Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-21
BARNARD STATUE
REVIEWS DISPUTE
Rejection of Sculptor's Lincoln
for Westminster Revives Con-
trOversy

The rejection of the George Grey Barnard
statue of Abraham Lincoln. to be installed at
Westminster, London, and the acceptance OF
a Lincoln statue by. Augustus 81. Gaudens
has rekindled an old controversy in PhiladeI-
phla art circles.
Whether the st. Gaudens statue of Lincoln
Is a truer and nobler conception of the great
President than thnt executed by Barnard ia
n question that disrupted art circles two
years ago. Both statues have been offered
10 the British Government and both in turn
have been accepted.
TO determine the controversy a commission
was appointed to make a selection. The st.
. Gaudens statue was accepted and tho
Barnard statue will be offered to some other
British city.
Cabs II Libel on Lincoln
a city that would accept Barnard's status
OF Lincoln is certainly hard up for statu-
ary,D said Joseph Pennell, the stormy petrol
or Philadelphia art circles, this afternoon.
MI Pennell, voicng the opinions of other
critics of Barnard's work, characterized IL as
a disgrace to America and a libel on Lin
Coln.' He said.
Art circles throughout America will re-
Jolce to learn that the Barnard molstroslty
mas been rejected. 1t was a horrible piece
OF work and unworthy Of a position OF
honor in London or in fact any other city"
Mr.. Barnard, at his New York studio, re-
fused this afternoon to accept the verdict
as transmitted in press dispatches from Lon
don, and maintained that he had not received
any official communication from London to
cease work. only two weeks ago." said
the artist, 81 talked with John Stuart. who
represents the American commission in charge
of the matter. and he assured me my statue
would be put up.
He even said that arrangements were
being made to ship It across the ocean and
asked ne TO take charge of a few details.
| think that my enemies are again trying
to revive the old controversy"
Morris Disappointed
Harrison S. Morris, art critic and former
director of the Pennsylvania Academy of
the Fine Arts, when informed the Barnard
statue had been rejected by the American
commission, expressed surprise and disap-
pointment. He said:
The Barnard statue is a legitimate rem
dition of Lincoln the man. and ought to be
placed IN London. Augustus st. Gaudens's
statue of Lincoln is a noble piece of art, but
can see no reason why it should be given
higher rank than the work of George Barn
ard.
George Barnard is a great sculptor and
an honor to America. 1t is unfortunate that
members of his own profession should criticize
him so severely. He made an intimate study
OF Lincoln, and his conception of the man
as expressed in the statue reflects credit upon
him. f
He endeavored to disclose the real Lin
coin and his work does not discredit the
great American. That statue should be placed
IN LONDON. In fact, L am in favor of placing
both statues In that city, but believe it is
wrong to reject Barnard's great work"
Two Years Controversy /.
For nearly two years a controversy among
art criticS concerning the merits of the
two statues has been waged, and despite the
action of the American commission in its
ended, it is believed.
BY taking this action the commission JUS
titles the attitude Of the original COMMITTEES
that accepted the st. Gaudens statue several
years previously in behalf of the British
Government.
In 1913 a British delegation visited the
United States to make arrangements for
the celebration of 100 years of peace between
English-speaking peoples. At that time the
American committee for the celebration Of
fered to the British committee a replica of
the st. Gaudens Lincoln statue in Chicago.
The gift was accepted and the British Cow
eminent granted a splendid site for the mon
ument in the Canning Enclosure.
The war interfered with the carrying out
or this program, so the offer of st. Gaudens's
statue did not materialize. In the summer
OF 1917 the project was revived by Charles
?. Taft, brother of former President Taft,
when he offered a replica of the Lincoln statue
by Barnard.
This offer was accepted and the site
chosen for st. Gauden's statue assigned TO
ii. This action created a storm of protest,
for scores of art critics and historians who
had known Lincoln in real life characterised
the statue as a scandal to America
Studied Abroad
Mr.. Barnard, central figure in the con-
troversy, was born at Bellefonte. Pa, in 1868,
and after a years study in Chicago went
abroad. After four years in the ,Ecole Ma
tionale des Beaux Arts he returned to this
country in 1887. Among his most notable
works is his group Of figures at the State
capital in Harrisburg: The God Pam In
IantpaI Darl Nan. vnplr .U1s,,,n Ar..... - a..
the Metropolitan Museum at New York La
Dor and Rest" and Love and Labor"
USED BELCIANS AS SHIELDS