The Washington times., 1902-06-01
THE MCCLELLAN STATUE
Some Bold and Striking Ideas
Rejected Because it Was
Held That They Would
Be Too Much Out Of Har-
mony With the General
Parking Plans Of tie City

ed to the exhibition. And the statue
really is a striking one. though con-
ventional to degree. In modelling it,
the artist constructed an almost severe
ly simple PEDESTAL and surmounted It
with an equestrian figure in which the
two contradictory elements of repose
and action are blended with remarkable
effect. General Mcclellan. In this con-
ception. sits serenely and relectively
erect in the saddle, holding a pair OF
field glasses in his right hand and gaz-
ing into the distance. while the horse,
| with taut neck and tense muscles. is
neighing so realistically as almost TO
be heard. To the mind the statue con-
veys an impression that horse and rider
are ready for any emergency, and that
directly the emergency will come. and
that their repose will change like flash
into action.
The Niehaus Model.
The Niehaus model a bronze, conveys
very much the same impression as the
PicciriIli model. And, like the Piccirilli,
1t is statue of conventional design. The
artist in this work has depicted a gent
ly restive steed slowly paving. and
mounted thereon figure whose pose
and general air suggest intense absorp-
tion in something going on in the dis
tance. The horse is apparently utterly
| Indifferent to the rider and TO the sur
roundings, and the rider utterly uncon-
scious of anything save that upon which
his eyes are fixed. Yet there is about
| the two figures that which suggests pep
/ feet accord, and says they will in a mo-
ment or two be acting together with the
most thorough understanding.
Waldo Story's Idea.
| The model submitted by Waldo Story,
of Rome, has in it more of dash and
grace perhaps than any of the others.
Seemingly. in 1t the artist has sought
rather to portray General Mcclellan
on parade than on a battlefield. The
attitude of the horse suggests the music
of a band and the even tread OF bat
talions passing in review between long
lines OF applauding civilians, and the
attitude of the rider bears out that sug-
gestion. He sits in the saddle in the
most approved fashion. holding the
bride in his left hand in the most ap-
proved fashion, and resting his right
hand on his right thigh after the pre-
scribed and proper style.
Conception of Austin Haye.
Most brilliant. perhaps. of the four.
is the last of these models-the one by
Austin Haye. Like the Story statue. it
suggests the parade rather than the bat
tlefeld. The horse, just reined in,
stands with his neck arched in fashion
at once beautiful and Indicative OF care
full training to that particular end, and
the rider sits the animal after the style
OF one posing for photograph. Yet the
modelling is exquisitely done. and there
is about every curve a flowing grace
which tells of ease of execution, and
which for that reason pleases i'm
mensely.
The completion of this Mcclellan
statue will add still another equestrian
statue to the large number which all
ready grace the various circles and
parks. and bear further witness to the
ever-increasing popularity of that style
of monument. and be a great ornament
no matter which of the present models
proves to be the basis for the final work.