Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-27
CURRENT NEWS AND NOTES OF ART AND ARTISTS.

AK | AND
for the Columbus memorial. which is to
be erected on the plaza of the Union
station and to Andrew O'Connor an
American sculptor residing in Paris, the
commission for the memorial to COmmo-
dore Barry, which will be located on 18th
street in Franklin Square.
MIR. Taft is one of five sculptorS in
vited to compete for this commission and
one of nineteen who submitted models.
He Is the sculptor of the beautiful "Foun-
tain of the Lakes" we'll known through
reproduction; of the group, THE Blind
exhibited in Baltimore last spring and
<more lately in New York which has
revoked much comment. as we'll as other
notable works. and Is at the same time a
teacher, writer and lecturer Of distinc-
ton.
Mr.. O'Connor is younger man and
less we'll known. The son Of sculptor
of Scotch-Irish descent, he was born in
Worcester, Mass. in 1874, and studied
under Daniel c. French. In the Pan
American exposition in 1901 he received
bronze medal, and in the Paris salon
of 1905 a medal Of the second class.
In addition to these awards honorari-
ums of $3.50 and $500 viii be paid to Je-
rome Common of Syracuse and John Flan-
agan of New York for their models of the
proposed Barry monument, and of $500
each to Philip Martiny of New York and
Augustin Querol of Spain for their models
entered in the Columbus memorial COM
petition.
In connection with both competitions
expert advice was sought but whether
it was followed wholly OF in part has not
been stated. The first advisory commit
tee to pass upon the Columbus models
was composed of four we'll known sculp-
tors-Daniel c. French, Karl Bitter. Adolph
A. Weinman and Henry NJ. Shrady: the
urb ma
models. of an architect, Daniel H. Burn
ham; painter, F. D. Millett. and a
sculptor, Herbert Adams.
Certainly there can be no dissatisfaction
with the Columbus award SO far as the
commission goes. for Mr. Taft's concep-
ton Of the memorial as illustrated by
his model is extremely simple and dig
nified and we'll In accord with the archi-
lecture of the Union station. Indeed 1t
probably owes its distinction TO this fact
for. while some of the more elaborate
schemes were perhaps unreatedly more
pleasing, they would not have been in
accord with the environment of the chos-
en- site. The Taft model is. of all those
submitted, the most severely plain, show
ing Columbus wrapped in a long cloak
standing on the prov of ship the figure
head of which is an angel with head up
raised and arms folded across the breast,
There are no mermaids or dolphins: no
allegorical figures no wreaths or flags or
or great except the man and the art
With an untried sculptor this would be
tremendous risk but that Mr. Taft is
equal TO the task he has set himself
there is little question.
Philip Martiny's model, which was
ranked second, is utterly different It is
extremely elaborate and decidedly florid
He represents Columbus as bearded
man, and In the act of returning thanks
to God for mercy. Primitive sailors are
seated IA iDh loft 9
the ship, on the prov of which rests a
huge wreath Of flowers. NEUROLOGICAL tri-
tons. submarine boat, icices and the
like figure in the composition. and while
and broadly. the beholder finds them
rather aggressive.
Augustin Querol, the Spaniard to whom
the third honor was given, sent two mod
els showing Columbus in two different at
ttudes, both very dramatic, and sur
veloped in what he himself described as
"a gust of fantasie" emanating from the
great discoverers mind" He has not I'M
dertaken to finish his models as have the
other competitors. but left them in a
broad. sketchy state. In spirit his work
is very Spanish: crude. passionate and
vital, but also strong and suggestive.
Among those who received no award.
but whose works specially merit thought
full consideration, are Henry Herring of
delphia and Hans Schiller of Baltimore.
all of whom entered models worthy of
acceptance. Mr.. Hering's design was
strong and simple. Mr. Schweizer's elab-
Schuler's dignif1ed and sculpturesque. OF
the rest. probably the less said the bet
ter-some are comical-some merely sad
The Barry competition was smaller, but
the result seems less good. The model
chosen for execution is elaborate af-
fair, which probably cannot be properly
executed for the money appropriated for
the purpose. and does not explain itself
There is long wall on which is an his
torical frieze in high relief. At either
end of this wall are allegorical groups,
in the round. Erin in each instance being
the principal figure, while perched on top
at the extremities are sedate American
eagles.
The frieze is chronicle of Irish his
tory. beginning with the earliest tradi-
tons of folk lore. showing the refining
influence of Christianity. picturing ST
Patrick baptizing the king. the expulsion
of the Danes and finally the supremacy
of the English and those causes which
led to emigration to America. 1t is a
long story told in a single chapter which,
when the key is lost will probably be
variously interpreted. But where is Bar
ry? On a pedestal erected upon a plat
form before this wall and rallied off from
it by an open balustrade. He ia repre-
sented standing upon the sloping deck of
a vessel. hatless. with his coattails blow
ing in the breeze. somewhat resembling
John Paul Jones in feature and Cock
Robin in pose. Perhaps the memorial
may turn out better in the end than it
seems. but there seems little reason for
confidence. The obviously good" design.
and the only one which seemed to make
any pretention to distinction. was that
submitted by John Flanagan of New
York. which was rated third by the com
mission. This shows dignified figure
of naval officer standing in an attitude
neither stiff nor yet nervous.
The pedestal upon which he is placed
is simple but fairly proportioned. and is
agreeably embellished. To the right sits
Il figure representing Columbia and to
the left. Erin. Courage stands back of
the one and latent force OF the other
Not. 10 be sure. a novel contention nor