EFFIGIES AND MONUMENTS IN PARKS 



donors come to appreciate that they are privileged to complete a park 

 design in presenting a statue rather than to take it for granted that 

 some park design will be conveniently revamped to make place for 

 such statues as they desire to present. 



SITE TO FORETELL AND IDENTIFY STATUES 



A well-regulated park will indicate, even to an unsophisticated 

 observer, whether or not statues were intended in the original con- 

 ception ; and it will usually be found that statues or monuments when 

 called for are for purposes of accenting axial points of the design 

 rather than for mere ornamentation of the park. A monument should 

 appear inseparable from its site. The criticism was made in Congress 

 at the time the site was being selected for the Lincoln ^lemorial that 

 the advocates of the proposed location in Potomac Park did not care 

 whether the proposed Memorial should be dedicated to Abraham 

 Lincoln or to Buffalo Bill, just so long as a two-million-dollar Greek 

 Temple should be erected in the exact spot where the design called for 

 such a structure. The criticism appeared to be well founded in the 

 sense that the design did call for just such an architectural expression 

 as the Lincoln jMemorial promised to provide, and the INIall scheme 

 would never reach completion until some rare structure emphasised 

 the site indicated on the main axis of the design. In a larger sense, 

 however, the design had reserved and set apart this i^lace of honour for 

 just such a great man as Lincoln, and the site would not have been 

 recommended and urged so loyally unless it were to be dedicated to a 

 national figure worthy to take, in company with Washington, such 

 place of honour. 



It is a question Avhether site is greater than statue. In actual 

 experience it is found that sites, determined in advance, impose con- 

 ditions upon the sculptor and influence to great extent the form and 

 design of statue to be placed there. Is it not reasonable to suppose 

 then that if statues are governed by site that sites should be selected 



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