The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-15
NOTABLE STATUE NOW
AEARs COMPLETION
Work OF Richmond's Famous sculptor
f. William SEWERS. To Commemo-
rate Lee nc Gettysburg.
SUBJECT MODIFY HANDLET
Soul Of Artist In shown In Magnificent
Creation--Hissory OF Man Who Is
Making His Fame Secure In World
of Art.

Comparatively few Richmond people
are aware that there Ia now In the
making at Forest Hill statue that
promises to be one of the great mas
terpieces of the world and which Will
bring to the sculptor. Richmond boy.
a name and fame in the front rank
Of the worlds great artists.
The work In question is the eques-
trian statue of General Robert e. Lee,
which was authorised, by the Virginia
Assembly OF 1911, to be placed upon
the battlefield of Gettysburg. and the
sculptor is F. William Sievers. Mr..
sievers has been at work on the statue
now for more than two years and the
great task is nearing completion. Those
who know say that in the magnificent
figure Of General lee, with barred head
and in full uniform. astride his favorfte
horse, Traveller, the sculptor has ex-
ecuted a beautiful work of art and the
most splendid conception OF the be-
loved Confederate hero In poise and
feature that has ever been done. ana
they say further that his work will
make the name and fame of the ar
list immortal.
The sculptor and His work.
In the current issue of Onward there
Is an excellent sketch of the sculptor
and his work by Wade c. Smith, who
gives an interesting account OF the
notable statue and the notable man
at work upon 1t. Mr.. sievers, the story
goes, came to Richmond ffom Atlanta
in 1898, a youth OF twenty, full OF
energy and ambition and bent upon
learning a trade or profession. His
frst work was In a small shop OF
wood-carvers and plaster decorators az
no salary until after the first six
months. when he was paid three dol
lars a week, with an increase to four
dollars at the start OF his second
year. He put in his spare time in clay
modelling at the Mechanics Institute.
ed as Instructor In that institution In
clay modelling and wood carving.
After two years of hard work he
made arrangements for trip abroad
and by dint of hard study succeeded
In passing the examinations to secure
entrance to the Royal Academy OF Fine
Arts at Rome, italy, where he won
first prize in his class. His Instructor
there was Ettore Ferrari. one OF the
foremost Of italian sculptors. He had
ne trouble then in securing work which
brought gratifying remuneration, and
after several years of further work and
study he returned to his native land.
opening a studio In New York city
When the Virginia Legislature au-
thorfzed the statue of General Lee for
the Gettysburg battlefield Sievers set
out to win the award to this heroic
task The competition was keen. there
being more than forty scuiptors and
artists frcsn all over the world In the
contest. The model he submitted was
superb in It's conception and execu-
ton and the Judges. II Is said. were
carried away with it--he won hands
down.
Moves Again to Richm0nd.
says Mr. Smith In HIS sketch:
He moved at once to Richmond, pur-
chased a lot far out In the suburbs
near Forest Hill. and built a modest
home in the woods. where he was
Joined by his wife and little boy.
Nearby he built studio. in which TO
construct the statue, and there he has
industriousIy worked upon u for more
than two years. The group at the base
of the pedestal has been finished. as
shown by the potograps on this page.
Make study of the faces and hfelike
attitude OF these dgures--each one OF
them Is worthy Of story.
Now the great stutue itself 10 near
ing completion. and the sculptor 10
not sorry, for perhaps he has put the
best of his brain and Drawn and skill
into this great piece of work. Visftors
to Gettysburg who VIII In the rutuFe
stand and admire Its noble lines Will
never realize the days and nights CT
toll which have been put into one
single feature of the calm countenance
which graces the rider The admired
of the well-proportioned ateed will
never know how many times one
muscle In the foreleg has been stricken
off and reshaped.
But the statue complete will stand
there or that famous battlefield and Aell7
In its silent dignity and majestic bear
ing a sovereign States devotion to the
memory of its chiefest and most cher
tshed son.
To those who are familiar with the
sculptor's career II will also tell the
story Of struggle upward against
heavy odds--of the triumph OF pur-
pose over discouragements and DOUBTS
of the inevitable victory OF persever-
euea and urft.