The times., 1901-04-07
TO COMPLETE THE STATUE.
American Scuiptors to Finish the
sherman Memorial.

distinguished sculptor. carr Rohi-Smith,
is to be completed by American artists.
II. X. Bush Brown, OF New York, is to
make the equestrian statue of Sherman
and the two groups representing War
and Peace" which viii surmount the
pedestal. Henry kitson, of Boston, has
been selected to complete the four bas
reliefs, and the eight medallion portraits
of General Shermans corps commanders,
who served with him during the march
through Georgia, the latter to ornament
the pedestal
Mr. Bush-Brown is distinguished for his
ability in equestrian figures and is the
nephew of the sculptor who modelled the
Winfield Scott and Nathaniel Greene
equestrian statues. Mr. kitson has gained
an enviabIe reputation in medallion and
portrait sculpture.
Mrs RohI-Smith to whom was awarded
the contract for the monument on the
death of her husband, has prepared the
contracts. and they await signature. The
contracts provide that the statue be com
pleted within fifteen months, and as 1t
is expected that work viii be commenced
very shortly, the monument should he IN
position some time in the summer of
1902. Mr.. Bush-Brown is expected in
Washington next week, when he will
Mr.. Kitson is at present quite i'll, and it
is somewhat problematic when he will be
ready to start. Mrs. Rohl-Smith has
complete understanding with both art
lists, and there is likely to be no altera
tion of these arrangements.
The work is to be completed from the
designs of the original sculptor, who had
the preparatory work well in hand, at
he time of his death. Mrs. Rohl-Smith
believes that the artists she has selected
viii catch the spirit of her husbands
ideas, and complete the work as he de-
signed it,
Beside the equestrian statue of Sher-
man. the monument when completed will
be adorned with four bas-reiiefs repre-
senting incidents and battles of Sher-
mans campaigns, two allegorical groups
ideaiistic Of War" and Peace" eight
medallion portraits, of Generals Howard.
Dodge, Logan. Blair, Grierson, Ransom,
Mcpherson, and A. G. Smith. Four fig
ures, representing the four branches Of
the army service, Infantry, Engineer,
Cavalry, and the Artillery, will be placed
at the four corners of the monument, on
pedestals which are to be located between
the approaches.
Mr.. Ronl-Smith had completed three of
the four soldier figures, and the fourth
was so nearly completed that the finish
ing touches have since been added by
Siguald Ashjornsen, a Norwegian, whose
studio is in Chicago. These four figures
have been completed I'm plaster and ac-
cepted by the Government
The clay model, about two feet high, of
General Sherman horseback, has also
been completed. From this model the
equestrian statue in plaster viii be made,
and the armature, or framework about
which the full-size plaster model will be
built, has been prepared
In the clay model the figures of horse
and rider are both distinguished by re
pose. Barely any action has been intro
duced. The expression of Sherman's face
is meditative rather than marked by
strong emotion. The horse is represented
az at perfect halt with head bent
langUidly. The reins have fallen to the
horse s neck, and are lightly grasped by
the rider. Fhc sword is sheathed Sher-
man. in his left hand, resting upon his
thigh hoids his characteristic felt army
hat.
The two groups representing War
and Peace have been completed only
IN the clay miniature models. Peace is
represented by a tall, upright maiden
feet are represented small children feed
ing barnyard fowls. Several other smaller
hgures represent in this group the pros
per1tS of industries in time of peace A
Fury, breaking the bonds with which she
has been restrained, has been the ar
tlst idea OF the figure of War" and at
the feet of this figure are found smaller
hgures presenting sufferers from the raw
ages of strife.
In the four bas-reliefs, the genius of
the sculptor is vindicated beyond ques-
ton. Tne style is unique, and an effect
as OF painting is produced that is seen
IN no other work of similar character
The bas-relief is low, but the effect of
distance for the background is wonderful
While none OF the panels is oVercrowded
with figures, the grouping is artistic As
delineator of horses, Carl Rohl-Smith
had few equals. Tired army hacks, the
splendid chargers OF the higher officers
are represented in the most lfelike fash
ion.
The first panel of the bas-relief repre-
n. sents a campfire, during night, in the
midst of a forest. All are asleep. man
and beast, except Sherman awake. the
central hgure In the picture The leader
STANDS before the campfire watching it's
CURING Dlaze In meditation. Perhaps
never before has a bas-relief reached so
near painting as here. In the road be-
tween the trees, where Sherman stands
there Is a perspective which runs un-
broken to the very limit of vision as
though painted and In the lines which
the hames and smoke form in front and
back Of the trees the eye feels and finds
color. though neither IS there
Marching through Georgia" the sec
ond panel, represents Sherman's army on
the march. Again the general is the cen
tral hgure, mounted on his charger and
accompanied by his staff. passing regi-
ment OF soldiers are cheering him Far
to the rear. miles and miles of armed
men file along A commissary wagon.
faint in the distance, drives over a high
hill road. A number of portraits are in
troduced, representing the officers of Cen
eral Sherman's field staff
In The Battle of Atlanta" the third
panel, miniature figures representing the
struggle afar off between the Union and
Confederate troops are introduced Each
man, even though minute, is clearly seen
to be a soldier and an effect similar To
that produced in MISSIONER paintings
IS found. Again the appearance of dis
tdnce Is here. General Sherman wit
his staf, watching the tide OF hattie
looms up in the foreground General Mc
Pherson killed in This battle is heing
brought up from the valley to the hin top
where sherman stands. He is stretched
upon bier supported by soldiers CEN
eral Logan in command of the ETifth
Army Corps, succeeding to the position
on the death of Mcpherson is conducfinp
q Skirmish with the enemy
The last baS-relief is of the baftIe %
Missionary Ridge. This is the least com
plete OF the four, and much remains 10 be
done. ~ "e
The stone work OF the pedestal and an
proaches has all been completed On
March y the two plaster casts. soldier
figures, which will mount silent guard
al the foot Of the monument. were tried
in their places, and found to he Dropart,,