The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-11
Sculptor Nears End Of Sher-
man Statue Labor.
FOLLOWS A PRIZE DESIGN
Nephew of Dead Artist, Can ROhl-
Smith, Who Began the Work,
VIII Finish the Task


ton OF the commission that is 10 pass
upon it. Two unusual models have been
secured for the sculptor in tba shape
Of two live vuitures from the Geological
Park These birds are to be use,f in
modelling the figures of vulturas feed
ins upon a dead soldier who lies at The
feet of woman with haggard face and
drawn features. who represents the hor-
rors OF war
Peter Ole Suhr. nephew Of MIS-.
Carl Rohl-SmIth. who has the work IN
der her supervision. said 10 a Times re
porter that it was hoped that the statue
would be ready for unwilling ny the
last OF May, but that iJ was as vet too
early to positively set the date. Mr.
Suhr talked Interestingly Of the work,
saying that ne wished to correct several
erroneous reports that he had seen. Be
ginning with The inception Of the IDEA,
he said:
The Army OF the Tennessee raised
$1,000 toward the project to erect a
statue 70 sherman, their former com
mander, in this city. OF this amount
$4,000 was offered IN prizes to the
Jwenty-six sculptOrs that were invited
to enter the competition. This left ST.
Geo toward the erection OF the statue
To this was added an appropriation OF
$4,000 from Congress, making in all
$50 geo available Tor the work.
The commission in charge vas com
posed OF General Dodge. commanding
the Society o. the Army OF the Tennes-
see. the Secretary Of War, Gen. Nelson
4r-s-
e. Henderson, OF The House OF Repre-
sentatves; ex-Secretary Noble, and Col.
Cornelius Cadle, of Cincinnatf, secretary
Of the Society Of the Army of the Ten
nessee.
The National ScUlptoTs Society Of
New York offered their services II pass
ing upon the designs, and their offer was
accepted with The understanding that
they should select the three which in
1heir judgment were the most meritor-
ieus. From these the commission was to
make the award.
The committee sent by the scuIptors'
society. OF which Mr. RohI-smith was
enc Of the founders. was headed By
saint-Gaudens. one Of the best sculptors
IN the country. Instead of returning
three designs from among the twenty
six. they reported four. Carl RohI-
Smiths design was placed by them as
tenth on the list in merit.
Despite this finding The relatives. OF
The dead warrior we're practically
unanimous IN declaring that the Rohl- !
Smith model was by far the most char (
aeteristic. They said that not only were
the features perfect, but that rhe ,bar- /
acteFistics Of the deceased general were
so marked in the model that they. could +
readily recognize him by his back. The
first competition took place in January,
1885 Following II the commission de-
cided that the sketches of the four
scuIptors whose work had been selected +
By the committee Of the National So /
eiety should be enlarged and altered as
The competitors might wish. and ar +
Roll Smith was also requested TO make /
such alterations as he thought fit
The altered sketches were submit +
led TO the commission May p of the +
zane year. and the ROhl-Smith design /
was accapted-he receiving four out OF
The SIX votes cast. Following the award /
the sketches were exhibited to the pub
lie for ten days. Mr. and Mrs. RohI-
Smith were in Washington when the
award was made. and received congratu-
Iauons from number Of the commits
sion.
Mr. Rohl-Smith received no portion
OF The prize money. and his contract
with the Government provided that no
portion Of the contract price should be
paid until the work Was completed and
the bronzes were turned over to the
proper authorities There was an ex-
ception in the matter OF The contract
price for the pedestal. $4,000. which
was paid when that work was completed
I-p 10 the tine OF Mr. RohI-Suith-s
death this was the only money that had
been paid 10 MIN Since hen the So
eIety OF the Army OF The Tennessee has
at times advanced small Gums as they
we're required
It was found, necessary TO provide al
extra concrete foundation because Of the
character q The soil where The statue
vas TO be erected and an appropriation
Of Sg.0g0 vas made for the purpose by
Congress. SIR RohI-Snith never receiv-
er cent Of this money although he sup
ervised the work Another appropriation
OF IS 600 has been asked for 10 provide
for mosaic terrace designed for the
base OF the pedestal by Mrs Roll
smith. and for parking ia the vicinity Of
the statue. This makes the total cost Of
the work S1l3.08e
AT The time Of AIr. Bohl-smfth-s
death all OF The detailed sketches had
been completed. The three corner figures
had been completed work on the four
Nas nearly done, there re-
mained bat . few portraits to be com
pleted IN The groups. thc working model ,
and the skeleton 81 the equestrian
statue bad been completed.
The original contract provided that
IN case Of lhe death Of Mr Bohl- smith
his wife should supervise The compile
ton Of The work When she called for
scalptors 10 complete the work under ,
aer direction shc received thir-y-three
oEers. but The besI artists held them
selves aloo2 ana she p8s compelled 10 T
60 70 Europe u have the sork done in /
accordance With her husbaud's ideas
When Jhe tWsrs yrrrtr. re- r-.cr,te5 I