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Canova's Statue of Washington / F 264 Rl C7 r„ ^ PUBLICATIONS Copy 1 1^- OF THE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL COMMISSION BULLETIN No. 8 CANOVA'S STATUE OF WASHINGTON 1910 Nlonosraph cphoa ol (.a„uvu« MatiK- of Wa.sliington, presented to the North Carolina Historical Commission by the Italian Government, 1909, now in the State Capitol of North Carolina. From the original in the Canova Museum, Possagno, Italy. CANOVA'S STATUE OF WASHINGTON BY R. D. W. CONNOR Secretary of the North Carohna Historical Commission 1910 tAsY\ ^t^G 19 1910 ^r The North Carolina Historical Commission J. Bryan Grimes, Chairman Raleigh W. J. Peele, Raleigh M. C. S. Noble, Chapel Hill D. H. Hill, Raleigh Thomas W. Blount, Roper R. D. W. Connor, Secretary Raleigh CANOVA'S STATUE OF WASHINGTON INTRODUCTION Probably no work of art ever excited a more general interest in the United States than Canova's statue of Wash- ington. The time at which it was ordered, the scarcity of such works of art in the United States, the fame of the sculptor, the manner in which the statue was brought to this country, the eminent names associated with its history, and its tragic fate, all combined with the love and veneration felt for the memory of Washington to attract to it the attention of the jSTation and to make its erection a national event. The recent liberality of the Italian Government in present- ing a replica of the plaster cast to the State of ISTorth Caro- lina has added another interesting incident to its history. The statue was ordered just after the close of our second war with England, in which the young ISTation had asserted its dignity and vindicated its claim to the respect and con- sideration of the world. Men spoke of the contest as our "Second War for Independence," and its victories recalled the glories of the Kevolution. At the Fourth of July ban- quet in Ealeigh, in 1815, the following were among the toasts offered: "The Army of the United States:—The achievements of our soldiery against the veterans of Europe during the late contest, have confirm,ed that character for skill and bravery which we acquired in the Revolutionary War." "The Day We Celebrate:—May Americans ever cherish the political principles of '76." "The Warriors and Patriots of the Revolution:—Men whom their country delights to honor." As memories of the Revolution were revived, the central figure of that struggle loomed up with more than its usual ; 6 North Carolina Historical Commission. greatness. Somehow or other it seemed that as the genius of Washing-ton had established independence, so his spirit had guided the Nation through its struggle to maintain it. "The Memory of—Washington" (thus ran the toast at the Raleigh banquet) : "Though every struggle we are called upon to make for the maintenance of our Independence will raise up distinguished Heroes and Statesmen, Washington will still remain first in the hearts of the American people." While this feeling was at its height, the General Assembly of North Carolina met in annual session. On the 16th of December, 1815, the House of Commons, and four days later the Senate, unanimously adopted a resolution instructing the Governor "to purchase on behalf of this State a full length statue of General Washington." As there was no limitation of price or action placed on him, the Governor determined to execute the commission in the most liberal spirit. At his request the State's senators in Congress, Messrs. Turner and Macon, undertook to ascertain whether a statue "worthy the character it is to represent, and the State which erects it," could be made in the United States and if not, what would be the cost of getting one from Italy, Some of the most eminent men in the country became interested in the work. William Thornton and Benjamin H. Latrobe, architects of the National Capitol, declared that the statue could be executed in the United States as well as anywhere, and recommended a French sculptor named Vala- perti ; but Joseph Hopkinson and Thomas Jefferson were of opinion that no sculptor in the United States would offer himself as competent to do the work. Both urged that Canova be employed. Accordingly to Canova Governor Miller decided to apply. In determining what style should be adopted and what model should be followed, the opinion of Jefferson, in favor of the Roman, prevailed. Acting again on Jefferson's advice, Gov- ernor Miller sought the services of Thomas Appleton, Ameri- can Consul at Leghorn, in the negotiations with Canova. Canova's Statue of Washington. 