New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-14
ART FOR HARRISBURG.
Groups of Statues for
Pennsylvania Capitol.
Moret. ENC september

ing at Harrisburg. Mr.. Barnards studio IS
picturesquey situated alongside the massive
medieval stone wall that once formed part OF
the ramparts Of this strongly fortified town on
the River LONG about two miles from the con-
fuence OF that green, sleepy little stream with
the Seine. Two years labor have already been
devoted to the sculpture for the Pennsylvania
Capitol. Sixteen of the thirty-three hguFes are
now in plaster and are placed in a vast grange
near the hanks of the river. Perhaps another
year will eIapse before the entire work ap-
proaches completion for Mr.. Barnard IS a con-
scientious toiler and. with true artistic PRIDE,
does everything except the purely manual work
himself The groups and figures for the Penn
sylvania Capitol are one Of the most important
efforts undertaken by a modern sculptor. The
conception is admirable. and justifes those who
have followed Mr.. Barnard's career in predict
ing that it will be his masterpiece
Two huge pedestaIs each fifteen feet high, viii
form the limits Of the wide stairway, ascending
by broad marble steps to the main entrance Of
the building. At the top OF the stairway there
are to be three large bronze doors. the bass
relief decorations and motifs for which have not
yet been begun The two colossal groups which
will eventually be placed on the huge pedestals
at each side of the stairway are approaching
completion. On one side will be the group OF
''Life's Woes Forming a counterpart to this,
ing ''Life's Joys" The first Of these groups
that OF human sorrow. suffering and grtef-has
for its point Of departure Adam and Eve in the
Garden of Eden. The first sin, Cain, Abel, the
serpent. the apple, the tempter, the temptress
are tremendously idealized and assembled Most
Of the figures are nude The few draperies con-
vey suggestions of the poEderous antique Syrian
or PharaOnic Egyptian. rather than Of the
lighter Grecian conceptions. Each group forms
e oe-{r,, Sc G,y7Tra 4 2 d.
vancing from the building toward the spectator
The figures are of colossal dimensions, each
measuring. from top to toe. ten feet five inches.
The procession of men and women composing
| the group Of "Life's Joys" has for its inspira-
ton fertility Of the soil, Mother Earth. Natures
wealth and agriculture. The cOntentment de-
rived from material prosperity, the happiness
Of motherhood the delights OF guiding and edu-
eating offspring the serenity Of parental and
flial love- are depicted with deep poetic feeling.
Mutual hope. confidence and encouragement at
the outset of the struggle for life are touch-
ingIy presented in the figures Of elder and Of
a younger brother, marching forward, arm in
arm. to encounter perils in quest of indepen-
dence and success. The mother with extended
arm pronOunces her bcnedictiOn, and urges her
sons onward in the great battle Of early man
hood. The motif of the work is powerful and
rugged it is masculine and positive, rather than
feminine or subjective Men and women in the
procession of I.ife's Joys walk forth with
nervous. elastic American step while their faces
beam with se1f-conidence. ambition and noble
aspiration, Their countenances offer vivid
contrast to the melancholy to the dfsappoint-
rant to the hopeless abandonment, to the
despair. or TO the futile rage or anguish por-
+-azed in the features of the figures forming the
procession of .Life's Woes" the sinners and
failures in the human struggle for existence, for
prosperity or for fame.
In this great work for the Pennsylvania Capt.
rol the sculptor is revealing. and confding 10
Dosterity grand. noble, humanitarian concep-
rion-a splendid object Iessou-from which can
not fail TO be drawn inspiration leading 10 good
American citizenship. in the broadest and high
est acceptation Of that term. AS TO the merits
of execution it is as yet too soon to judge. be
cause the figures. many of which are not COM
pleted in plaster are not assembled IN the Two
| grand professional groups
Will these groups when in place, acquire the
grace Of outline. the symmetry of poise and the
harmonious balance essential for a national
monument that should be masterpiece Does
+ba artist irnpart that purity Of sentiment com
narabIa for instance with that of the frtezes OF
the Parthenon? Does he succeed IN producing
thar accuracy of anatomy or that marvellous
veracftv in chiselIing layers Of flesh OF foids Oh
skin of rnoduIated muscle play. or OF delicate
outline of torso or of limb. of the man or woman
who thinks as distinguished from the knots OF
muscular fibre of the thews and sineWs OF me
trained athlete? Is it the American ApoHo OF
the American Hercules? In some Of the ngures
there is a tendency TO give predomlnance TO tae
framework Of the gymnast rather than that OF
the intellectual student Of the earnest man u
business or Of the enlightened artisan
roo aTl
-,t York Of vast Importance and of incalcuable
~+iz+ic interest There is something ROdinesQue
IN the muscular development Of Barnards
figures One adnlires their expressions OF mo-
ton of concentrated action and of strength
Nevertheless, one asks whether the sculptor has
ir77bued his female figures with the delicate
curves articulations and fluctuations OF flesh
and of form that are essential factors IN the
unrest and highest qualities Of beauty Of the
typical American girl or Of the ideal American
woman The draperies may lack the grace OF
pb{dian folds OF the charm Of Athenian out
line hut they bear the impress Of originality and
Of strong individuality Even at the present
stage it is safe TO say that If in execution and
IN technical detail the work at all approaches the
artists r7asterfuI conception the Pennsylvania
Capitol building. from the sculpturaI standpoint
viii not be surpassed by anything in America
The thfrtv-three figures, when done in plaster,
NAV if time admits be exhibited next spring IN
Paris They will afterward be transported 10
Carrara where they will be reproduced in the
finest marble, known technically as the clear
white" which. however, is not pure white, for il
has a delicate blush tinge Ike the marble Of
the Pasteur statue in Paris. It is this particular
quality of marble that experts in America and. il
France pronounce the best most durable and
most effective for open air monuments.
GLIB