The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-17
BRY AN S TATUE
FOR MONROE ARK
Special Committee Approves
Clay Model by Sculptor
Copper.

The final model in clay OF the statu6
TO be erected in memory OF Joseph
Bryan has been approved by special
committee, headed BY Colonel w. Cor
don McCabe which went TO New York
recently at the request of Chairman
f. G. Leigh. Jr. The statue is to bs
the work OF the artist William Cou-
per. An ordinance is pending prov,d-
ing for the location OF the statue in
Monroe Park. on n spot to be selected
by the Council Committee on Grounds
and Buildings.
Mr. Couper is the artist who design
ed the Hunter Mcguire monument IN
the Capitol Square. the Pocahontas
monument at jamestown and othef
specimens of his work are widely
known.
Richmond, Va. May 81, 1910.
the General Committee of the "jos
seph Bryan Memorial Association"
Richmond, Va:
My Dear Sir.-in accordance with
your request. ] wen, on to New York.
accompanied by Mr.. Jonathan Bryan.
on the evening OF May 2ith. to inspect
the final model in clay OF the status
TO be erected TO the late Joseph Bryan.
Mr.. couper. the sculptor. received us
courteously afforded us every facility
for thorough inspection, and listened
with close attention TO such critic!sms
i
spent the whole morning in his
studio, and we discussed with frank
ness several details in the model thar
seemed TO me 10 need some modihca-
ton. -s5sss'4sH
/, for instance. objected that the cas-,
of features was sterner than that most
familiar 10 US, who were Mr.. Bryan's
intimates. and especially did l object
to the very pronounced vertical lines
between the eyes. But Mr.. Couper as
sured me that these lines would be
much less pronounced when the statue
should he cast in bronze. and answered
my objection as TO the somewhat stern
aspect by saying that his idea was to
represent Mr.. Bryan in his more earn
est mood. when he had taken UP some
important enterprise that demanded
! decisive resolution and when he had
put his whole soul into 1t. rather than
to portray him In his more genial tenn
per OF mind. when work was laid aside
and he relapsed into that compelling:
charm or manner that SO delighted all
who knew him. high and low alike
For the figure itself, ] have nothing
| but praise. The pose is easy and nat
ural. and the whole figure instlncr
with life and charged with that alert.
to us all. while the details as TO dress
and all the minor accessories are
wrought out with wonderful skill and
| lay no claim to being an expert in.
matters OF art, and am properly diff
| OF mine In such case as this
| cannot doubt that, as always hap
| pens, there Will be the inevitable d.
versence of opinion in the matter. bur
| my own final conclusion Is very de-
| fine and impressive, and viii prove
! not only a notable addition to thu,
| artistic masterpieces of our capital,
but will be held as well by this gem
Grafton as by those that come after us.
| a fitting 'presentment" in bronze OF
the, form and features of the simpls
| and noble gentleman. whose lofty char
| acter. open handed nunifcence and
high social and civic virtues entitIe
him to rank among the foremost of
! our Virginia Worthless"
All OF which is respectfully submit-
| ted by
| Your obedient servant,
/ w. GORDON NcCABE,
Chairman Special Committee. i