Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-02
Designs for the Mcclellan
Monument
AT CORCORAN GALLERY
EXHIBITION MAY BE OPENED
MONDAY.
Work of the Board of Awards and the
Advisory Committee-Competi-
tors Not Yet Represented.

y score of models for the proposed monu-
rrent to Mai. Gen George b Mcclellan
have been erected in the basement of the
Corcoran Gallery of Art and will be viewed
within the next few days by the two COM
missions which are to make the award. Ten
sculptors from whom no models have so far
been received are also entered in the COM
petition. Whether their designs are yet to
Dc received and unpacked or whether they
have withdrawn entirely from the compe-
tition is not now known. but the presump-
ton is that the models already erected
represent the entire competition. The
monument is to cost about $4,000, and is
to become a feature of the park commission
plans for the adOrnment of the national
capital
When the hall has been cleared the board
of award, which consists of Secretary Root,
Senator Wetmore and Brig. Gen George d.
Rugglcs will spend several days inspecting
and adjUdging the models. In this work
they viii have the assistance of an advisory
committee made up of Augustus St. Gau-
deuS and Daniel Chester French. SCulptOrS.
and Charles F. McKim. an eminent archi-
teCt and a member of the park commission.
IL Is thought these two committees Will re-
quire the exclusive use of the hall only a
day or 50. in which event the models may
he opened to the public ~ next Monday.
Inspected by the Commission.
Secretary Root. Senator Wetmore and
General RuggIes. United States army. re-
cred comprising the Mcclellan statue COM
mission. visited the Corcoran Gallery of
Art this forenoon. in company with Mr..
Merritt .. Chance. secretary to the com
mission, FOR the purpose of viewing the
models. Representative George b. Nc
Clellan of New York son of the distinguish
I'd soldier Of tho civil
with Mrs. Mcclellan, and expressed great
admiration for the designs on exhibition.
Nessrs. Mckim, st. Gaudens and French,
the committee of artists appointed by the
commission to assist in the selection of the
most meritorious four designs. will meet at
the art gallery Monday morning to begin
their work. The result of the competition
will hardly be ready for announcement be-
fore the 18th instant.
The Amateis Design.
The design of a local artist, Mr.. Louis
Amateis. is notably artistic and most effec-
tive. 1t corresponds generally to that for
a monument to William the Silent, which
contributed so largely to the fame of
Charles II. Niehaus and to the monument
10 Garabaldi erected in Milan by Bistolfi.
1t Is. consequently, picturesque enough to
stand by itself anywhere in the city Nc
Clellan is depicted on horseback at the top
Of a huge. rough bowlder, with an aid and
bCgler. mounted, a considerable distance
below him. The general is reading a dis
patch and manifestly planning an engage
ment. But the marked merit of the conCep
ton and the rOughness and simplicity with
which IL has been executed give the group
charm which cannot well be described
The Niehaus Models
Near this picture-like and daring concep-
ton Of Mr. Amateis are two models, almost
classic in their nature, submitted by Mr..
NiehaUs. Both have excited the most ap-
proving comment Of local artists. In one
Mcclellan rides a vigorous and strongly
modelled horse at the top of a high and
severe pedestal There is almost archi-
teCtuTal adornment and the effect is that of
great force rather than that of high polish.
But group and mounting have already been
much commended for their force and digni-
~. The other Niehaus design includes
low pedestal and a very beautiful archtec-
tUrdI setting Both horse and rider are i'm
prossIve to a high degree. The pedestal
corresponds closely to that of the Grant
model. which received the approval of both
advisory committee and monument commits
sion. the reiefs being low and reposeful
and the general character Of the design
suggestive. but not initiative of the best
CIR X models. The group stands in the
middle of a pIatfrom of marble or granite
with exedrae at the two sides. surmounted
by fine h IVY eagles.
The Story Design.
The Waldo Story design is also somewhat
like that of his Grant model Mr.. Story's
models have both had an especial charm
because Of he exquisite colorng of the
plaster. The design Is very simple-a por-
trait statue of Mcclellan, mounted, with an
emblematical group in the front.
Two women sculptOrs have submitted de-
sisns-Caroline Brooks of St. Louis and
Mrs T A Ruggies-kitson, the wife of
sculptor Harry kitsOn The latter has por-
trayed Mcclellan talking to a wounded Of
ticer borne to his side by an enlisted SOL
dier-the purpose being 10 indicate the gen
erals kindness and large-hearted sympa-
thies. as well his skill as a warrior 1t
has been often designated as a feminine"
thought, but the group has been much COM
mended on other grounds as well
Unusually High Pedestals
Several models have exceptionally high
pedestals-those of Attilio Piccirilli, E F.
Patio. Mr.. Niehaus. Scion H Borgium and
GaetanO TrentanOve among others. The
Piccirilli design is particularly effective
The pedestal is Romanesque with two fine
Iy modelled lions heads at the front and
back and a series of chiseled indentures to
mark the layers of stone. The horse
stands firmly with his head raised high
and the rider sitting calmly intent on the
topography of the battlefield in front. The
TrentcnOye design resembles the Albert
Pike monument by the same SCULPTOR
There two grOTuS n ha Si6