The Washington times., 1921-10-23

called, in a way. a National Portrait
Gallery like the National Portrait
Gallery Of London, II we had not
already the beginnings Of a Ma
tional Portrait Gallery under the
Smithsonian Institution, and then,
too. OF course. q National Portrait
Gallery must include not merely
statesmen but other great historic
and literary characters.
Every one knows Of Winnie Ream
Hoxie-how a. a young woman who
had been in Government service she
became a sculptor and made the life
size marble statue of Lincoln now
in the rotunda. Winnie Ream came
to Washington from the West, like
many other girls in office, to help
support her parents. BY accident.
her talent for art was revealed to
her as she was watching Clark Mills.
the American sculptor modelling his
clay.
WAS INSPIRED.
BY LINCOLN.
II could do thatr she exclaimed.
He gave her handful Of clay, and
she convinced him that she could
manage it, 80 much so that he al
lowed her to take some clay home
with her.. and she modelled it half
the night. Nothing would do now
but she must study art seriously, 50
while continuing in office she ar
ranged for regular work in the after
moons with Clark Mills. who was
just then engaged upon one Of his
famous equestrians, either the AN
drew jackson" OF Lafayette Square
or the Washington Statue" In
Washington Circle, Pennsylvania
avenue.
Winnie Ream wanted to make a
bust Of Lincoln, the ambition of
almost every artist. to portray the
greatest man Of his time. One day
she made a sketch of Lincoln after
having seen him upon the street.
This was shown to the President by
Major Rollins. who after a time in
duced Lincoln to give her sittings,
which were continued for five
months, the last being on the very
afternoon preceding the assassina-
ton.
hy,S HA hSA A~
sidered so good a likeness that when
Congress appropriated $4,000 for a
Statue Of Lincoln to be placed in
the Capitol, Winnie Ream competed
with other sculptors, and won the
commission. II was not until four
years later. however, that her model
was completed, when she received
the first $1,000. Then she went
abroad with her parents, to superin-
tend the cutting Of the marble, and
also for further art study.
She remained two years, and on
her return her Lincoln statue was
accepted by Congress and an addi-
tional $1,000 was voted her. Much
more might be told Of Winnie Ream,
but her romantic career as an art
list was cut rather short by her mar
riage to Lieutenant Hoxie. A me-
mortal to her Is now In preparation
by the League Of American Pen
Women.
Winnie Ream's marble figure of
Lincoln in the Capitol, is considered
especially to show grace and sim
plicity. A strong and llfe-like figure
not too imaginative. perhaps. II
IA thought to be at least worthy
presentation OF the great President
and the period. 1t is regarded real
ly remarkable work for a young
woman to have achieved in those
days, days when there was so often
in all the arts a sickish sentimental
ism. as evinced by the morbid car
toons already mentioned. But IL
there any sentimentalism in this
houghtful Lincoln figure7 Ia IL
not rather a piece OF true and simple.
early American art, untouched by
European influence7
Contrast Winnie Rcam's "sappho-