Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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THOMAS JEFFERSON WITH ALLEGORICAL PEDESTAL.

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re-opened. The cadets boarded in the town ; Cadets Ezekiel, Longstreet and Fulton Wright at Mr. Samuel J. Campbell ' s. All went to the temporary quarters of the different officers to recite, and the now-cele- brated sculptor received the diploma of the Virginia Military Institute in the Presbyterian Church, where the graduation exercises of the Class of ' 66 were held. Ezekiel next studied anatomy in the Medical College of Virginia. 1868 saw him in Cincinnati, the next year at the Royal Academy of Art, in Berlin, work- ing under Professors Domschke and Siemering. When the summer vacation of 1870 came with the war be- tweeen France and Prussia, Ezekiel feeling the neces- sity of earning means for the continuation of his studies, became special war correspondent of the New York Herald. He wrote a series of brilliant letters from the Baltic coast. At Pillau he was suspected of being a French spy and was confined eight days in prison. After the war he returned to BerUn and continued his studies under Hoff- man, and in 1872 under Albert Wolf. His colossal bust of Washington opened to him the society of artists and he was the first foreigner to win the Michael Beer Prize of Rome. This he gained by his relievo of Israel. The Senate of the Royal Academy publicly crowned it with a wreath of laurel and awarded him fifteen hundred thalers for two years ' residence at Rome. During the quarter of a century that he has dwelt in the Eternal City he has created many masterpieces, mostly ideal statues, relievos and busts ; among the busts those of Homer, David, Eve, Cardinal Hohenlohe, and one of Lord Sher- brooke for Westminster Abbey. His Faith stands in a Roman cemetery, a Madonna of his in a church at Tivoli. Berlin possesses his Apollo and Mer- cury, as well as his Welcome and Farewell. The Grand Opera House of Paris has his marble Pan and Love. His Fountain of Neptune is owned by an Italian city. Alma Tadema values highly several of his works in marble and bronze. Many more of his statues, busts and relievos are in England, France, Germany, Austria and Hungary. The famous Dutch author, Carl Vosmaer, has strongly emphasized him as a rival hero in ' The Amazon ' ; and Gabrielle D ' Annunzio has recently contributed verses to his genius. The Peabody Institute has a fine specimen of his work in his Head of Christ, and one of the parks of Philadelphia his colossal bust of Governor Curtin, while the art museums of Cincinnati and Chicago, and private collections show the marble torso of Judith — a magnificent, terribly beautiful creature •

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Salome, The Martyr, colossal bronzes of David, Washington, and marble busts of Longfellow, King, Murdoch, McDonald, Longworth and many others. Indeed, about a dozen private collections of Cincinnati boast several of his bronzes and marbles. New York possesses his Lincoln and the monument with allegorical pedestal erected to the memory of the banker, Seligman. Before shipment from Rome the Queen, the American Ambassador and others were the first to see the work which L ' ltalie pronounced a work in every way exceptional, and later a crowd of artists, sculptors, painters and archi- tects wished to render homage to the talent of the sculptor Ezekiel and expressed their admiration for his work. Three of his marbles are owned in Baltimore. The Sailor Boy, Grace Darling, Consolation, and Command are elsewhere. At the capital of his own land the Navy Yard possesses one heroic bronze, while the Corcoran niches eleven of his colossal statues of the great artists and the marble bust of Jefferson looks down from above the Speaker ' s chair in the Senate Chamber. Ezekiel has received many distinctions and is a member of various academies and the recipient of many gold and silver medals. In 1877 the Cavalier ' s Cross of Merit was conferred on him by the Grand Duke of Saxe Meiningen and later on he was knighted by the Emperor of Germany. And now that this son of the Virginia Military Institute has climbed up to his pedestal he has given of his highest self to his Alma Mater. Virginia Mourning Her Dead needs no interpreter. Majestic in her woe, she but speaks through her pathos of those who, living or dead, are immortal, who to-day and for always are her crown and her great glorv. R. A. MARR. We are indebted to H. C. Ezekiel. Mrs. F. C. Brauer and Dr. J. H. Campbell for facts and photographs.