Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-25
TO MAKE
JACKSON STATUE
Sculptor Who Created Gettys
burg Monument Awarded
New Commission.
MAY ORDER MINOR CHANGES
Committee Will Confer With
Artist To-Day on Final
Form of Memorial.

After having examined thirty-one
models. and four times submitted
tho design TO competition. the Stone
wall Jackson Monument ASsocia ton
yesterday afternoon accepted the
design for an equestrian statue to
the great Confederate chieftain, Of
fered by F. William Sievers. a sculptor
who has achieved national renown by
designing the equestrian statue Of
General Robert Z. Lee to be erected on
the battle field OF Gettysburg. Mr..
Sievers was informed of the succees OF
his endeavor by The Times Dispatch.
the news being later confirmed by a
member OF the association.
For moro than year sculptors from
Texas TO New York have been working
on designs for the greatest statue to
Stonewall Jackson in the South. but
always the committee discovered de-
fects in cha cteristic of man and
horse. There probably will be changes
in the model submitted by Mr.. Sievers
for members of the committee, rather
10 Nr. Sierers's disappointment, stated
that they would prefer to have the
horse show more spirit Mr.. Sievers
has both rider and horse in an atti-
,ude Of repose. departing from the idea,
prevailing largely in Europe and to
great extent in this country, that the
horse should always show action.
Mr.. Sievers has drawn his model upon
plain and simple lines. II shows Cen
eral Jackson astride his mount hat in
left hand. In the act of reviewing his
troops. He Is IN complete repose. and
his horse is standing on all fours It
is Il position. the sculptor says, which
will not weary The eye, and which al
ways will give to the beholder q sense
OF relief.
HEIGHT OF MONUMENT
is THIRTY-NINE FEET
Mr.. Sievers stated that he had pre-
pared a horse of perfect proportions.
somewhat after the type Of Planet" a
famous racing horse OF the days shortly
after the Confederacy. But the animal
in bronze will be higher stationed and
have shorter neck, showing charac-
teristics of the thoroughbred rather
than marked resemblance to the
Arabian steed. While the great COM
mander Is shown at case. there is
certain alertness about the head OF the
horse as II the smell OF battle were
in his nostrils and he were listening
for the bugle's call.
The pedesta! probably will be con-
structed OF Virginia granite, though
Mr.. Sievers was rather inclined to
Mount Airy stone because of the large
ness of it's blocks and smoothness OF
its grain. However, smaller pieces can
be so placed together as not to show
jointure. The height of the monument.
from bottom base TO riders head, will
be thirty nine feet The statue will
he sixteen feet from the horses foot
to the riders head. The bottom base
VIII he twenty by thirty-two feet.
The pedestal is plain and severe.
without decoration, except for the
bronze torches upon the fourth base,
symbolic of immortality. Mr.. Sievers
expressed his Willingness to make
whatever changes the committee de-
sired The changes probably will he
to make the pedestal of large design,
with perhaps little more decoration,
and to give the horse some display
OF action. Mr.. Sievers prefers, how
ever. that the horse remain on all fours.
departing from the French and Italian
idea, which generally shows the horse
in action or in the death scene.
WILL TAKE TWO YEARS
TO COMPLETE STATUE
Mr.. Sievers said that he would ask
for twenty months or two years in
which to complete the statue. All the
work. save the bronze casting, will be
done in his studio at Forest Hill, and
so will be under constant supervision
of the members OF the committee
When the committee on design met on
Wednesday afternoon week ago, the
competition had narrowed down to n
contest between Mr.. Sievers and F. c.
Potter, of Greenwich. Conn. 1t was
because OF the likeness Of the Sievers
design to General Jackson and because
of the proportions of the horse that
he was given the award. The fact that
Mr. Sievers had designed the equestrian
statue TO General Lee, which is 10 he
placed on the battle field of Gettysburs
also played a large part in the selec-
ton. This statue is now being east
in bronze in the Tiffany studios at
Corona. L. I. 1t is regarded by sculp-
tors and critics as great work of art.
Mr.. Sievers will hold conference
with Judge George L. Christian. chair
man of the committee. and Edwin r.
Cox to-day to draw up q contract and
to settle details as to changes the
commission desires
The statue will be erected at the
intersection Of Monument Avenue and
the Boulevard. 1t will be in line with
that historic row of silent figures
which the South has erected to the
greatest leaders Of the Confederacy.
1t VIII fill vacancy that has been re-
served for the man who was second
only TO Lee. year ago, during the
Confederate Reunion in Richmond. the
cornerstone for the monument was
laid and consecrated. former Attorney
General William A. Anderson deliver
Ing the address OF dedication. Toward
the monument fund the city Of Rich
mond contributed $4,000; the State
gave $4,000. and the remainder OF the
money was contributed from every
other State in the South.
The monument Will be n heritage. not
only to the people OF Virginia. but as
well to the people OF every State from
which soldier went TO fight In the
cause. 1t Will be greater
memorial, perhaps. than that statue
Continued on Second Page.)