Evening Star Newspaper, October 12, 1930, Page 96

10 Columbus Lhe Story of the Great Discoverer Is Told in Memorable Works in Marble, Bronze and on Canvas. BY MYRTA ETHEL CAWOOD. HE main events in the life of Christo- pher Columbus are depicted in sculp- ture and paintings in the United States Capitol. Each October 12, upon the anniversary of the discovery of the New World, the American people manifest anew their interest in the life of the fearless admiral’ who Jed his band of 88 adventurers across an uncharted sea to find a new land. Before entering the Capitol millions of tourists and cightseers from all over the world have paused on the east steps of the building to view the Discovery Group—the Columbus Statue. A few feet from this marble statue one passes through the magnificent portal known as the Columbus door, which leads into the rotunda of the Capitol. This door, sometimes called the Rogers door and the Wishing door, is the most elaborate door in the Capitol and it is said to be the most celebrated bronze door on any public building in the world. It depicts in alto relievo historical events in the life of Columbus. Inside the rotunda hangs Vanderlyn’s famous picture, “The Landing of Columbus,” and on thie wall of the gallery floor of the Senate lobbby we find Heaton’s inspired painting, “The Recall of Columbus,” which shows the downhearted explorer receiving the letter of reconsideration from Queen Isabella. .Americans may well be proud of the fact that three of these memorable works of art were executed by native artists—Vanderlyn, Rogers and Heaton. The fourth artist, Persico, was an Italian. Fnou & careful study of the history of the early art of the United States Capitol it appears that the struggling Nation could not afford to squander money for art works. The necessities had to be provided first. Such appro- priations as were made for art dealt with sub- jects closely related to the history of the Republic and not to allegory or mythology. Naturally, then, Columbus, the discoverer of America, ‘'was among the first to be com- memorated in art in the Capitol. We shall consider these commemorations not with reference to their relative importance, but THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, OCTOBER .12, 1o% in Art 1n the U. S. Capitol “The Landing of Columbus,” by John Vanderlyn. This picture was engraved on the back of national bank currency of fives in the order in which the visitor approaches them from the main entrance of the Capitol. The first is the Discovery Group, which is just outside the building on the southern block- ing of the entrance portico. The Columbus of this huge marble statue is holding aloft a ball, which represents the globe. By his side cowers an Indian girl awed by the sight of the white man. The head of Columbus was modeled from an original- bust of the explorer found in an art museum in Spain. The armor is copied from the suit the dauntless admiral wore when he discovered America. But, despite these authentic Mkenesses, this statue is not univer- sally popular. ‘It is stiff and lacking in the inspired imaginative treatment worthy of the historical significance of the subject. The Discovery Group was executed in Spain by Luigi Persico and was placed in its present position about 1844. A later Congress became dissatisfied with the statue, which had ecost $25,000, and in 1850 there was talk of removing it to a less conspicuous site, but nothing was ever done about it. The sculptor was born in Naples, Italy. He came to Washington about 1825, after his genius had been recognized by Rembrandt Peale. The statues of Peace and War on the east portico of the Capitol are also works of this sculptor. dollar denomination, series of 1875. return to Washington on her honeymoon, and the young man may become a Congressman, or President, who knows? He might as well wish big while he js at it! But alas! for those of us whose short fingers cannot span the specified area, Every year thousands of tourists, and per- haps others, practicing this bit of hocus keep the magic spots on the wishing panel shining brightly by their constant fingering. The figures and scenes on the door are those of the characters and events relating to the life of Columbus and his historic voyage of dis- covery. On.the key of the arch, in the center of the casing, is the head of the famous ex- plorer. In niches on the sides of the casing are four statuettes representing the contin- ents—Asia and Africa at the top and Europe and America at the bottom. The rest of the casing is embellished with a border of ancient armor, banners and heraldic design. On the bottom on either side is an anchor, emblematic of navigation and conquest. On the frame of each leaf of the door are 16 statuettes of the patrons and contempo- raries of Columbus. They are Alexander VI, Pope of Rome in 1492; Pedro Gonzales de Mendoza, grand cardinal of Spain and a friend The Discovery Group. of Columbus; Ferdinand, King of The next commemoration of Columbus is in the - colossal bronze door leading into Uncle Sam’s great public reception room, the ro- tunda. The door, which is 19 feet high and 9 feet wide, is divided into two leaves, each of which is composed of four panels picturing scenes in the life of Columbus. The outside of each leaf is adorned with a single star. Above the leaves is a lunette-shaped transom, which shows Columbus landing on San Salvador. This massive bronze door weighs approximately 20,000 pounds, or 10 tons, and it cost the Government $28,000. 'l‘HE Columbus door—the most famous in America—compares favorably with the world - renowned Florentine ° bronze doors. There are three of these doors in the Church of the Baptistry of St. John in Florence, Italy, the most celebrated of which is the center door completed about 1430. Its panels illustrate scenes of the Old Testament. Lorenzo Ghiberti, the artist, worked on this door almost 30 years. Michelangelo once said it was worthy to be the portal of paradise. A cast of Ghiberti’s celebrated Florentine doors is in the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, where it presents an interesting study when com- pared with the Columbus doors of America. The Florentine doors are almost 500 years old and larger than the Rogers doors, and they are, as previously stated, in a sacred edifice. The Columbus doors, however, are so delicately wrought and finely executed that they bear the distinction of being the greatest bronze doors on any public building in the world. In 1862 this artistic creation was placed in the passageway of the old Hall of Representa- tives, now Statuary Hall, but in 1871 Congress decided to remove it to a more prominent location. Its present position was chosen and the Rogers door nmow properly constitutes the main portal from the grand portico into the rotufida. The most popular panel of the Rogers door The Rogers doors. Spain; Isabella, Queen of Spain; Charles VIII, King of France, who was interested in discovery; Lady Beatriz de Bobadilla, a friend of Colum- bus (the face of this statue is said to be the likeness of Mrs. Rogers, the wife of the sculp= tor); John 1I, King of Portugal, who rejected the theories of Columbus; Henry VIII, King of England, appealed to by Bartholomew Colum- bus on behalf of his brother. Meanwhile America was discovered under the auspices of . Spain. ¥ UAN PEREZ DE MARCHENA, prior of the convent La Rafildn, a friend of Columbus and at one time father confessor to Queen Isabella; Martin Alonzo Pinzon, commander of the Pinta; Hermando Cortez, early companion of Columbus, later conqueror of Mexico; Bar- tholomew Columbus, brother of the explorer (the facial likeness is that of the sculptor); Alonzo de Ojeda, a daring explorer on the first voyage of Columbus; Vasco Nunez de Balboa, discoverer of the Pacific Ocean; Amerigo Ves- pucci, author of the first account of the New World and for whom the continent was named, and Francisco Pizarro, conqueror of Peru. The nine panels illustrate, in high relief, the leading events in the life of Columbus himself, They are, reading up and down the two leaves of the door: 1. Columbus being questioned before the Council of Salamanca respecting his theory of the globe, which was rejected. 2. Departure of Columbus for the Spanish Continued on Twenty-first Pror-