Wake County, NC - George Washington Statue, 1822

The North Carolina statue of Washington has arrived at Raleigh and
been placed in the state-capitol. The Raleigh Register describes
it as follows:

"This beautiful specimen of the sculptural art received its first
lines and its last finish from Canova, Prince of Isehia. This
celebrated man has been compared to Praxiteles and Phidias, and
this statue and pedestal are said, by connoisseurs in the fine
arts, to be finished with a boldness of outline, and a delicacy
of taste, which rank them with the choicest specimens of antiquity.

The likeness is good, nor could it well be otherwise, for it was
copied from a bust in Gesso, taken from life by the celebrated
Caracci, when in this country. The figures on the four sides of 
the pedestal are the production of Troutanove, the favorite pupil
of Canova, and are in bassi relievi. They are formed and grouped
with the most exquisite taste, and commemorate the four greatest
events, civil and military, in the life of the illustrious man
they are intended to celebrate, viz:

1. The surrender of Cornwallis.
2. The resignation of Gen. Washington at the close of the War.
3. Represents the Hero, like Cincinnatus, holding the Plough,
   on his return to private life.
4. In the act of accepting the Presidency of the United States.

The Statue and Pedestal are of the whitest and purest marble. The
General is represented in a sitting posture, with a stylus in his
hand, writing his Farewell Address."

Raleigh Register - January 1822

[Antonio Canova November 1, 1757 - October 13, 1822]

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com
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