The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-19

STYLES in statues OF generals on
horseback are changing. The first
equestrian statue erected in this
city represented Andrew Jackson
precariously balanced on rearing
charger, but waving his hat brave
~. The statue of Grant which is
to be unveiled on his birthday,
April 81, shows the general mount
ed on a solid, dependable steed. and
both horse and rider appear to be
buried in thought
1t is true that Jackson and Grant
were as different temperamental-
ly as their statues would indicate.
Nevertheless. the rearing steed is
as passe in portrait statues as the
bunch of paper roses is in art pho
tographs.
Washington was the first city in
the United States to honor a mill
tary hero by an equestrian statue,
and its first attempt, the Jackson
monument, has never been sur
passed as a source of amusement
and interest to the public. In its
day, presumably, it was thought a
fine piece of work, and Washing
ton was doubtless proud of its dis
tinction in owning the only dash
ing bronze hero on horseback in
the country.
But as people saw more of eques-
trian statues they began to make
fun of the snorting steed perpetual
ly paving the air. They still re-
call the story that the sculptor.
Clark Mills, had never seen an
equestrian statue when he was
asked to undertake the commission
and they remark unfeelingly that
he had a strong imagination.
AS a matter of fact, the sculptor
knew a good deal about the anat-
omy and muscular action of a
horse. He said that the horse in
his statue was modelled directly
from nature, as he had taught his
equine model to rear and remain
in that position for some time.
He considered, Furthermore, that
he had accomplished something
when he balanced the bronze sta
tue so that the horse stood without
any supporting bars such as are
usually necessary in statues of ami
mails when the fore legs are raised
ly by making the hind legs of the
horse and the long tail of solid
metal.
Second Horse Tanner.
Mills work was liked sufficient
ly for him to be given the next
commission for a mounted figure
for the Capitol. This was to be a
statue of Washington. Mills sec
ond horse had it's feet more closely
related to the earth, and it escaped
the violent criticism 1eveled at the
Jackson mount.
This sculptor had definite ideas
Of the value of action in an eques-
trian statue. Washington is sup
posed to be approaching the enc
my lines at the Battle of Princeton
and the horse has gone as far as
its courage will stand. Frightened
by the balls crashing about it, the
steed has drawn back. Washington
however, sits calm and dignified as
usual, commander of the situation.
Since these two intense looking
heroes were set up in the city S
quiet parks, IL more generals have
been detailed to command other po-
sitions about the capital.
OF them all, General Thomas, at
Thomas Circle, is most widely ad-
mired, as a work of art. The horse
in this statue has just been paused
and the general is looking out on
some scene. Both action and re-
pose are in the figures, and the
statue is mounted on a sufficiently
high pedestal so that it shows up
to advantage for a considerable
distance. People who jokingly
comment that Jackson must be
tired of hanging on his trick horse
for more than half a century look
with approval at Thomas on his
alert. well poised mount, silhouett-
ed in clean outline against the sky
Of the Is equestrian statues in
Washington, only one figure is not
an American general. The excep-
ton is Joan of Arc.
Washington is d good place to
observe the trend in equestrian
sculpture because it is said to have
more statues of this type than any
other city in the country. Up-to-
date figures for cities and coun-
tries are not available. Back in
1918, the American Scenic and His
toric Preservation society attempt
ed to find out how many men and
women were honored by equestrian
statues. There had been a popular