American work In the art
capital OF Europe. Not in the whole history Of
achievement Of a world wide and exalted repu-
tation.
In fact. II general com petitions for public
sculpture were made the rule advancssin that
art Of 0 most surprising nature would be found
to follow. Every one would have the greatest
incentive to do his best. an incentive not Of
fereh where work comes to one simply OF the
momentum OF previously acquired reputation.
The most conscientious OF us are prone to rest
upon reputation previously acquired. and stop
short OF what We might do under more stimu-
lating conditions. To be thus Is TO be but
II is now. 1t ia said. intended to unvell n s,ar
or plaster model on the Fourth OF July. Why
not let il be placed aS an ephemeraI work, to
serve an occasion, and then II 10 Is, after a
time. found not to DO W to the requisite stand
ard. give the American sculptors Il chance
TO see what they can DO? IL II possible II the
commission were to ask its experts for an
opinion they would be found in entire agree
ment with this suggestion. "a would doubtless
the public sentiment ~ the country, which IL
| arpreciatiye also OF a spirit strong enough in
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