The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-02
WORRY OYER The SCULPTURE
NATIONAL SOCIETY MAS A LOAD
ON IT'S MIND.
Work on tho Hall OF Records Must he Done
by Helpers or Not Done on Time. u
Declares -Martlny. Between Mouth
fuis OF Garlic, says TIN BE All Right


How the new Hall Of Records is being
decorated Ia a matter Of much concern to
the National Sculpture Society. The go
ciety up to yesterday confined itself To
writing private letters to the architects Of
the building and also to tho Art Commission
Of New York which has the power 10
accept or reject the decorations after they
are completed.
Yesterday, however the societys "es-
pecially appointed committee" got up a
three-page epistle, which the commission
felt at liberty to hand over to the papers.
The letter expressed anxiety that the deco
at the same time the S5s 900 to be expended
should bring an adequate sculpture
ut has been the hope Of this committee,
the letter reads, that the work would he
apportioned so that all the sculptors OF
ability should be represented, and by such
apportionment, that each be given adequate
time to execute his part of the work. II
the present contract is allowed to stand
one of two things must happen-either the
sculpture must be hurried and be, conse-
quently. the work of assistants and not OF
the one sculptor. or such an excessive time
be given that the sculpture on the building
will not be completed within five to ten
years from the present time"
The letter is signed by Charles X. Lamb,
Herbert Adams and Daniel c. French,
and is accompanied by resolution by the
society, entering "the most emphatic pro-
test at the action Of the architects, Horgan
Il Sattery, in authorizing and agreeing to
any contract for the sculpture in question
without nsidering the recommendation
prepared and submitted at the request of
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment
through the Fine Arts Commission of New
York"
The sculptor whose speed the National
Sculpture Society calls in question is
Philip Martiny. among whose COMM. sions
have cen the bronze doors at St. Barthoio-
news Church. the eight figures and foun-
tain for the New York house of Senator
Clark of Montana, two groups for the new
Chamber of Commerce and the statuary
of the new Appellate Court, But the most
connection with the present controversy,
is that he is ono Of the charter members of
the very society which is trying to deprive
him Of his present contract,
The espondcnce hcgan--be'ore the
choice of an artist waG announced-by the
society volunteering To the architects the
"recommendat ion alluded to in the reso-
luton, and by the architects expressing
themselves as grattled and DESTROYS Of
conference
But, before the conference came off. the
society, on being notified that John PIERCE,
the general contractor of the entire hall,
had formally engaged Martiny, wrote the
architects that no one sculptor should loo
tntrustnd with tine entire soul pture Of such
magnitude as this"' that "uO conference
would now be of Use unless he modification
of the sculpture contract lMartnv's lorna!
engagement was the hrs; to bc recon-
sidered" and that -we do not understand
that il is TOO late for this question to be
reconsidered
The architects decision was. in the first
place. that General Contractor Peirce
should I've the person for the society to APP
proach and that. If the chCic" Of sculptor
Ill matcy proved unsuccessful. the 49,. 900
appropriation was perfectly safe, because,
if his work showed itself scamped the
Munic pal Art Commission could pass un-
favorable Judgment on it, and he would
the architects. the commission itself has
never written them line on the subject.
Beyond blocking the cor fercncr thus
the society has not bAen very successful
in its endeavors. Even Mr.. Martiny's
feelings remain unruffled. Hc was dis
covered Yesterday afternoon eating garlic
in back room Of the Gonfaronc.
-Of course, | can finish the designs and
figures in three years ne said. Blush
Brown has decorated the dormers in half
that time. Tie boys are little sore Why.
was in the mind of Mr.. Thomas. the first
architect before hi, death. Mr. Antro-
pophage- Maneater-Cannihal Hannibal
how droll these associations Of ideas
MI Hannibal. his secretary. told me lie
w1nld be glad 10 consult me on the sui jet !"