Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-02-14
HIRAM POWERS, THE AMERICAN
SCULPTOR,

OF tuscany, Snd VINO has the most minute nc-
quointance with the Arts
In the interior and agricultural portions of A.
merica, inhabited only by farmers namely in the
State of Vermont and village of Woodstock, HI
RAM POWERS was born during the year 1905 He
was removed while yet n child TO Cincinnati, in
Ohio, then u hamlet; now n city but This far
from offering him any increased advantage, sub.
lected HIM to misfortune, the loss of his father.
Necessity constrained him to support himself by
his labor and ingenuity in mechanics. A secret
consciousness of his genius, however, taus Int him
for what he was destined He imagined some
thing like the plastic art while yet stranger to its
existence; and so vehement was tho passion, that
doubtless if he had not found, he would himself
have created it. The first materials on which he
he had employed himself especially wax, did not
entirely content him. In this state of restless de-
sire he approached his seventeenth year, when lac
saw for the first Time II bust in plaster which
however destitute of merit strongly fixed mis- at
tenlion.
After some time he found, even in Cincinnati,
mn amateur who attempted to model in clay the
portrait OF some celebrated parsonage. He snw
the materials and the mode Of working it in fine
all he desired. To him this was a fortunate dis e
coyery the realization of his dreams. 10 turn
with avidliy to the imitation Of what he saw TO
struggle eagerly first to equal, then to surpass it,
10 produce admirable likeness, and such most as
suredy MS he himself had never seen, succeeded
eoch other with such rapidity as scarcely left time
TO note the stages of his progress so swift were
the opinions of his happy genius.
II this artist, hurried forward by natural nspi-
lntion, had merely arrived ut seryile, however
faithful an imitation of nature, it would be no
great wonder. But at the first glance he has for
med Tor himself just conception of the art Of
portraiure, uniting 10 the characteristic features
the spirit and expression Of the individual. He
has dedicated himself TO preserve the grandeur
nj lln tnnlp
the mlnutest details, and may be hailed the
Denncr of sculpture. He is careful that every
head OF his shall preserve, even in its smallest
particulars that type of unison, that mixture of
variety and individuality coherent with them
selves, which is the especial attribute of nature
and totally escapes the eyes of many. Such u
combna ion Of rare qualities becomes marvellous
III one VINO could not previously have had any
idea oil The works of ancient Greece nor even of
The sculpture Of DonatelIo, Mino de Fiesole and
Gambare
Continuing with increasing delight to model in
clay, he had occasion to visit some of the princi-
pal cities OF this country, whence at n favorable
period he directed his steps to Washington.
Many OF the distinguished men of the nation
were assembled in Congress- and Powers en-
Joyed the opportunity of multiplying portraits.
Among the members of that respectable assemb-
lagc were TO he found some who, having travelled
among us, had acquired Just notions Of the fine
arts. This is all one saying, he encountered
competent judges capable of approaching the true
merit of his labors.
Perceiving now That encouragement would not
be wanting, Powers wisely resolved on voyage
TO llay where he might finish what he had be-
gun, and at the same time perfect himself in his
art Arrived at Florence, it was the same thing
TO find marble nd direct all his energies TO over
come its resistance, and when the instruments and
mechanism in not sufficient 10 produce
hp rpsultc ha his skill aud n u
enabled him 10 fabricate others. He reproduced
in the more obdurate material oil that he had ut
first executed in the softer; and true and unprej
udced critics accorded to him their admiration
The fame of Appelles' portraits is known to
every one. They were held 80 like the originals
in every particular, that physiognomlsts founded
their judgments upon them in the same manner
as if they had been living persons.
Those who, with another name and end, occu-
ny themselves with similar specula:ions, may find
in the kenesses Of Powers full scope for the eXer-
else of their inguny, even though color be want
ing. In fact while engaged in examining some Of
them, another person who had perhaps Il
tlncture of such knowledge said to me with en-
thusasm: "Have you remarked that head :
What II penetrating character it has How ex.
pressiye are all the features! That is doubtless q
new Demosthenes. That other must certainly be
an upright arbter of the laws. In that one yon-
der there is an energetic calmness which hes
peaks the DICTATOR etc. etc. Occupying nysel
only with the art, listened careessly, taking M
interest in individuals unknown TO me even by
name, and little noting such observations, howev
CT pausibly supported. If what he said to me by
conjecture was really well founded, the truth o
Pliny's sentence will be confirmed that the adj
nrabe portion of this art consists In adding great
er celebrity to men already celebrated.
Such productions rare in our day because
many think il right to execute portraits in the he
roic style, in which they have examples from The
anclenls, taking little pains TO preserve an eXac
likeness. But though rare, some remarkable spe
cimens have been in that line also. And amonj
them il is impossible to pass over the manfcen
and may say colossal portrait OF Pope Rezzo
nico, in st. Peters al Rome, by the celebrated
Canova
! In despite Of those who detract from the mer
its OF that great man, ii cannot be denied that h
has surpassed himself in the venerable imag
where devotion is embodied in the fine characle
of the head whose extensive surface has enabled
The artist TO express the most minute details, con
sistently with general magnifcence, 30 that tn
work seems less n statue than picture from th
pencil of Titan.
lie; me anticipate, finally, the caution of SOM
sophs,s who will possibly concede, what man.
excellent critics have already conceded the supe
riorly Of Powers in busts, bat nevertheless hest
tate TO pronounce him perfect sculptor, becaus
he has not yet produced eny thing in the NOR
! important branches of the art
! Ii should be remembered that his rHpid aud i'm
petuous career in the one field has allowed him ~
time to labor in the other. But at present he is N
longer an nhabitant Of remote region, stran
ger to the arts, nor nre the ideas and example
wanting TO his progress. lie who has known hoy
TO reach so far without assistance, will in bette
condition easily attain all he requires.
1t may be added, that he has already common
ced The model of statue, and we may REASONABLE
promise ourselves he will carry il TO the sam
| perfection that marks every other work he ha
hitherto undertaken. Possessing as he does III
gun OF genius, joined to assiduily, passionat
1ve Tor his ART, and the modesty necessary TO b
hlways capable of Improvement, his success ma
NC cohhdeh'ly predicted. A. NJ. MIGLIARINI.
An English wag thus describes the Season.
autumn Wheezy, sneezy, Geezy. Winter
Slippy, drippy, nippy. Spring 4, showery, fowe
ry, bowery. Summer; Croppy, hoppy poppy.
John Nstcion.--"I see in the worl,I,n said Job
Newton, "two heaps of human hnnn;ness nm