The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-04

cally wax, did not entirely content him, In this
state Of restless desire he had approached his St W
teenlh year, when he saw for the first time bust
in PLASTER, which however destitute Of merit strong
ly fixed his attention. After some tine he found,
even in Cincinnati, an amateur who attempted to
model in clay the portrait Of some celebrated per-
sonage, He saw the material and the mode ofwork-
ing it; in fine all he desired. TO him this was n
fortunate discovery, the realization of his dreams.
To turn with nvidity to the imitation of what he
saw, to struggle eagerly first 10 equal, then to sur
pass it, to produce admirable likeIesses, and such
most assuredly as he himself had never seen, sue
cceded each other with such rapidlty us scarcely
left time to note the stages of his progress, so swift
was the pinions of his happy genius.
If this artist, hurried forward by natural lnspra-
ton, had merely arrived alta servie, however faith
lul an imitation of nature, it would be no great
wonder. But at the first glance he has formed
for hmselr Just conception of the art of p0rlilule
uniting to The characteristic features the spirit the
expression of the individual lie has dedicated
himself to preserve the grandeur of the whole a the
same time that he represents the minutes details,
and may be hailed as the Dcnner Of sculp!ure.-
lie is careful that every head of his shall preserve,
even in its smallest particulars the type OF unison,
that mixture Of variety and Individuality coherent
with themselves, which is the special attribute Of
nature, and totally escapes from the eyes Of so ma
ny. So much for combination OF rare qualities be-
comes marvellous in one who could not have bad
any idea of the works Of ancient Greece, nor even
oilhr scripture of Donatcllo, Mino da FiesoG and
Gambarelii,
Continuing with increasing delight to model in
clay, he had occasion to visit some Of the principal
cities ol,his country, whence at favorable period
he directed his steps TO Washington Many Of the
distinguished men Of the nation were assembled in
Congress, and Powers enjo!ycd the opportunity OF
mutipyng potraits. Among the members of that
respectable homage were to be t0und some who,
have travelled among us, had acquired just notions
ofhe fine arts. This is all one us saying, he en-
countcred competent judges capable oiappreclating
the true merit of his labors,
Perceiying now that encouragement would not
be wanting, Powers wisely resolved on II voyage
10 Italy, where he night finish what he had begun,
and Al the same time perfect himself in the art
Arrived at Florence, it was the same thing TO find
marble and direct all his energies TO overcome lis
resistance; and when the instruments and mcchan-
ism in use were not sufficient to produce the results
he sought his own skill and ingenuity enabled him
to iabica,c Others lie reproduced in the more oh
dprae material all that he had Il, first executed in
the softer; and true and unprejudced critics accor-
dcl him their admiration.
The fame of AppeIcs' pro,ruits is known to ev-
cry one. They were held so like the originals
in every particular, the physiognoniss founded
their judgments upon them, in the same manner MS
if they had been living persons.T
Those who with another name and end, occupy
themselves with similar speculalions, may find in
lkencsses of Powers full scope,for the the exercise
of their ingenuity, even though color be wanling.-
In fact, while engaged in examining some of them,
another person present, who had perhaps n iinc-
,urc of such knowledge, said to me with o1,husi-
asm: 'llaye You remarked the head? What Il
penetrating character il has! How expressive aie
all the features! That Is doubtless II new Demos
themes That other mus, certainly he an upl ight
arbi,er of the laws. In that one Wonder there is an
energetic calmness which bespcaks the dictator,
etc, etc. Occupying myself only with the art, |
listened curelcssy, taking no interest in individuals
unknown 10 me even by name, and little noting
such observations, however pnusnbly supported
If hat he has said 10 me by conjecture was really
wcll-loundcd, the truth of Plny's sentence wlll be
confirmed; that the admirable portion Of this art
consists in adding greater celebrity to men already
colehmiod.*F
Such productions nre rare in our day because
many think il right to execute portraits in the hero
ic style, Of which they have example from the an-
clients taxing little pains 10 preserve an exact Ike
ness. But though rare, some specimens have been
produced in that line also. And among them it is
impossible to pass over the magnificent ind may
say colossal portrait Of Pope Rczzonc IN 81. Peters
ut Rome, by the celebrated Canova.
In despite of those who detract from the merits
Of Ibis great man. it cannot be denied that he In,
surpassed himself in The venerable image where de-
volion is embodied in the fine character of the
head whose extensive surl,icc enabled the arts, Ia
express the most minute details, consistently with
general magnifccncc, So TINT the work seems less
statue than picture from the pencil Of Titan,
Let men anticipate, finally the caution of some
sophist who will possible conccdc, what many en-
ceent critics have already willing conceded, The
superiority Of Powers in bus,s but nevertheless hes
i,ates to pronounce him perfect sculptor, because
he has not yet produced amy thing IN the more im-
porlant branches oilhe art.
It should be remembered TINT this rapid and i'm
potuous career IN the one Geld has allowed him no
time To labor in the other. Buta' present he Is no
longer the hubllnnt OF u rcnu,c region, n stranger
to the arts nor are The ideas and examples wanting
to hi, progress. lie, who has known how 10 reach
so Car without assistance, will in better position
easily attain all he requires.
1t may be added, lhu, he has already commen-
ced the nodel of Il statue, and we may reasonably
promise ourselves he will carry it 10 the same per-
lection that raris every other work he has hilher-
to undertaken Possessing MS he does the gift Of
genius, joined 10 assidaiiy, u passionate love for
art, and The modcs.y necessary TO be always capa-
bic of improvement, his success mny be confidently
predicted. a. NJ, MIGLIARINi.
rIu,Gixgs ndeo simtuiiuis indiscrcn pinvit, NJ
Incredible dctu) Apion grammaticns scrpum rcquer
qucndam cx iacie homiHun addiyinnnem (quOs moto
lis diNissc nut FUTURE morris nnnus
aut prpieriR.-PLIN. 3j, Sc, IA.
t1MInUMQ, in hec artc est, quod mobiles yiros nob
orcs r,c 4. II