7 His instructions were that the style should be Roman, the size somewhat larger than life, the price to Canova $10,000. the attitude to be left to the artist. Delighted at receiving the commission, Appleton hastened to approach the sculptor, from whom he received a favorable reply. As it was intended that the statue should be placed in the hall of the State Senate, which was only sixteen feet in height, Appleton was of opinion that the statue should be in a sitting attitude. This was also Canova's opinion, and he was permitted to have his way. Cerrachi's bust was sent to him as the model for the head, but for the figure the sculptor was left to follow his own imagination. He pushed the work as rapidly as possible and completed it in the spring of 1821. Upon being advised that it was ready for shipment the Governor of JS^orth Carolina applied to the Secretary of the Navy for permission to have it brought to the United States in a war vessel. This request was readily granted and the necessary orders promptly issued. Accordingly, Commo- dore William Bainbridge, commanding the United States Ship Columbus, in a letter written May 19, 1821, from Gibraltar Bay, informed the Governor of North Carolina that he had the statue on board and would sail within ten days with it for the United States. The Columbus with her cargo arrived at Boston July 22, and thence the statue was shipped by a coasting vessel to Wilmington, N. C. From Wilmington a river boat conveyed it up the Cape Uear River to Fayette- ville, whence it was brought overland to Raleigh. It reached Raleigh December 24, 1821, and with elaborate ceremonies was set up in the rotunda of the State House. Perhaps the most interesting event in its brief history was the visit which La Fayette paid to it in March, 1825. "This was indeed an interesting scene," wrote an eye witness, "and we were fortunately so situated that we heard the inquiries and remarks, and witnessed the feelings which it [the statue] elicited. We were gratified to hear the General observe that the likeness was much better than he expected to see. He : 8 North Carolina Historical Commission. seemed deeply interested in examining the historical designs on the pedestal, and expressed his approbation of the ex- "^ quisite workmanship of the whole. The statue had but a brief existence. In the early morn- ing of June 21, 1831, the citizens of Raleigh were alarmed by the cry of fire and in a few minutes every person in the village knew that the State House was in flames. The struc- ture was soon a heap of ashes. With it was destroyed the statue of Washington, ''that proud monument of national gratitude, which," declared the Ealeigh Begister, '"was our pride and glory." The destruction of the statue was bemoaned throughout ISTorth Carolina, and was the cause of much disgust in other 1 In the life of William Winston Seaton, Mrs. Seaton, writing from Washington City, to her mother, Mrs. Gales, at Raleigh, says "We had a most kind note from LaFayette, proposing to spend half an hour with us, during the last day of his stay here. The half-hour passed qviickly in the most interesting conversation, and he protracted the visit until the hour had also fled. He spoke to me much of North Carolina, of your kind hospitality to him, of Washington's Statue b.y Canova, which he saj's is a splendid monument of the Sculptor's genius, but is the most inexcusable action of his life, as he sinned both against light and knowledge in making it as much like me as the great Wash- ington. But mum to the Raleighites." Pp. 121-122. George Bancroft, who visited LaFayette in 1821, made the follow^ing entry in his Diary: "May 30 [1821]. General la Fayette had encouraged me to come to see him. I went to his house today, and was sliown into his parlour. Four engravings hang on its walls. The Rights of man and of the citi- zen, as decreed by the 'Assembl6e Constituante,' and accepted by King Louis XVI, surrounded by appropriate devices are hung on one side of the door. A similar copy of the constitution of the United States is on the other side; at the top of it is the likeness of Washington. The third Engraving is that of the French frigate, which when beaten by the English chose rather to go down, than surrender; the moment chosen is that, when the French are about to be swallowed up by the waves, and in the enthusiasm of liberty exclaim, vive la liberte, vive la R6publique. The last Engraving is one taken from the statue lately made of Washington by Canova. This hangs in the most conspicuous part of the room, and attracts the eye at once on entering. These are worthy ornaments for the chamber of a distinguished partisan of lib- erty.
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