Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-15
THE GRANT MEMORIAL
Dismantling the Designs at
the Corcoran Gallery.
GOSSIP ON THE AWARD
DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED
DESIGN.
Sculptor Shrady's Excellent Terrace
and Striking Bronze Figures-An
Additional Competition.

The work of dsmantling the designs sub
mitted in the competition for the memorial
to General Grant was begun this forenoon
in the basement of the Corcoran Art CAL
lery.
The first design taken down was that of
J. Massey Rhind's colossal equestrian
statue of Grant, which was third among
the prize winners and which many thought
would be the one to be decided upon. A score
or more of workmen were employed. The
models were taken apart in sections and
the pieces packed in boxes with sawdust
and tissue paper packed about them.
The haste in clearing the basement Of
the gallery is to make room for the collec-
ton of models for the statue to General
Mcclellan, which will be on exhibition for
two weeks beginning May.
The report of the advisory committee and
the action Of the Grant memorial commits
sion, which were published in The Evening
Star Of last evening, brought an increased
number Of visitors to the collection this
forenoon. This afternoon the basement
was closed to visitors so that the workmen
who are removing the Grant models should
not be molested.
AS is usual, there is more or less discus
sion among the artists and sculptorS who
competed, over the action of the committee
and the commission in making the awards.
Some of the visitors to the collection this
forenoon were also inclined to criticise the
action of the gentlemen who made the
awards. The sculptors, as a rule, are not
willing to antagonize the judgment Of the
advisory committee, although naturally
displeased with the result
Mr.. Shrady's Design.
Mr.. Shrady's design contemplates the
construction Of a long, low terrace or plat
form. fianked by exedras or low carved
seats at the ends. This terrace is to be
about 26O feet long and about 50 feet Deep
and the platform will be about feet
inches above the ground. This rise will be
overcome by series of broad steps, each
three feet wide. The terrace will be orna-
mented with three groups-an equestrian
statue Of Grant in the middle. surrounded
by four great lions. and two bronze groups
at the ends, one depicting charge Of cav
airy and the other battery of field artil-
lery going into action. long balustrade
at the rear, and a curved, balcony-like
structure before the Grant group, complete
the adornment Of the memorial All the
modelled figures-the group including Gen.
Grant, the two groups at the ends and the
four lions-are to, be executed in bronze.
The rest Of the structure exposed to the
eye is to be done in white marble
The chief elements of the Shrady design
are fourfold-the construction Of memo
rial which shall serve as a reviewing stand
for notable professions and parades, and
which shall not appear to rival the Wash
ington monument, the portrayal Of active
warfare by means Of groups at the ends
of the platforms, the portraiture of Grant
amid surroundings which shall indicate the
force of his character and the holiness Of
his purposes and the general adornment of
the mall.
AS reviewing stand no other design SUBJ
mitted is to be compared with that of Mr..
Shr36V Its breadth of nearly ROO feet the
series of steps, each wide enough to hold
a row of chairs, and the wide space of
nearly sixty feet at the base of the three
groups, insure an abundance of space for
any review which may be conducted in
Washington The model has decidedly the
merit of not opposing the higher monument
which towers over the entire city from the
park nearby. Horse and rider are to be
only eighteen feet high and with the ap-
proximate six feet elevation of the plat
form will be less than thirty feet from
the ground. The effect Of the group will
therefore be rather an adornment Of the
mall than predominating feature of the
park and will offer comparatively no OBJ
struction to the view, either from the north
or the south. The groups at the exedras
although modelled with evident haste, depict
and give the effect of the most tense action
On the left Of the central figure a small
detachment of cavalry is shown dashing
forward with regimental colors and GUT
dons whipping in the wind, and the horses
being urged to their greatest speed The
artillery group at the other end Of the plat
form Is equally spirited, and while gener-
ally similar to it's corresponding model, is
sufficiently varied to invite careful study
and comparison.
Subject to Notifications.
1t will be noted that Mr.. Shrady's design
Is accepted Subject to slight modification
OF detail" This is Interpreted to mean
that the general plan of memorial conceiv-
ed by Mr.. Shrady meets with the full ap-
prevail of the advisory committee and the
commission Of award, and that the COM
pieted structure will have the general lines
OF Mr.. Shrady's model. 1t is possible that
the heavy lamps, which the Sculptor de-
signed to relieve the monotony of the bal
austrade, may be modified; that the lions
may be made less prominent, and that the
TWO subordinate groups may be enlarged
the designers calculation being for horses
and riders little more than ufe-size But
the most pronounced change contemplated
In the award Is in the central group
The commission has directed that Sec
ond competition occur to determine the ma
ture of the central figures and that Ii be
limited to Messrs. Shrady and Niehaus
Each Is to submit a group four feet high.
The likelihood is that each will follow the
general lines of the group which has al
ready been approved. by the advisory COM
mittee.
Mr.. Shrady's purpose was to represent
Grant in repose, and-as the sculptor him
self has expressed it--'as IL in the act of
reviewing troops, and, it will be noticed.
carrying no sword. in compliance with
Grants nearly hatitual and characteristics