THE STATUE OF CAPTAIN COOK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2990, 14 September 1878, Page 4

THE STATUE OF CAPTAIN COOK.

The fine colossal bronze statue of, Captain Cook, which is now placed in the large open space, between the United Service Club and the Athenteuni, is a monumeht of so much importance as a work of art, and high. interest as the tribute to his memory from a young English nation, whose future land and home he first discovered, that it is in every way worthy of the fullest recognition. As we look upon this noble and commanding, figure of a sailor hero, who fell not as Nelson did with ail the glory of a conqueror in a great battle,, but under the barbarous weapons of savages as a' cdnqueror of science and civilisation, -it is to feel ashamed that the honor is not-done by us and regret that the monument is not to remain with us. The only part we can claim in it is its being the work of an eminent English sculptor, Mr Woolner, U.A., and we may enjoy the satisfaction of feeling that it is a monument worthy the fame of the great voyager, the Columbus of his age, and worthy also to inspire the love and admiration of art among the people of Australia. It redounds to the honor of Sydney that for full forty years its citizens have entertained the wish to have a statue of 1 Captain Cook, and at length as tbe.public, subscriptions reached a considerable sum, the first step was taken in deciding upon the place for it and commencing the work. The site chosen was on the high ground where the Museum stands,-and this was eligible, as enabling the monument to be seen from afar, as ships of all nations entered the harbor of Sydney. Here a grey granite pedestal has been erected of the handsomest kind, 21ft. high, suitable only for such a colossal figure aa few sculptors were capable of designing and carrying out. A model was made, we believe, by the late Mr Wicholl, of Sydney, but partly in conse-' quence of his death and partly from the ' money subscribed privately haying been expended upon the pedestal, the work remained in abeyance until recent years, when the Colonial .Government took it up with the determination of completing it. Sir Alfred Stephen, as Chairman of the committee charged with the work, took"an active part, with Mr Parker and other gentlemen, in forwarding the necessary business of the undertaking. Dr Wool--I'ey, the late distinguished principal of the College of Sydney, who unhappily perished in the wreck of the London when returning from his visit to England, should also not be forgotten, as it was chiefly through his influence that the commission was entrusted to Mr Woolner. The statue, as'it is now seen, though a more impressive figure;;.will certainly be much more imposing oh the higher pedestal prepared for it. The ; attitude is striking and vigorous, with the'right hand raised high in the air, in a moment of immense; delight at haying caught sight of land after watching-through the early" dawn of morning, strong is his belief that land was,there, the?telescope being held in the left as no longer necessary. The-fine head is most expressive and characteristic of the keen observer and dauntless discoverer, in, the massive brow with deep furrows at the temple and strongly moulded nose and chin. There is no stronger point in the statue than this preservation of likeness on such a colossal scale ;?and so just are the proportions of the figure in the torso and the limbs that it looks the hero'without being a giant. The dress, which, is the well known naval uhiform'of the day, with the open-breasted broad-tailed coat, the long flap waistcoat, and the knee-breeches, "with shoes, is remarkable for good work, ' falling to the figure naturally and not ungracefully, the gold lace being to some extent represented by a lighter colored bronze. But these points of detail are quite : unobtrusive, and subservient .completely to the noble air of brave self-confidence expressed in the intellectual countenance, the broad and-vigorous frame, and the general action of the figure. The statue, we believe, was-first modelled in thenude, and to full scale; and afterwards draped with the clothes. This method, which, though not generally followed, recommends itself as the only one that can be successful in representing a living figure, and here it is that Mr Woolner has shown the thoroughness as well as^ the mastery of his .avt. A great excellence also, which depends mainly upon this radical method of study, is that the statue escapes from the common charge of being picturesque.; it is true to the style of bronze,-and it possesses the intensity and seriousness of monumental work in a degree rarely observable in 'modern 'sculpture. The ■casting of the statue, which was rather t an arduous work, was made by Mr Cox, of Thames Ditton Works, and, judging from the slender woodwork of the tempo- . rary pedestal, we should conclude that it is not a very heavy one, which must be favorable to its endurance.^-Home News.