The Washington herald., 1908-04-04

protection as any other class Of Ameri-
cans. And so the battle Of ideas cOntin-
ues. 1t appears TO be probable. however.
that when the tariff is revised. whether
i be friend or Zoe. steps Will at least be
taken 70 completely exempt such art as
is brought in for public exhibition.
one OF the most interesting contracts
for sculpture work which is likely TO be
let in the near future. and one Of national
interest IS that for the adornment Of
the east porticO Of the House wing OF the
Capitol For years the tympanum OF that
portico has stood unadorned. while that
Of the rotunda portico and the Senate
portico have had their respective groups.
At last the House has grown tired Of
being rated as less appreciative OF sculp-
ture than the Senate. and expects 70 vote
an appropriation Of $1,000 for the adorn-
ing OF its porticO Probably all the lead
ing sculptors OF the United States VIII be
invited 10 take part IN the competition
FOR the selection Of a design II they are
10 keep harmonious company with those
Of the rotunds and Senate pOrtscOs the
designs VIII have 20 be I'D 10 a high
standard The rOtunda porticn design is
an allegorcal group by Persico. - I'D
upon suggestions OF John Quincy Adams
Il represents the Genius OF America
In the center stands America. with the
eagle at her feet Her shield. with its
legend. l. 5. A. rests upon an altar in-
scribed with the date Of the Declaration
Of Independence. She is listening 10 the
inspiration OF hope. and indicating her
reliance upon justice. whose scroll Of the
Constitution bears the date OF the adop-
ton OF that Instrument
The group upon the Senate portico
tympanum is significant OF what the com
Ing of the new race was 70 mean 10 the
old The subject. which is BY Crawford.
Is American Development and the Deca-
dence OF the indian Race. In the center
is America. in the enulgence OF the ris-
ing sun. bestOwing honor instead OF
gifts upon Gen. Washington. On the
right are Commerce. Education. Ne
chanics. and Agriculture. On the left
are the Pioneer. the Hunter a detected
Chieftain, and an Indian mother with
her babe mourning beside a grave. In
the wall above The Senate entrance are
marble figures, also by Crawford. repre-
senting Justice and History.
After the work on the House portico Is
installation OF bronze doors at the west
front OF the Capitol to complete the
building SC far as the sculptor is con
cerned. The design for these doors has
already been made, the sculptor prepar-
ing IL being Louis Amateis, Of Washing
ton. There has been no appropriation for
their casting. and no one can say when
such an appropriation Will be made But
the models have been made and paid for.
Another building that IS likely 10 de-
mand the talents OF the scuiptors OF
America is the new Senate Office Build
ing. The House Building IS severely
plain. as BELTS that body which prides
itself as being the closest to the people.
but the Senate building VIII be made to
rival the Library OF Congress in its in
terror decorations. and the best artists
OF the brush and OF the chisel will be
called upon, it is said to beautify II.
ScUlptors feel that one Of the best ex-
amples OF their art in the city OF Wash
ington Is the Greenough statue OF Wash
ington. now located on the east plaza OF
the Capitol. They speak Of II as an
"Olympian Zeus- In its treatment II is
q work Ike those ideal portaits OF Roman
emperors which crowd the long galleries
Of the Vatican. Il is a sort Of delfed
Washington, and in the eyes OF the aver
age tourist the Father OF his Country
does not have enough clothes or FOR
comfort in bad weather Ii seems To
strike Congress about the same way. and
they have ordered il TO be taken OF the
plaza and put I'm an Out-of-the-way cor
ner Of the National Museum, when the
new building is completed.
President Roosevelt is one OF those who
believe that there ought to be a national
school OF art established In the United
States, and has so recommended to Con
gres- But as that body IS rather slow IN
taking up such propositions there IS not
much prospect Of his suggestion bearing
early fruit.
During the period from 1850 TO 1886 there
was a general inclination to add i'm
portant sculptures 20 public buildings.
but with the beginning OF the present
century there came a decline. However,
sculptors think that this is but a passing
decline, and that there VIII be a re
awakening soon. This is borne out by
the tendency now 10 decorate even the
new railroad stations with tasteful
sculptures. Artists admit. however. that
the question OF the treatmen: of sculpture
In connection with architecture is not as
yet satisfactorily settled.
There has been a great growth in sculp-
ture In America, and to-day the critical
world comedies that some Of the work OF
our scUlptOrs compares Iavorably with
the best that Europe affords. The list of
successful sculptors is growing longer
every year. and it is not an idle prophecy
that as our country grows elder she will
have school OF sculpture OF her own
that viii rank with the best Of the past
or the present.