The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-29
NOTED SCULPTOR HERE
DANIEL CHESTER FRENCH. WHO is
TO DESIGN LAWTON MONUMENT.
He Talks interestingly to n Reporter
About His Work, INDUCING i'm
Some "reminiscences

whose real residence is in New York. but
whose works of art are so widespread as
TO make him a cosmopolite, arrived in In
Gianapolis yesterday afternoon about 2:S9
o'clock and was conducted at once TO the
Hotel English by MessTs. Evans Wooden.
Hilton L. Brown and DR.. Franklin w
Hays. constituting the committee of the
Lawton memorial commission that selected
Mr.. French to design and erect a suitable
memorial to the distinguished American
general. After Mr.. French had rested from
his journey, the secured a car
riage and took him for a drive about the
city, the principal object being TO point
cut to the eminent artist the various To-
cations that are under consideration as
prospective sites for the memorial. The
places visited were the State Capitol, both
building and grounds being carefully in
spected; the triangle formed by the june
ton of Kentucky avenue, Illinois anu
Washington streets; the Virginia avenue
junction with Pennsylvania and Washing
ton streets; the courthouse and grounds;
the square upon which the new federal
building will be erected, and University
Park.
Neither MIR. French nor the members of
the committee were prepared 20 announce
last night which of the sites mentioned
would probably be chosen for the Lawton
memorial. They will canvass that phase
of the situation thoroughly during the day
to-day and Mr.. French will return to New
York tonight to begin the initiatory steps
of the new work he has undertaken.
Mr.. French was entertained at dinner
at the University Club by the members of
| tho nop,oriol cnpnnittaa Mr. Errapeh GUMS
to being ~fifty-one years old. but years sit
as lightly upon him as the brush of u
painter rests upon the canvas. His con-
versation has all the fiuency and spontanei-
ty of youth. but is tempered with the wis
dom that comes with the passing of the
years.
Il really cannot say what kind of a me-
mortal / shall make IN this instance, said
the sculptor In response TO a reporters
inquiry, for so much depends upon the
site. We have examined the various pro-
posed sites for the memorial, but have not
yet decided upon the one that Will be
chosen. / really have not yet devoted any
serious thought TO the nature OF the me-
mortal.
How do L go about filling a commission
, of this kind?" repeated Mr.. French. We'll,
l have, of course, been reading up on the
life of General Lawton and have formed
an estimate of his character, which is the
real basis of a statue or bust. That is what
we call getting inspiration for our work.
| Then / shall examine ana study CdrelulA
all photographs of the mar that l can get
| hold of. | saw some reproductions OF photo-
/ graphs in a magazine that was issued
shortly after his death L understand the
originals were secured, some or them az
least. from Mrs. Lawton. When l nave
completed this preliminary study l shall
make a sketch, which Will be mooeied IN
clay. and send ii to the committed Tor tnelr
approval or disapproval. If my sketch is
approved | shall make a full-sized MODEL
which would also be submitted TO the com
mittee for their further opinion. IL That is
approved the final step will be 10 have the
model cast in bronze. OF course, the pedes-
tai or base will be designed and MADE I'M
der my direction also.
THE SCULPTOR ENTHUSIASTIC.
Mr.. French is very enthusiastic over the
prospect of making a memorial to General
Lawton. Il only wish that a statue OF
General Lawton might be erected he
said. for he is TO my mind the most pic
turesoue figure in modern history. He was
indeed a magnificent specimen OF American
manhood. But a statue is out of the aues-
ton with the small amount of money avail
able. | have no doubt, however, that we
shall be able to build something that will
be handsome with the amount OF money
that is at hand
When asked as to the probable time that
would be consumed in finishing the memoir
jal Mr.. French said If ii was TO be largely
4 4TRnlRcluIdl II MVOlo hOk
time to complete. but if II should be more
] sculptural in nature and design the work
voulc take a much longer time. Inc artist
was asked for his opinion OF Indianapolis
and replied without hesitancy, 1t is beau
tiful. We went up on the monument TO get
a. good view of the city and was struck
with its resemblance to Washinsion ~ III
general plan. The residence sectloh Is
cnarming. with it's profusion of trees 1t
looked particularly sweet to-day WIN the
foliage just starting.
~ -.1.1I rathar not venture an opinion
on that subject" was the reply TO the very
natural query what do you tnlnK OF tne
| soldiers monument" Mr. french sara ina
his refusal to express an opinion on the
subject could not be taken as meaning tnat
he did not approve the design ana aren't
lecture of the monument. he SIMPLY re
trains from discussing the work OF otner
artists. AS already indicated, Mr.. French
is a delightfully."- free and easy conNersa-
tionalist. He is also an excellent raconteur.
Il was making a bust or Raiph Naluo
Emerson one time" he said. lin compli.
ance with an order received from Some oi
his friends. During a sitting the distln,
elIished essayist looked at my model and
them at me with his inimitably droll ex-
nression and calculated: The trouble Is
the more it me the worse IL
looks When | had hnlsneo lne pVsl' l
asLed him TO inspect it. After looking at
If for a few minutes he said. in his deep
voice: We'll, that is the face that | shave
Mr.. Emerson made one OF MS qualhl oo-
seryations about another bust which was
| not nv work. 1t was a characterless klnd
20 thinp-showed not the slightest hint of
tba emerson character-and the great man,
after looking it over critically, remarked:
III looks as harmless as q parsnlp, doesn [
J it?'"
The bust of Emerson referred to was
made by Mr.. French in 1879 and is now IN
the memorial hall of Harvard University.
The sittings were had at Emerson home
i'm Concord.
ANOTHER NOTABLE WORK.
1.-THE Death of the Sculptor a bas relief
of heroic size in bronze that was an object
of great interest in the fine arts building of
the worlds fair at Chicago in 1898, Is one
of Mr.. French's most notable works. This
memorial symbolized the death of Martin
MilImore, an Irish-American sculptor of
note. who designed the soldiers monument
on the Common in Boston. II was made
by Mr.. French in compliance with an order
received from Mr.. Millmore's executors
for q monument to be erected In the Mill
more family lot, where 1t now is.
The equestrian statue of Washington,
which was a gift of the women of Amer
lea 70 France. and which was dedicated on
the Sd of July last year with one of the
most impressive ceremonies ever witnessed
i'm the French capital, is another bit of
sculpture that has brought renown 10 Mr..
French. In this he had the assistance of
Mr.. Potter. who is an expert on horses and
whose knowledge is always called into
order for an equestrian statue. Il had a
rather humorous. though somewhat dis
tressing, experience in connection with that
statue" said Mr.. French. 81 discovered.