Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08
ART NOTES.

While the painters have quite generally
deserted the city, the sculptors are almost
without exception in their town studios and
at work. Summer brings them, as rule,
extra business. and the long days mean
more working hours rather than additional
recreation. This results from the differ
ence in their occupations-both are har-
vesting, but the one at home and the other
abroad. 1t is interesting to note that three
Of the leading local sculptors are occupied
at present upon works which will perma-
nentiy adorn public buildings in Washing
ton. Mr.. Amateis is completing his bronze
doors for the Capitol Mr.. DeNesti is re-
modelling the figures for the exterior of the
new municipal building and Mr.. Dunbar is
putting into marble a bust of the late
Gardiner Gil eene Hubbard, which is to be
placed as a memorial in the Library OF
Congress.
OF these three sculptors the last named,
Mr. U. s. j. Dunbar, has been longest
resident of this city and most prominently
associated with local art movements. He
is a Canadian by birth, but came here in
the early eighties from Detroit, where he
and his brother had shared studio. Chief
ly self-taught, he has been an Industrious
worker. and while constantly pressing to-
ward an ideal he has accomplished in actual
output more than the majority. Knowing
personally the late ex-Gov. Shepherd, and
having modelled from life his portrait bust,
he was unhesitatingly awarded the COM
mission for the memorial statue which Is
to be placed eventually in front Of the Mu-
nicipal building, on the south side of Penn
sylvania avenue. This Mr.. Dunbar did last
year. Cast in bronze and ready for erec-
tion, 1t now stands in the basement Of the
Corcoran Gallery. Following this came the
order for the Ross memorial which Is to
be placed inside the same building by the
District employees. This took the form of
a bronze tablet over five feet in height oy
two and a fraction in width, bearing in
bas-reief a portrait Of the late Commits
symbolical designs. Now this. too, is in
readiness for placement. and the sculptoTs
whole attention is being given to the por-
trait Of Mr.. Hubbard. 1t would doubtless
are two-the bust for the library and
bas-relief for Mrs. Hubbard. The former
has been virtually finished; the latter yet
remains on the modelling easel. Not many
in marble-when the modelling Is finished
their work Is done-but Mr.. Dunbar dots
his own stone cutting, believing that by so
doing he accomplishes the best results. tn:
process is. Of course, in measure me-
chanical. one might almost say mathenati-
CAL but 1t requires more than trained
measurer and a skilled hand. TO See
face gradually taking form under the sculp-
tors chisel Is delightful. and seemingly lit
tie less than miracle In the course CT
such a process the possibilities Of mo me-
dunn present themselves and the onlookcr
cannot but feel that he Is nearer actual
sculpture-the real art-than when he views
q polished bronze. It Is at this Interesting
stage that the Hubbard bust has nav ar
rived. A great rough-hewn clock of mar
BILE weighing 1,600 pounds stands On the
sculptors platform. At distance IL is
only this. but standing above It and look
ing down the face will be found ridley
carved on the upper surface. Gradually It
will take concrete form, the lead and the
shoulders will be cut away. and finally will
come the careful rounding and finishing.
The model Is a strong work-characterfstlc
and vital-and the completed sculpture will
undoubtedly be even more sa satisfactory. But
a word in relation to the bas-relief. This
cessful Accomplishments. 1t Is not only
vigorous work and an excellent likeness,
but keenly artistic bit OF modelling. syIT-
pathetic and significant. There . a SUD-
tlety in the touch which Is not always to
be noted. and a mobility in t.,e handling
which bespeaks both maturity and tr'sh.
So
One Of the bills to be brought before the
next session Of Congress is that introduced
by Senator Lodge last January authorizing
Dean entitled Peace" This canvas,
which il hanging now in the naval affairs
room at the Capitol. represents the original
white Squadron" or the Squadron OF
Evolution" as 1t is sometimes called. and
Ing at anchor in New York harbor. One
great ship, with her sails draped from her
yard arms, appears prominently In the
foreground, while the others are interest
ingly grouped at q distance. The compost
ton r sxcsllsnt-the scene most pictorial.