The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-20 00:00:00

FINE ARTS.

We have viewed.with considerable interest a
series of anatomical casts, taken for the purpose_ of assisting
the progreis of Painting and .SculixtUre, from one of the finest
human subjects we recollect to have seen.

NV ben we consider the vast importance of the sturtiofanatomy
to every Artist wishing to arrive at eminence in his profession,
and when we consider how intimately connected a high state of
cultivation of the Fine Arts is, with the glory of a nation, and
that it cannot be considered as truly great, but when such pre-
eminence exists, we feel that the whole body of Artists and-the
public generally are highly indebted to the gentleman by whose
exertions such a valuable collection of materials so essential for
the students' contemplation has been added to the treasures al-
ready formed.
The Greek Artists, from the warmth of their climate and the
nature of their institutions, had the opportunity of studying the
anatomy of the human body from the living figure, which was
constantly presented to their view in the most perfect form, and
in the most beautiful variety. But modern Artists, particu-
larly in cold climates li,ke ours, where the form is concealed by
quantities of clothes, are obliged often to resort to dissection,
for the better understanding the attachments of the muscles, and
their consequent action.
The usual subjects for anatomy, from being wasted by sick-
ness, however well they may answer the purposes of the sur-
geon, are ill suited for the study.of the Artist, whose great ob-
ject is beauty of form, and it seldom occurs that Artists meet
with a subject which answers in that respect. It is this cir-
cumstance which makes the collection we have noticed so in-
valuable; being of a man (TwunTELL) suddenly, cut off in the
full vigour of life, and evidently one who had been in the habit
of practicing those exercises.-which best tend to develope the
human form. The history of the acquirement of these casts is
rather curious.

The gentleman in whose possession they are (Mr. HENRY
SASS), has long been distinguished for his enthusiastic
feeling for the promotion of the Fine Arts of his country,
and being considered to have a good eye for fine form
as well as excellent judgment on all subjects relating
to the arts, was invited to view at St. Batholomew's the
body in question. When he saw itle felt what a valuable
acquisition it would be to art, and suggested to the gentlemen
who were appointed to dissect the body how desirous he was to
have some moulds taken of the superficial muscles ; when, with
a feeling for the.promotion of science highly honourable to them-
selves, they instantly offered to dissect those parts required, and
to suspend their own operations, until what had'been requested
was finished.

Independently of their value to pictorial art we have the autho-
rity of Sir ANTHONY CARLISLE and other eminent surgeons,
for saying that they are beautiful specimens of skill in dissection,
and highly creditable to Mr. KIERNAN and the other gentleman
who operated. The interest we feel in looking at this collection
is not abated when we learn that they are from the body of an
unfortunate individual who forfeited his life- to his country.
But it is satisfactory to think-that a man who probably did so
little good for himself or others during life, will be the means,
after death, of giving a stimulus to, and promoting those arts,
which are most cultivated by; and attain-the highest eminence
among, those nations the most civilized.