New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-26
cart World" Renews Fight
on Statue for Paris
and London
Editor Denies Jealousy
Critics Decry Emphasis on
Martyrs Dress and Lack of
Expression of Nobility

The forthcoming issue Of "The Art
World" will contain a protest against
the gift Of reproductions Of the George
Grey Barnard statue Of Lincoln to
London and Paris, signed by a number
OF persons well known in American art
and letters.
For some time "The Art World" and
it's editor, F. Wellington Ruckstuhl,
himself the sculptor of a Lincoln
statue, have waged war against Mr..
Barnard and his supporters. These
have held that since the citizens Of
London and Paris have already &C
cepted the gift Of the statue, there is
no use arguing further on the matter.
They have also charged that Mr.. Ruck-
stuhl's opposition to the Barnard statue
is inspired by jealousy.
Denies Any Jealousy
This accusation is denied by the
editor Of "The Art World" in his forth
coming issue. In it he will reproduce
W. r. Travers's portrait Of Lincoln
from life, which he hopes "will show
Lincoln really loved elegance in dress
The following is the protest printed
in "The Art World and signed by
prominent artists and literary men Of
the United States:
"The undersigned, hearing Of the pro-
posed presentation 10 the cities Of Lon
D. - Al Zoo : he sns -.
Of Lincoln by Mr.. George Grey Barnard
recently unveiled in Cincinnati, feel it
their duty 10 make public protest
against the erection in q foreign coun-
try of a representation of the Great
Emancipator so false, so inadequate and
80 unworthy.
Should Emphasize Soul
"The idea of the sculptor would
seem TO be that the greatness of Lin
coin is to be measured by the incon-
gruities suggested between what he
accomplished and what this statue
represents him TO have been. Even
II the physical facts about Lincoln
were here truthfully given Gas the tes-
timony OF contemporaries prove that
they are not), IL is not these facts but
Lincoln's greatness of soul upon which
permanent attention should be CEN
tired: not upon his falsely assumed un-
couthness and slovenliness. but upon
his nobility. his wisdom. his intellect
ual power, his steadfastness. his
brooding love Of country and his ten
der heart OF these. unfortunately,
Mr.. Barnard's statue has no hint.
1--WE regard il as a failure to repre-
sent one Of the most salient and well
4. a
Americans, and we should consider its
erection in London or Paris as an in
ternational calamity. From the com
ments we have heard we believe that
we represent not only the best artistic
Judgment but the sOundest sentiment
Of the American people.
Want Official Approval
at is of the first Importance for the
honor and credit of the country that
no gift 10 another nation of public
statue of a President of the United
States, virtually in the name of the
American people, should be made with
out the approval Of the National Com
mission of Fine Arts, which Is ap-
pointed by the President under au-
thority of Congress and which holds
its sittings in Washington
The signers are John Wolcott Adams
Paul w. Bartlett, Reginald Birch. Ar
mold w. Drummer. Clarence Clough
Buel, Howard Russell Butler, Timothy
Cole, Kenyon Cox, Henry Golden
Dearth, Charles de Kay. John Hem
ming Fry. Cass Gilbert, Childe Has
sam. Richard II. Hunt, Ellwood Hen
drick. Robert Underwood Johnson,
Charles r. Lamb, Henry Cabot Lodge
William Rutherford Meade, Professor
Walter S. Perry. Francis Rogers, f.
Wellington Ruckstuhl, William Sar-
tain. Robert V. V. Sewell. Edward Sim
mons, William T. smedley. Albert
Steiner, George II. Story, William ROs-
zoe Thayer, Augustus Thomas. I. de
Thulstrup, W. B. Van lngen and j.
Alhen Mnir