Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-03

create o~te an excitement among the nswspaper cri
ties and correspondents. Many Of them appear to
think that il is outrage for young American-a
native Of New York-to pretend to be sculptor, or
to dare to rival antiquity. Epes Sergeant has caught
m influenza in consequence Of his effort to speak his
natural sentiments, before he knew what the critics
thought of it, Miss Nancy Willis thinks Victoria's
foot is toe arge-and the other critics are AFRAID 10
say word for fear they may commit a mistake, or
tread ON the corns of somebody. As specimen
take the following from correspondent OF the ma
tona Intelligencer,' who is we'll known as literary
loafer at the Aston House.
Besides the theatres have great variety Of
offered for eur choice Of the British Queen
attracting good deal Of notice very pretty ung ana
we'll executed if We tora thereby accurately represent
ed Beauty Her foot gigantic, and the sraPry
the mach heghten the charms Of the original Ia
the beheider's estimation.
"Prstty thing" yet emo beauty'-"gigantic foot,
"drapery, &C." This critic never could have seen
thi. superb statue erwiss he could not have been
guilty of such inc sstences in his criticism. The
foot of which SO mach has been said has been mea-
sured by living feet that every one would call ex-
tremely SMALL and its dimensions set at rest Then,
a. to the drapery-that is OF the most brilliant
options Of this chef d9urre, and SO Is acknow-
lodged by every judge. But in order to know the
worst, we annex the following communication, sent
to US anony nously, and Produced no doubt, by the
combined effort Of clique Of artists, who are afraid
that Stout unless nipped in the bud, will throw all
his rivals entirely behind him
SroUr's STATUE OF THE QuEES.-After seeing
this statue the only inference to be drawn from the
indscriminate praise showered upon is, that Peo
pie very willing to crafty and encourage the ar
tist-especially when by SO doing, they administer
to their own self love and vanity.
BY claiming for this statue hig degree OF merit
azd bestowng upon it unmeasnred appreciation, some
portion of this they feel naturally falls back on them
selves from the fact Of the work being the production
of natiUe genius.
But this unqualified approval is i'll advised and I'M
Just; it is equally unfair to withhold censasv where
it is due, as to refuse appreciation where there Is
merit.
That Mr.. Stout is young man of genius and pro-
missing talents will not be denied, but that this, his
first effort, is the perfect thing it is represented
whatever Others may say, he will not persuade him.
As whole, the statue is scarcely amenable to cr-
ticisn. The form the artist has chosen for the
Queen is not such an one as nature ever produced IN
individual nor in any number OF individuals nell
Their is it entirely unnatural but nature and art are
blended in such manner as to present human de-
fornity, rather than that perfect and iautless form
look for in stataary, composed OF beautiful pro-
portions, which probably existed in an indiv-
dual but which il the privilege Of the sculptor to
borrow from many and combine into one.
Viewed separately, many parts Of the statue are
well rroportioned and beautiful; but the relative
proportions are bsd and throughout the whole there
is utter want Of harmony; form is too attenu
ated the whole figure entirely too small for its
height; the head is perfect with but single excep-
tion, being too much depressed behind the ears,
where the neck joins the head the neck is faultess,
and blends gracefully with the shoulders, which are
well turned and the top Of the chest is beautifully
Ssia% s Sr sa the sae: front and
the waist meagre, and from the back to the front en-
tirely thn-a waist that is incompatible with the
free heathful action Of the lungs, and such indeed
as nature never made. The form downward and
l.. ~ ho tad rnru
such waist swollen and Stiff the right foot, in par
ticuiar, is thick and clumsy, and wedged into a
short, sharp slipper too small for the foot The po-
stion 10 graceful, bat net one OF perfect ease The
arms are pretty though the upper parts and extre.
mites of the shoulders small; Of the hands
is slightly heavier than the other; the drapery is
well arranged; the half smile playing about the
mouth would be sweet, 1t not spoiled by pain
full expression spread over the face, like that OF
modest woman striving TO appear composed when
conscious OF being indecorousy stared at; tins pro-
badly is faithful delineation caught by the sculptor
from his living model. @.
II this is the worst that envy and criticism say,
il easily be disposed Of. To appreciate the re-
markable beauties Of Stouts statue, the spectator
must put himself in American position-surroand-
ed with American models-and warmed with Ameri-
can feelings Although the artist calls il Victoria,
because there is a resemblance TO that maiden
Queen vet as an abstract work Of art this statue is
the beau ideal Of young American woman being
perfectly unique in her proportions, her grace, her
figure, her air, and her contour. The Greek or Ro-
man models are altogether different from the females
Of this country. They are larger-morc developed
-stouter and possessing more Of the physique
the en- bon point. The same may be said Of all
EuropeaR models and all European art Not the
American The beautiful female Of this country is
airy creature-more fragile-more fairy-morc
slight-more divine-msre etherial-more intellec-
tual-more spirifusie in her form, figure, and pro-
portions than the female Of any other country. In
stating this general idea appeal TO matter Of fact
The Engshman, when he first comes to this country,
complains Of the fragilty and want of breadth Of
women. He is accustomed to female form Of
robust and physical charaster-a greater pro-
portion Of beef steaks mutton chops lie cannot
relish the ETHEREAL spiritual, fairyke ghtness OF
the American women. He wants a bellyfu Of beef
and mutton.
Here is the great Characteristic and greatest beau
ty Of Stouts statue This is the point Of view which
the critic must take. Most truly, therefore, is this
statue not amenable to criticism" because it is
beyond the reach Of all existing, beef steak criticism
1t belongs to original school, to different hem
isphere-it is the first bold daring effort Of a new
Of sospors that reject the rules Of the studios
Of Europe, walk forth upon a new continent and
catch their models from a living and . beautiful
race, that in their peculiar characteristics Of grace
and airness the world never surpassed or reached