The Elbert County tribune., 1914-06-19

figure of George Washington in mar
BILE. now standing in the Smithsonian
Institution.
1t was penned to Lady Bulwer Lyt,
ton. wife of the poet
1t has never been generally known
what the artist Greenough had in mind
when he executed George Washington
as nude figure" said Heller. Critics
who have seen the statue have not
been inclined to treat it seriously,
nsver understanding why an artist
should conceive the military man of
his age as a nude figure only draped
with a light vestment as were the old
Greek heroes.
The statue was modelled while
Greenough studied in Florence. Italy.
1t was made at the order of congress
in 1S43. and brought to this country
only to survive many perils on land
and sea. Designed for the capitol an
attempt was first made to place it in
the rotunda after the doors of the capi
tol were temporarily widened for its
entry, but 1t was found too heavy to
rest there with safety. 1t was later
moved to the east plaza. where 1t
stood for many years. About five years
ago 1t was placed in the Smithsonian
Institution"
According to Lorado Taft, the art
critic, in his volume on American
Sculptors." Edward Everett Hale is
quoted as commenting on the odd fig
ure as 1T stood before the capitol:
THE city Of Washington has many
worse figures which escape censure
through their medocrity. Few sculp-
lures in the capital reveal so noble an
intention, and such loftiness of concep-
ton
or the curious statue, where Wash
ington, seated half nude. is holding in
his hand the emblem of his military
command. the Greenough letter reads:
my Dear Lady Bulwer: cannot ex-
press to you how much ! have been
gratified by the indulgent opinion you
have expressed of my efforts in sculp
ture. Living as l have done amid
people whose sympathy for art is
nearly exhausted. while their connois
seurship is in full vigor | should have
contented myself q fear) like their
own artists. with the sleepy and indif-
ferent toll of the studio.
Being intended to fill central po-
sition in the capitol of the United
States. have thought fit to address my
statue of Washington to a distant pos
terity and to make 1t rather a poetical
abstract of his whole career than the
embodying of any one deed or any one
feature of his life.
Il have made him seated as first
magistrate and he extends with his
left hand the emblem of his military
command toward the people as the
sovereign. He points heavenward
with his right hand-by this double
gesture my wish was to convey the
idea of an entire abnegation of self
and to make my hero, as it were,
conductor between God and man. :. :.
Such is my invention. Here 1t has
been like an opera of which they do
not understand or feel the words.
Let me enjoy this opportunity OF
assuring you that the approval Of such
as yourself would console me under
any condemnation on either side of the
water. l am, dear Lady Bulwer, with
sincere respect.
"HORATIO GREENOUGH."
The letter is undated except for the
words Friday morning.
Greenough was born in Boston.
Mass, in 1905. His father sent him to
Harvard university, but he did not take
his degree until 1t was given him later
for his international prominence as an
artist. He studied in the many art cen
ters Of Europe. spending the greater
part Of his life in Italy. He died in
1852, after having executed and placed
many sculptures In the art galleries
and museums of this country.