Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/178

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

158

��THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��Navy, to his Fellow-citizens." The pedestal is the richest in the hall, being a combination of four varieties of very rich colored marbles, by Struther, of Philadelphia. The design was by P. J. David, d'Angers, a French sculp- tor,* and was cast in Paris, " Par Honore Gouon, et ses deux fils." Though presented to the United States in 1S33, it was not accepted in form till 1874, and after a move from the Rotunda to the grounds in front of the White House, found place here through a suggestion of Charles Sum- ner.

The Father of his Country as yet is presented in our Valhalla only in stain- ed and marred plaster, a copy of Houdon's life-size statue at Richmond, Va., made by Hubbard, and does not im- press us as a great work, though the original should be, since Houdon, who came to America in 1 785 with Franklin, spent some weeks at Mt. Vernon in study. Visitors think the head small [we want him to look the most God- like], and it is rather thrown upward, nose in the air, and too old. The right hand leans on the cane with cord and tassels, though held rather slant- ing ; the left rests on a bundle of lictor's rods, on which are thrown cloak and sword. The guide books say "in civic attire," which differs little, as these are flat epaulets and top-boots with spurs. The left limb is advanced, and the handles of a small rude plow are seen, that extend back. The high base bears the well-known inscription in black lettering.

Next, like a young son from a state the Father never dreamed of, is the statue of Col. E. D. Baker, senator from Illinois and Oregon, whose clarion voice that was inspiration to the Califor- nia regiment he commanded, was forever hushed beneath the pine tree on Ball's Bluff, October 22, 1861. It is the pose of the orator ; the closed roll in the left hand sloping down ; as do the

  • Piere Jean David, of Angers, often called

" The Republican Sculptor of France," who had designed forty-six large, and many more small, statues, was honored by a memorial statue unveil- ed in his birth place October ->4, 1SH0.

��fingers of the right arm held some- what advanced in graceful gesture in front of the chest ; the left foot ad- vanced, the other resting on the toes. It is a pleasing genial face, full high forehead, double chin, hair over the ears, but the round head is slightly bald on top. The costume is modern, the corners of the collar turn a little over the knotted neck-tie ; linen bosom in folds ; coat buttoned, pantaloons and boots. A cloak, one had said Roman toga, but for a scrap of collar visible behind the right shoulder, a portion drawn up and pendent over the left arm, is hoisted below the right elbow across the form so closely as to lose grace, to the heel of the left boot. The soft felt hat with wide brim, tassels and cord, and rich ostrich feather fall- ing behind, lies on a large book, and the sword on the pedestal — the face bearing the name "Baker." This was the last work of Dr. Horatio Stone, who died in Italy in 1875. Col. Edward D. Baker was of English origin, brought to America when a boy, and working with his father at weaving, secured an honorable self education ; was an effective orator and greatly beloved.

Two years ago Maine unveiled her statue of King. Franklin Simmons, fecit, 1877. A large frame, the left arm with hand poised on the hip, wholly concealed under the vast cloak, draw- ing it somewhat aside, the other show- ing part of the coat-cuff, and the inch wide full fi ills at wrists (as also on bosom) draws it together, the hand clasping to the breast a scroll slightly unrolled. The high retreating fore- head beetles over the full eyes deep set. The large nose is the prominent feature of the grave face. The hair is uppiled in a point on top, and clipped close about the ears and back of the well- formed head. The first thought was that the subject lived too late for wear of breeches ; but they still obtain, and high boots cut down in a point in front, with a tassel pendent and much bewrinkled at the instep. The cloak, with square collar, buttons and loops

�� �