Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-05
A R T N OF Els.

| The models Of the Grant memorial. for
the erection of which Congress has lately
appropriated $3.50, 900. are now on exhibition
| in the basement of the Corcoran Gallery of
Art, as has already been announced in The
| Star. They are by some two dozen of the
| leading American sculptors, and display
| great diversity and originality Of thought
| and expression. From the entire collection
| the government commission will select
within fortnight the most meritorious six,
for which $1,000 apiece will be given, and
| from which the final selection is to be
made. 1t has been suggested that If per-
| mission were granted these fortunate six
to revise their models better ultimate re-
suit would be attained: but this al present
| is not the plan.
| All the models submitted have been cast
| and delivered at the expense and risk of
| the individual sculptors and in many cases
| these have been considerable. The terms
| Of the competition were simply that it be
| a memorial of Grant, setting forth his char
| acter and individuality, to be erected on
| one Of two sites, either the central portion
OF the circle known as the White Lot, or on
| land south of the State, War and Navy De-
| partments. that 1T should not exceed the
! specified cost, and that 1t be constructed
| of material obtainable within the United
states. These gave the sculptors and archi-
tectS considerable scope, and placed few re-
strictions upon their freedom of expression.
The equestrian feature is indeed the one
and only one to be found in common with
| all, though even this may be said to have
one exception, for Mr.. Henry H. Kitson has
represented the great hero dismounted, be-
side his paving steed upon the ridge Of
orchard height, overlooking the battle
field of Chattanooga. AS the ground slopes
abruptly, however, Grant is seen in about
| the same relative position to his horse as
though he were mounted. Both horse and
rider are modelled with strength and spirit,
and the face and figure Of Grant show adj
mirable portraiture. There Is, perhaps, no
| fact more strongly emphasized by this ex-
hbition as whole in spite of the preva-
lence of the equestrian feature, than that
the day when men on horseback constituted
monuments Is past, or at least that they
are out OF style. 1t Is whispered, however,
that in this special case the amount of the
! appropriation has somewhat determined the
| style, as 1t was altogether too generous for
a simple statue.
Some Of the models suffer from this law
! 1shness, and are overloaded with archi-
| tectural and sculptural device whereas in
others the majority these accessories have
| become harmonious part of the whole,
| and have been added with good effect. Thus
! MT. kitson has skillfully combined with his
| impressive statue an elaborate semi-circular
| peristyle, which Is supposed to be one hun
dred feet in length, and which shows on its
wall seven basreiefs, picturing the chief
events In the life of Grant, while on the
face of the cornice are inscribed the names
OF the great battles in which he fought.
In this last alone lies the weakness of this
work as memorial, for the object is not to
perpetuate sectional bitterness or to fount
martial victories, but rather to commence
rate the power, force and greatness of the
man, whom the whole nation can unite in
calling hero.
Mr.. Culzon Borglum presents in this and
| other particulars one of the most satisfac-
| Cohn IL
as the general on a height overlooking, or
rather in the midst of, an action. He is
firmly seated upon a spirited horse, held
In check with steady rein. as he turns to
address one of the two mounted aids who
are pressing close to him. The attitude is
excellent, full of motion and character,
and the grouping of the composition such
| that 1t appears to advantage from all sides
Around the pedestal and on the wall which
forms from 1t semi-rectangular recess, Is
a continuous series of reliefs representing
in general terms the history Of the civil
war, the rupture, the struggle, the re-
| union. This is, indeed. one Of the finest
works of sculpture and one of the most
dignified compositions Of all those shown in
the exhibition.
Mr.. Scion H. Borglum. his brother, who
is well known on account Of his spirited
and admirable bronZes Of animals. also
presents a thoughtful and Interesting
model The successful accomplishment Of
q life, the aggregate rather than the indi-
vidual deeds has been his theme. so that
he has elevated upon a pedestal of consid-
cradle height allegorical group figurative
OF the re-establishment and triumph of the
Union. while on a simple base on lower
level in front may be seen the figure Of
the mounted general. An Indian and a
negro are given in conspicuous positions on
either side, and conventional lions, typify-
Ing strength. force and moral courage,
play part IN the composition. The lien,
in fact, figures more commonly in all the
compositions than the customary eagle
This model, which is quite elaborate and
complicated. was very seriously damaged
IN shipment, so that large portion Of it
had to be altogether done over again in the
brief period Of ten days The work Of an
other competitor was in like manner ut
terly destroyed. so that withdrawal was
the only possible course.
Directly facing the staircase is a sin
gularly impressive model by Mr.. Rhind. A
horse and rider elevated upon a severely
plain pedestal, which is set upon a broad,
fiat plateau Of granite or marble inter
spersed with lawn patches and ornamented
with shrubs and seats. The site chosen is
the axis Of the White Lot. and the inten-
ton Is that the statue shall be colossal,
measuring from top to base fifty-four feet,
as the sculptor feels that the magnitude
and grand simplicity of the Washington
monument will disastrously overshadow
and beittle any smaller, more complicated
or ornate device. 1t would be we'll to re-
member however, that the making of
colossal statues marked in history only the
infancy or decline of true sculptural art.
Mr.. L. Amateis of this city, who is one
of the competitors, has apparently also
been impressed by the need of simplicity
and solid effect, for he has built his model
after classic monumental lines. 1t is mon
olithic in shape. and is reared upon a
slightly pyramidal elevation. Grant Is seen
saluting the American people, as it WERE
and both horse and rider are splendidly
modelled. There is an individuality, force
and unity about the composition which is
as admirable as 1t is suitable.
Mr.. H. X. Brush Brown of New York of
whom more than ordinary accomplish
ment Is expected, presents an elaborate
device consisting of a semi-circular colon
made. composed of columns and arches,
divided by an imposing arched gateway
before which his equestrian statue show
ing Grant squarely seated, with eyes to the
front, sinks to complete insignifeance.
Mr.. Charles Pike and his brother are the
sculptor and architect of model made
much after the same pattern. The colon
made is however, composed solely of col
umns the monument is more elevated, and
allegorical groups may be seen in front of
1t and at the extremities of the peristyle
This plan, indeed seems to have been a
popular one, for 1t is repeated several
times with h,,tc 1i pbt vi