The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-08-04

This New work OF Art VIII BE |
Erected In n square mt Taunton,
Mnss.-CharIes II. Niehaus Is the |
scuIptor-Monument VIII lie ON u
Large Scale.
The Leonard family were famous In
England and Wales for their iron foun-
dries during the sixteenth and seven
teenth centuries, and in accordance
with the spirit of the age they kept the
secrets of their art to themselves.
handing them down from father to
son. About 1851 certain members
crossed the Atlantic and established a
foundry in Massachusetts, says the
New York Times. Two years later one
OF them went to New Jersey and opened
the first furnaces near Railway. Since
that period many OF the family have
continued in the business, especially
those who live at Taunton, Mass. In
order TO embellish that city and raise
a memorial which shall have its foun-
dation stones laid on the two hundred
and hftieth anniversary Of the estab-
the Leonard family intends to place at
! Taunton a monument on large scale.
The sculptor is Charles II. Niehaus.
7 He has made two designs consisting of
groups of figures about a base, which
represents an island in a circular basin
Of water, and of shaft rising from
the base. In the one the shaft rises
about ninety feet in the form Of an
obelsk, square In section. The plinth
has low reliefs, with figures showing
man and woman plighting troth, vestal
virgins caring for the nre on an altar
and other groups, treated in the clas-
slcal vein, which refer to family life.
/ The groups below are designed for
bronze and show the prospector dis
Y covering iron ore, the iron master ex-
tracing the metal, the smith and the
artificer In iron. In this design provi-
sion is made for an abundant fall OF
water which may gush from grottoes
on two sides Of the island.
The second design is not so tall.
/ Here the groups are more concentrate
ed, the island being smaller and the
cascade feature being omitted. Be-
| hind the groups. which are also calcu'
! lated for bronze, rises the base of a
granite pedestal. against which tree
forms are to be displayed In bronze.
] On the cap of the pedestal stands a
great draped female Genius holding a
torch on high and in her other hand a
Mercury's helmet, with wings. The
figures for the lower groups In each
design are calculated for height OF
eight feet. The monument will cost
from $3.50, 900 to 100000 the shaft or
pedestal and island being of granite.
/ In the second design, with the draped
n Genius and torch, the groups for
bronze on the four sides of the island
or lower base are studied with much
care and are agreeably diversified
Each side has three or four figures
Here are laborers prying the ore from
the earth. there the molten iron is be
ing poured from the crucible by the
foundrymen. while the furnace flames
In the background. Yonder is a seated
master explaining his craft to prem
tice boy In leather apron, who holds
big, long handled hammer, while th'
mother stands behind listening. A
fourth group shows the iron beinl
fashioned. The groups on this mode
are much more studied and composed
than on the other They have variet.
and good movement and a certaiI
rhythm of line and mass which thos
OF the other model lack.
y The two designs will be Forwarded
to Taunton In order that the local com
mittee OF Leonards may judge thu
work. Perhaps the simple shaft will
its frieze of low, classic reliefs on tn
pllnth in the first model will find favor
On the other hand. the groups Of tn
lower part in the second model may b
preferred. Then the sculptor will sac
rihce the big Genius and put the tai
shaft in her place. thus combining tn
finer features OF each.
The Leonard memorial. as can b
easily imagined, is not to be tnishe
for a long while. The studies for
larger model may occupy year Q
two, and II may be fve years befor
the monument is unveiled.
The site for this important work c
art Is a square in Taunton surrounde
by immense trees, which look as
they might have been planted whe
the Leonards first came from England
There is a fountain in the center {
the square just where the mopumeI
ought to stand. Perhaps in the con
pleted design the fountain idea ma
be included. In any case within hN
or six years Taunton is likely to hay
more important monument than an,
thing OF the sort in Boston. The fam
ly is so large and so many member
are still engaged in the iron industI
that the heavy outlay for a work I
art OF these dimensions will not star
in the way. The sum of 100000 is q
ready secured for the fund.
mr.. n..I.x- Ia