Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-22
.C0MPL ELTON '.l
OF LEES STATUE
Sculptor Ends Work Upon
Equestrian Figure of
Virginian
GOVERNOR VIEWS 1T
Great Chieftain, Done in Heroic Size,
is Shown in Pose Witnessing Pick
ett's Charge.

Richmond, Oct. 22-With a sigh OF
relief. F. William Sievers, the noteo
sculptor, yesterday laid down his tool;
and surveyed the finished product o.
his hand, the equestrian statue
General Robert E. Lee, which VII
surmount the monument to be erect
ed on the field of Gettysburg by th'
State of Virginia to commemorat'
the heoric deeds Of her sons. The
task has taken three years.
The work was completed by the
sculptor yesterday. and was view
ed today by Governor Stuart, men,,
hers of the monument commission ans
Confederate leaders of Virginia. y
Saturday and Sunday afternoons, be
tween 3 and 6.o'clock the general pup
lie will be admitted TO the studios
at Forest Hill, to see the noble wor
of art; but this will be their last op
portunity, as work preparatory tt
casing it in bronze will start on Mon
Gay morning.
Mr.. Sievers's design for the snonu
ment vas accepted from among fort:
or more offered by leading sculptors
He Immediately moved his studios =
Richmond and started the work. frs
completing a beautiful group, whlc
will occupy the base of the pedesta
on which the equestrian statue WIZ
stand. This group was cast IN bronz
TWO years ago and accepted oE IL
monument commission. The pedesta
has been constructed, and all tina
now remains to be done is to mold IN
neg figure and place it in its post OF
This however, will take more tina
six months.
The figure Of General Lee. which
one and three-quarters time lite size
is mounted on a horse, which, wh'l
standing in repose;; has its nostrl!
SLIGHTLY distended and its cars alert
" turned. The great ch'eftain !
seated firmly in the saddle in one O,
his characteristic poses. Hat IN haA'
he is looking calmly, but steauli!
ahead. Except for grim determ;na
tion in every line Of the face, the II
cure is singularly peaceful one.
In his conception of General Lee
the sculptor has borne in mind th'
action Of the Southern commander II
reviewing the famous charge of PICK
ett's men at Gettysburg. 1t is re.at
ed that Lee was standing talking will
his staff when Informed that the
charge was about to start. He calm:
mounted and leisurely walked i'll;
horse to the brow Of an emnenc'
from which he had clear view of thu
field. So close was he to the hr'n!
line that his officers had great diff
Guilty in persuading him to abandon
the danger spot. The monument vii
stand practically on the identica
ground.
The equestrian statue is Tourteei
feet in height and nine feet in length
It will rest 0 a pedestal twenty two
feet in height, formed OF North Car
olina granite. So immense IS tnl'
pedestal. that its two stones wefg'
twenty tons each. Across the front O
one and directly over the symbolIca
group will be the inscription, "Vir
ginia to Her Sons at Gettysburg. y.
The group is one of the most uni
que features Of the monument. In
stead of the conventional figures
| Mr.. Sievers has endeavored to put ac
tion into his work, and while all thre
branches of the service are represent
ed, there is more than a suggestion o
warfare in the group. a shattere'
, cannon, broken wheel. knapSack. swal
; and hat indicate that the spot ma
been the scene of fierce engagement
Seven figures comprise the group
two being boys. one bugler, or artil
lery. and the other, mounted. a STAND
ard-bcarer. holding the State flag o
Virginia. The other figures sugges
the farmer. professional man and ma
chanic. all comrades in arms.
The Virginia monument will stan