Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-18
HIGH PRAISE 70 R
SCULPTOR FRYE's WORK
representatives of University of
Vermont Accept Statue of
Ira Allen Which Will Probably
BE Dedicated During Com.
mencement Week Next June


The most interesting feature of last
rouIloers Day MAY ~ at the Uni
Versity of Vermont was the announce
ment that James q. Wilbur of Man
chester. generous friend of the insti-
tuition and genuine lover of the good
.nings or art, had promised to the col
iese campus statue Of General Ira
Aien' The figure now stands in CLAW
IN the New York studio Of It's sculptor.
onerry Frye, waiting to be cast in dark
bronze ~
PROFESSOR Frederick Upper of the
bngiish department at the University
ana waiter II. Crockett editor of Uni
Versity publications. have just return
Gu from New York. where they in.
specteo the completed work of the
sculptor. gave 1t their approval and
accepted IL In behalf of the JrnIvers
ity. The work of casting the figure IN
bronze VIII begin at once. II is an
nounced that the dedication of the sta
Tue OF Ira Allen will take place, prob
"piy' curing Commencement Week in
i'@l instead of on Founders Day az
nau first been planned. The change in
tne pans was made in order that more
OF the alumni may be present at the
dedlcation than are ordinarily here IN
Founders Day
Both Mr. Crockett and Professor Tup-
, per are unsparing in thei~ praise of the
erect which the sculpto. has attained
II, tne completed figure. In speaking
Vi inns Hgure Professor Upper says:
In its creation the artist has been
greatly aided by the Universities ex.
quisite miniature of the General done
ny an unknown hand of the last decade
or the eighteenth century, yet deemed
ny experts better than most of the best
WORK or the famous painters on ivory
or the period, Malbone, Stuart and
others.
The first impression that the an
preciative visitor receives from tho
statue is of large simplicity. How the
sculptor must have labored to make his
composition so simple! The garb is that
OF Puritan rather than of cavalier--no
lace or ruffles. no frilled jabot no
uaholfled perruque, indeed no vestige
Oh adornment; but colonial clothes of
quiet patterns-coat and knee breeches
or straight lines, at the neck a stock
plainly tied. on the legs ribbed stock-
ihgs OF homespun wool and buckled
SHOES stout enough to walk the woods.
In place OF the miniatures decorous
grey tie-wig, full wav.' hair is brush
ca PACK from wide brow From the
shoulders cloak or long cape of mill
itary cut falls In few folds to far be-
low the knees, providing a background
to the stately limbs and thus prevent
ing legginess- that bane Of stand
ing figure. Nowhere Is any Iavishing
Of detail that will mar the effect of
oneness The sculptor has seen his man
clearly and has seen him whole-a
rod ,.t ne
high thinking.
Yet in this image. built on the
noblest colonial plan. there is no rug
gedness or inflexibility, but eyerv
where grace and gentleness. The poise
is of diguified ease-not trace Of
stiffness-right hand resting on hin
and left hand falling to side; the BODY
straight and strong, without stout
ness. and well supported by it's legs as
of ore who moved easily among his fell
lows The position is that of restful-
ness without s. oldity, and suggests n
man In the very prime Of his physical
and mental power-and rightly so for
Ira Allen achieved great things in his
twenties and thirties and was barely
forty when he founded the University
of Vermont
THE face is that of thinker but
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