Iowa News

WASHINGTON SARCOPHAGUS. On Saturday last we were afforded an opportunity of viewing and admiring one of the most creditable specimens of American sculpture that we ever remember to have seen. We allude to a sarcophagus intended for the remains of the Father of his country, which has just been completed at the marble yard of John Struthers, Esq. of this city, and which that gentleman is about to present to the surviving executor of the illustrious dead. The sarcophagus is of the form of a coffin, and has been chiseled out of a solid block of Pennsylvania marble, so excavated as to admit of a leaden coffin. The lid is also marble of the purest whiteness and the finest texture. On this is most delicately sculpted the American eagle standing upon a shield, beneath which is seen drapery representing the flag of the Union suspended cross wise from the top of the shield by an arrow. The design, we understand, was furnished by that gifted artist Mr. Wm. Strickland, but the execution is by an exquisitely delicate chisel from the hands of a workman, Mr. John Hill, in the employ of Mr. Struthers. The fleecy folds of the banner, with the bright and polished stars upon it, are beautifully done, and are highly creditable to the skill of the artist. Underneath the shield the word WASHINGTON is cut in sunken letters, so perfectly clean and neat as to give a feeling of entire chasteness to the whole. On the foot panel of the coffin the following words are inscribed: WASHINGTON By the permission LAWRENCE The Surviving Executor of on 7ton, THIS SARCOPHAGUS was presented by JOHN STRUTHERS PHILADELPHIA, Marble-Mason, September, A. D. 1837. We learn that some time since, the Executive of the United States wrote to Mr. Struthers, inquiring the cost and stating the object of such a sarcophagus as we have described. The letter was promptly responded to, but accompanied with an earnest request on the part of the artist, that he might be afforded the privilege of constructing and presenting such a sarcophagus. After some little delay the request was acceded to, and the liberal and patriotic donor immediately set about the work. Being fully completed, it will, in the course of a few days, be despatched to Mount Vernon. We cannot, in terms too strong, express our admiration of the conduct of Mr. Struthers. He has indeed achieved a noble, a patriotic and laudable action. Inquirer.