The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-03-22


So n,.. .tu.. stu
AT nt.. 1g.4of.a >. nixus conders arcu
'Or,l idiore mites
'Nu1na. 'rs is incensis Etriscis,
sH t4s ,l he coluere, dedit"
f. Ilt.. erwards repentcd OF this
cru : =, by publck decree rem
del ai-, the memory OF the i'll
juI pr .- zee declares, that from
tht 9D. there should be erected
to oirs .ae i and in a distinguished
pE llptured monument with
su stae ~ lr snia, as might best con-
tri te o,a @q. t." They have also APP
pi -i -.a} t1 he inhabitants of Raven
na -rn i.G , remove his ashes to
F. ~ ,1ey ave uniformly refused TO
part with the honoursblc deposit.
The celebrated Michael Agnolo Buonarotit
was OF the Florentinc school, and, consider-
ed in ali the points of his character, may be
rated as the first genius, who has appeared
since the revival of letters. They attribute
ais early taste for sculpture to his having
been nursed in village, where the greater
part OF the people were of that profession.
The effect however of such an accidental
circumstance would have been very unimpor-
tant, if the Genius of the fine arts had not
breathed into him portion, and large one,
Of her celestial fire. His wonderful success,
and the vast variety and extent Of his
knowledge, may however be fairly attributed'
in some degree to the number of years
which he was enabled to devote to the exer-
else of his peculiar talents. He was born
in l475 and died in 1864, and continued the
active pursuit of his profession till his de-
cease. He was actually employed in erecting
his ehicf a'suUre in architecture, St. Peters,
at the moment Of his death. At fourteen
years of are he was placed with celebrated
sculptor, and at sixteen his works were con-
sidered far superiour to those of his master.
So universal was the genius of Michael
Agnolo, that it has long been disputed, whe-
ther he exceiicd most as Painter, Sculptor
or Architect.
In the former, his Day Of judgement, in the
Sixtine Chapel in the Vatican-in Sculpture,
his Noses, in the church of St. Peter in Vim
cuIo---nd in Architecture, the Dome of ST.
Peters, are considered as his chef o'euures
have no hesitation in saying, Gas have
no reputation to lose as a conoisseur, because
l make no pretensions to the charactcr) that
think, his architectural talents were most
pre-eminent AS a painter, although he
may have been a good composuist according
to the rules of art there is harshncss and
coarseness extremely disagrceabe to me in
the character of his perscnAse.
know that this very qual,y is said to
constitute the excellence of his manner,
which consists in boldryess and force, grandeur
and sublimity, rather than grace and soft
ness. But tits precisely his manner which
displeascs me ; he makes every man an
Hercules, and every woman an Amazon.
am told, and believe, that his anatomy is
perfect, and confess that his pieces appear
to me rather .ited for lessons 10 a young
surgeon, than to allure and captivate the eye
of taste.
In sculpture Michael Agnolo is less un-
pleasant. Unless the artists forming an ~
donis or Venus, we have no objection to
see the muscles well pronounced in a statute
and to have the form vigorous and mascu-
line and it must be admitted that few il any
of the modern artists can compare with this
great master. cannot say however that
think Bernini much inferiour to him but ir
architecture take it to be conceded, that
Michael Agnolo stands without rival among
the moderns.
There is one circumstance in his Day o
.Judgemenf which rigid criticks might cen
sure, bu, which poets and painters will per
haps forgive, and that is his blending the
heather mythology with the doctrines of re
yelstion, and this too upon 60 solemn and at