The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-05-10
KITSON'S STATUE
OF GBK. TILGHMAN
PHASES CRITICS
Regarded as One OF His Best
in Conception. Spirit and
Execution.
He Excels Other Americans
in Truth.
HOW THE FIGURE WAS CAST

New York. May 1O.-on the 18th
OF May the monument Of General
Lloyd Tilghman, by the well known
Boston sculptor II. II. Kitson, will be
unveiled at Paducah. Ky.
Aside OF the local interest and
pride a thriving Kentucky town may
take In the commemorative OF one Of
its great citizens, the monument IT.
self should attract wide and general
attention. The artist interpret
ed his subject with such
truth and readth, In such an
original and distinct style, that Il has
been pronounced by all who have
seen II In hiss studio as being one OF
the finest portrait statutes ever made
In this country. A man must travel
far 70 see another monument OF the
same intrinsic value.
OF heroic size. nine feet high and
cast In bronze, II represents the gen.
eral in field uniform. In top boots.
leather gauntlets. with field glasses
slung across his shoulder. The right
hand Is supported by the belt. while
the other holding his slouched hat. is
drawn close up TO the body and rests
on the sword. The left foot IL slight
~ advanced. The figure makes the
impression OF simplicity and dignity
The face Is stern and expresses cour-
age and defiance. characteristic OF a
man that braved 30 many dangers.
American sculptors are apt TO treat
their portrait statues either In too
rigid a manner or 20 exaggerate the
picturesque possibilities. In ST. eau
dcns' figures there r. always a. strange
frugality In attitude and movement.
while Paul Bartlett frequently over
steps the limits Of pictorial treatment
by Introducing all sorts of unneces-
sary fonrishes. Kitson avoids both
There are no unnecessary embelNsh-
ments. no attempts at idealization. II
IL strictly a realistic representation,
but told as beautifully as IL Is posi-
BILE TO a figure CARRIED in the prosaic
! dress OF modern times. lie wants
fret OF all TO represent the character
OF the man. and then Undue its form
with a. much vlrihty and animation
as can be introduced without losing
the naturalness Of the general aspect
Kitson's figures are all conceived In
big solid masses. they stand naturally
and firmly on their feet without any
artificial support. Indicating manli-
ness and strength.
Kitson's Lofty Idea.
Kitson has given us fresh view
of the beauty Of sculpture. He al
ways strives to represent the plastic
expression Of some lofty idea. He
declines to give Us the empty form,
the simple well-made statue" Each
OF his works must grip the attention.
and charm not alone by It's beauty OF
execution but also by Its deeper and
more subtitle qualities. like thought,
inventiveness and poetic feeling.
which give intense and constant pleas
ure TO those who can appreciate
them. The fear OF spelling the big
effects by carrying details to high
finish is a thing unknown TO him. He
possesses the capacity TO remain
broad and great while modelling with
remarkable skill and facility, and an
impeccable touch the most delicate
details. Thus every statue from the
hands OF Kitson displays an attempt
to achieve an enviable perfection. a
result that tremendously combines
the accomplishments Of conception
and execution In an equal measure.
And Il is in his General Tllghman
that the art OF II. II. Kitson has
found one OF its finest expressions.
General Tilghman.
General Tilghman was, as every
Kentuckian knows. one OF the great
heroes Of the Confederate arm =. He
was one OF the descendants OF one OF
the best known families in Maryland
and followed the profession OF rail.
road engineering at PadGcah when
the war broke out. He was the com.
mander OF Fort Henry when It was
attacked Jointly by General Grants
army of $1,000 men aud Commodore
Foote's feet OF seven gun-boats Gen,
eral Tilghman's little army consisted
only of 1000 men. Not wishing 4
sacrifice them as defeat was certain
he ordered four-fifths Of his troop I,
retreat to Fort Donelson and with 1
remainder fought the invading army
for hours. Later on he took part II
the defense OF vicksburg as a briga
der general OF Loring's division. ans
lost his life by cannon ball in on'
OF the most violent encounters of tn
war, the battle OF Champion Hills
May is, 1868.
statute Cast In One Piece.
The statue weighs about 1.S0'
pounds and was cast under the super
vision OF Eugene Gargsni by the Ro
man Bronze Works, Greenpoint. \