Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-22
Sculptor Sieyers Ends Work Upon
Equestrian Figure to Stand
at Gettysburg.
Great Chieftain, Done i'm Heroic Size,
Is Shown in Characteristic Pose as
tie Is Said TO Have Witnessed
Pickett's Historic Charge.

me work was completed by the
sculptor yesterday. and will be view
rd This afternoon by Governor stuart
members Of the monument commits
sion and Confederate leaders OF Vir-
einia. on Saturday and Sunday af-
tcrnoons, between 3 and S o'clock. the
general public viii be admitted 10 the
studios. at Forest Hill, 20 see the no.
bic work of art: but this will he their
las; opportunity. AS work preparatory
10 casting IL in bronze will start on
Monday morning.
Mr.. Sicvcrss design for the monu-
'ncnt was accepted from among forty
or more offered by leading sc,,ln,ors
He Immediately moved his studios to
Richmond and started the work first
completing beautiful group, which
VIII occupy the base OF the pedestal On
which the equestrian statue will stand.
, This group WAS east in bronze two
years ago and accepted ny the monu-
mcut commission. The pedestal has
b"cn constructed. and all tina, now re-
mains 10 be done is to mold the new
igure and place II in its POSITION. Thi,
. however, will take more ..an six
months
HEROIC FIGURE OF
GREAT CONFEDERt ATE:
The figure OF General Lee. which is
enc and three quarter times life size
l. mounted on II horse. which vhiln
4
slightly distend-d and its ears aler,ly
! turned. The great chicftain is seated
hrm1y IN til" saddle in one OF his char
acteristic poses Hat in hand he is
/ looking calmly. hut steadily ahead.
Except for grim determination IN
every line Of the face. the figure is n
sinGularly peaceful one
IN his conception OF General Lee.
the sculptor has borne in mind the
action OF tn" southern commander in
reviewing In" famous charge Of Pick
etts men AT gettysburg. |; is related
that Lee vas standing talking with his
stan wien informed that the charge
Was about 70 start. He calmly mount
eel and lcisurely walked his horse to
the brow Of an cIninence, from which
he h4H y clear view OF the field SO
close VAS he TO the firing line that
ms officers had great difficulty in per
suad!nS him to abandon the danger
spot The monument Will stand prac-
tCaiiy on the Identical ground
The equestrian statue Is fourteen
feet IN height ana nine feet in lenrth.
IL VIII rest on Il pedestal twenty-five
feet lii height. formed OF North Car
DINA granite. So immense is this
pedestal, that its TWO stones weigh
twenty tons each. Across the front Of
one ana directly over the sylnbolical
group viii be the Inscription, "vir.
ginia TO Her Sons at Gettysburc."
SEVEN FiGt RES SEEN
IN UNIQUE GROUP
me group Is one of the mos; UNIQUE
features o; the monument Instead OF
the conventional figures MIR. Siavcrs
mas enGeaNored to put action into his
Work, and while all three branches of
tne service are represented there is
more than suggestion OF warfare
IN the GROUP. y shattered cannon.
prokeh wheel, knapsack, swaD and hat
a.
scene OF fierce engagement Seven
heures comprise the group Two helms,
boys one buSlcr OF artillery and The
other. mounted, Standard bearer
holding the state flag of Virginia. The
other hcures suggest the farmer. pro-
feSslonal man and mechanic all com.
radeS III arms.
me group was completed first and
Tor three years Mr.. Sievers has worked
on General Lee and his horse. Twice
lie completed his task. but each time
was not pleased with il. and startnd
again. He has now completed IL ana
Judge George l. Christian. one of the
many who have carefully watched thu,
work in all its details. pronounced it
the finest representation Of General
Lee that he had ever seen
The sculptor worked the statue out
with the greatest care as 20 minute
details. Not satisfied with measure
ments OF actual garments worn BY Cen
cral Lee. nc had hat makers and tail
ors make duplicates from the originals.
The accoutrements are Identical and
while the horse is not the lannon's
Traveller, it is of the type known 10
the period which Mir. Sicvcrs has done
his best TO represent
SHOWS HEAD uNCOvERED
TO DISPLAY. FACE:
Students of history will perhaps
criticize the sabcr worn by General
Lee as being unlike that presented
him during the war. but as this tcs-
tmonal came after the battle of Get
tySburg. Mr.. Sicvcrs reproduced the
type of weapon used commonly dur
ing that period. AS Il matter OF fact,
Genera! Lee never wore Il sabc, in the
deld except at reviews or ceremonies.
nor did he wear "a sash which is omit
ted from the statue.
II had been intended bv Mr. Sicvcrs
to have General Lee wcarin" his hat
hut he found that il dctracted from
the strength Of the face. az viewed
from the angle to which II will be
subjected, and the right hand of the
figure is holding the hcadpicrc ut his
side. Field glasses hang over the
shoulder.
The process Of making Il plaster cast
from which the molds will then he
made, will start on Monday and when