Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-15
SOCIETY OF FINE ARTS
LECTURE ON AMERICAN sCULP-
TURE- BY dorado TAFT.
Progress Made in This Country Dur
ing Past Century-An Abund-
ance of Talent.

The fifth meeting OF the National Society
OF the Fine Arts was held last evening at
the residence of Mr.. and Mrs Herbert
wadBworth. Mr.. Bernard r. Green, the
treasurer, presided. After the minutes OF
the preceding meeting had been read and
approved. and a report OF the auditing COM |
mlttee made public, the lecturer of the !
evening, Mr.. dorado Taft of Chicago, was
introduced.
Mr.. Tafts subject was American Scuip- |
ture" He pointed out the progress that
has been made in this field in the last one
hundred years. Little more than cen
tury ago" he said, the first American
sculptor was born. When the Chicago ex-
post on was built almost all the sculptural
work was done by foreigners; but when the
St Louis worlds fair came along ~ was
possible To give every commission to
Amer leans"
A. the present time Mr. Taft declared,
there seem to be abundance of talent
manifesting itself on every side-young men
and women i'm ALI parts of the land are pro-
ducing. almost spontaneously, promising
work That the government would .enco,r-
age these talented workers the older scuip-
tors of the country. the lecturer said, earn
estly wished. encouragement in the form
of good commissions, wisely bestowed.
would. they felt, help UNNECESSARILY in
speeding national development.
There is place in the United States. Mr..
Taft remarked IN which American sculp-
ture can so well be studied in this city. |
In no other city are so many examples of
our sculptoTs leading works congregated.
Greenoughs Washington.
The lecture was illustrated. and one OF
the first pictures thrown on the screen was
Greerough's Washington
yes: | know how YOU feel about at Mr..
Taft sair, as an amused murmur was heard,
lit is a tragedy Greenough dreamed such
Hraa ah g.
complshed So little. 1t was as of course
you know, intended for the rotunda, a mod
ern Zeus to be placed high above the heads
of the people, an exalted ideal fashioned
after classical models-not in itself an
ignobla conception. When it arrived at the
Capitol it could not be got in the door, and
later, when placed within, ii caused the
floor TO subside. For this reason it was
exiled to it's present inappropriate position,
where ii has long been destined to remain
like a second Moses viewing the promisei
land"
Greeaough's group, THE Rescue on the
steps Of the Capitol Mr.. Taft spoke Of
also, and while crIticisinS it, declared, that
in comparison to its companion piece. Co
umbus," done by itinerant foreigner
with persuasive nlien, even it was a master
piece.
For all the work of the pioneer sculptors ,,
Mr.. TAFT made strong appeal. Their sin
certify and earnestness of purpose, well
as theiI courage and ZEAL We're, he insisted. |
worthy of warmest respect and esteem. |
They were high priests, the speaker added. |
often sacrificing themselves the affairs !
OF their profession. Crawford's work at |
the Capitol, his statue of liberty, the Senate |
pediment and the doors, were all carefully |
considered, and Hiram Powers Greek |
Slave" at the Corcoran Gallery. given its |
need of praise. OF the monuments, Clark |
Mills jackson" in Lafayette Square, was |
the first in order, the first equestrian statue. |
in fact, in this country, made and cast by |
Il man who had never himself seen one.
Temerity and Stamina.
No wonder NJ. Taft said cit is alb |
surd-that it defeats its own purpose, and |
nemoralizes horse rather than a nero |
But think of the mans temerity and stam- |
ina Thomas Balls Emancipation Group
might have been made good had its sur
face been manipulated by knowing fingers
the lecturer thought. and Rogers bronze
doors showed. he insisted. an increase or
power. kindly word was said for Rein
harts "Endymion' in the CorcOran Gallery, |
and one Of much enthusiasm for J. @ A. |
W ards Indian Hunter a replica OF which /
Is included in the same collection.
This brought the history to modern times
and OF the latest and best WORK 1t was
found that this city has its share. Wards
Garfield and General Thomas were
mentioned, as well as the "Hahnemlnn,'
by Niehaus; Macniels sun Vow and, IN
the Library of Congress, Macmonn1es'
Shakespeare and Bartlett Michael An
gelo and Columbus. High tribute was
paid to the work of Mr. Edward Kemeys
the animal sculptor, whose best-known
bTOnzes are in New YORK, Chicago ana PnIi-
adelphla, but whose home is in this CITY,
and to Frenchs "Ciallaudet Group and ST.
GaudCns' Adams Memorial" high praise
was given. TO the last Mr.. Taft gave first
place I'm his estimate of modern accomplish
ment
The lecturer himself IS sculptor OF dis
tnCti0n, and therefore spoke not only SYM
pathetically, but with authority. He was
critical ktnQIE-pgrallV 70 lar
the good to condemn the bad His
enthusiasm was sincere and contagious
The next meeting of the society will be
held in March at the home OF Mr. William
Co=coran Eustis, at which time Mr.. Frank
Miles Day, the architect. will make an ad-
dress.