Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-04
A R T N O TIE s .

In spite Of the extremely disagreeable
weather prevailing last Tuesday afternoon
and evening. the private view of Mr.. Me
haus' enlarged model for the Grant memo
rial statue which was held in Mr.. Carl
GutherZ'S roomy studio, proved a thorough
ly delightful affair. Had 1t been a month
later it would undoubtedly have been more
brilliant, for comparatively few of the
pleasure seekers have yet returned from
their summer outings, and the social side
of Washington is still well in the back
ground. AS it was. however. the artistic
fraternity well represented, and a
spirit Of genuine goodwill and fellowship,
mutual sympathy and understanding, and
general conviviality was abroad. Such in
formal gatherings are a real boon; they
give work an impetus and play, i zest,
and it would be well if they could be of
more frequent occurrence.
The model for the memorial statue stood
on high revolving pedestal to the left side
Of the studio, and was seen against a
background Of tan-colored canvas. Huge
branches of 1aurel-oak, cut early that morn
Ing on Mr.. Gutherzs country place, covered
the wall on either side and were themselves
an important factor in the effective decora-
tive scheme. adding a certain picturesque
ness to the composition in which the plas-
ter group held the chief place. That Mr..
model from the original was very evident,
but being a much larger scale the
strength and beauty of his work showed
with greater force. The laurel wreath
which formerly encircled the shoulders Of
the soldier striding to the left of the gen.
eral in the enlarged model was changed
into more graceful spray. the horses
head was trifle raised, and the position
of the forefoot was slightly altered, but the
whole was virtually the same. This model
is half the size that the statue would be
when erected. and the execution Of 1T the
sculptor AYERS was the hardest four months
work he has ever done. Mr.. Niehaus has,
besides this, however, recently finished
bronze statue of President Mckinley for
the state Of Ohio, and one Of Lincoln for
the city Of Buffalo, which, by the way, was
unveiled at the same time that this private
view was in progress, and he has now on
hand commissions for an equestrian statue
Of General Forest and elaborate memo
rial for. the Leonard family of Taunton,
Mass. Both Mr.. Niehaus and his wife (who
is a writer of considerable reputation and
an authority upon matters pertaining to
art). were present, and with Mr.. and Mrs.
Gutherz cordially welcomed each guest.
X X
On Wednesday, the 1st, this model and
Mr.. Shrady's were placed on exhibition in
the basement Of the Corcoran Gallery,
where the former general competition was
held, and where they will in turn be judged
by the same jury of government officials,
army officers and artists. In spirit and
composition these two models are widely
diverse, but so greatly has Mr.. Shrady i'm
proved upon his former statue that there
is in workmanship little to choose between
them. Mr.. Niehaus has pictured the hero
Mr. Shrady, the soldier. Mr.. Niehaus' work
is full of action-Mr. Shrady's is conspic-
uous for repose. In the first Gen. Grant Is
seen riding rapidly forward, an infantry
soldier to his right carrying the flag of tri-
umph, and one to his left bearing the laurel
spray, sgnifying victory; in the other he is
seen alone as though overlooking
gagement, his horse reined.in and station
airy, with all four feet planted firmly on the
81 ound. In both he wears the military
overcoat. Mr. Niehaus' conception shows
him with his hat in his hand, but in Mr..
Shrady's 1t Is well drawn down over his
head and brows. This is the feature of Mr..
Shradys work which will probably be most
sharply criticised by military men, for a
disinclination to be mufied and trick Of
riding bareheaded were among the gen.
erals well-known characteristics. The Me
haus group is in itself picture. a noble
deviation from the customary military
heros memorial; yet, on the other hand,
though Mr.. Shradys is the old-time por-
trait statue, there is something very at
tractive about it's dignifed simplicity. Both
show excellent lines splendid modelling, and
Individual thought, and neither would be
inappropriate or unworthy. Surely the
jury's task is by no means an easy one!
The Corcoran Gallery reopened to the
public on October /, and on the same day
the art school began its regular winter ses-
sion. The Ma jority of the cid students have
returned and there is also large enroll
ment of names. All the classes Will
probably be organized by the first of next
week, with the exception of the water color
class, which never begins until the first of
November.
Mr. E F. Andrews, who was present at
the opening q h~sschool, to formally turn
1t over to the new principal sailed today
for Germany, expecting to rejoin his wife
and family in Munich, where they intend
spending the winter Mrs Andrews is, now