Urbana Union

From the Republican, Nov. 4.

That splendid work of art, concerning which the public have been led to form such high anticipations, has been received and set up, though it is not yet perfectly adjusted to its bearings. In that respect, however, it will soon be complete, and open to examination. It stands at the entrance of the corridor leading from the old hall of the House to the new.

The door is of bronze. The design was by Mr. Randolph Rogers, an American artist working at Rome. The founder was Mr. Frederic Von Muller, of Bavaria. It is said to be the only work of the kind in the world. Its weight is 20,000 pounds. To this date there has been paid upon it $28,000. There are some outstanding bills, and some additional expense is now incurring. When it is completed and ready for use, the total expense will be just about exactly $30,000.

The leading subject of its embellishments is the history of Columbus. It has two valves, with four panels on each valve, and one semicircular panel over the transom. The first panel (beginning at the bottom of the left hand valve) contains a scene representing Columbus before the council at Salamanca; the second panel, his leaving the convent of La Rabida; the third panel, his audience with Ferdinand and Isabella: the fourth panel, his departure from Palos; the semicircular panel over the transom represents his first landing at San Salvador; the fifth panel, his first encounter with the Indians at Hispaniola; the sixth panel, his triumphant entry into Barcelona; the seventh panel represents him a prisoner in chains about to be sent back to Spain; the eighth panel contains a scene representing his death. There are sixteen small niches in the border or frame around the door, in which are sixteen statuettes, representing distinguished contemporaries of Columbus, and between the panels are heads representing historians who have written on his voyages from his own time down to the present day, ending with Irving and Prescott.

Crowning the door is a bust of Columbus. The ornaments are chiefly emblematic, of conquest and navigation. There are also about the edge four statuettes, the largest of all representing the four great divisions of the world-Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The surface of the work has a beautifully soft and mellow tone. All the figures and ornaments are very sharp and clear in outline, and the mechanical execution is almost wonderful in its perfection.