The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-18

sure to be pushed by his followers to extremes
His principle, us practced by himself, we under
stand to be TO reproduce the man, In the best and
most accustomed expression Ofhis character 10
attain this end whatever is essentially character
islic in the original, must be preserved, wheth-
er it be great or small, feature or wrinkle. The
consummato skill of The artist is shown in thus Sc
Letting what is thus characteristic, -however
seemingly uncomfortable, and still more in maxi
ing these nnumerabIc details work together to-
ward the uniform and appropriate expression and
li(c of the whole. The affair of " poroses" re-
duccs itself to this Many of the ancient sculptors,
and perhaps most of those who hourshed at the
revival of the ant, polished the surface Of their stat
ues and busts. However appropriate this may be
to the conceptions formed Of the bodies of the an
ceht heather diyinilies, the CLASSY effect impars
the resemblance ofworks representing human orig
inals Some modern artist accordingly do not pol
ish the surface of the MARBLE although they give ii
smoolhncss unlike the natural appearance at least
of those portions of the skin exposed to the air.
Mr. Powers, with instruments of his own contri-
vance, gives TO the surface of his marble delicate
roughness, (if ronghness it can be called,) which
absolutely counterIets flesh, and produces an il
fusion not merely beyond anything we have seen
in the works Of Donutello, Mino iii Fiesole, OF
Gambareli, (whom Mr. Migiarni names in this
Connection but beyond anything havo wit
messed from the chisel Of any other artist
Since the article we have just laid before our
readers was written, Mr. Powers has very nearly
completed the model Of the statue alluded 10 in its
conclusion; he has executed in marble an ideal
head of great beauty and has projected Two or
three other works. The first stutue represents the
mother of mandind, contemplating the apple which
she holds in her right hand, after having so far
listened 10 the temptcr as 10 pluck the fruit 1t is
n moment not dwell upon by Milton; but II seems
to us fine conception TO establish an interval be-
tween plucking and ealing the iinit. The lace and
FORM as becomes the parent Of our race al this Pc
Rod, before the fatal act is consunnaled, are IN
tended 10 exhibit specimen OF perfect symmetry
and beauty. The c0untenance combines The cX-
preston o! an ardent desire to enjoy the forbidden
fruit, with that Of lhoughllessness "a, the consequent
ccs which had been denounced. The lett hand
holds the fruit which she reserves for Adam. The
hair falls partly down the back and is partly ar
rested on the right shoulder; and in the plan ofthe
work the insdious ioc,-not yet modelled ,--press-
ing close to her person, but not full in her view,
watches with deyIish eugerness the workings OF her
mind. We conceive that it would be improper, IN
the present state Of this great work, to make 1t the
subject even Of a complimentary criticism we
will only add, that it is thus far the fruit OF the
most laborous study, the aculcst observation. and
profound thought 1t contains nothing traditional,
nothing copied from the Grecian or the Italian
antique It is Il fresh conception, org iual study
ornature, examined with the most unweared at
tenliou, with the purcst taste, and sound judge
ment.
The ideal head named above, Of which Mr. Pow
ers has executed more than one copy in marble,
was undertaken by him us the most etlcclual an
swer which could be given TO those who question:
ed his possessing any other talent than that OF a
maker of busts. 1t IS usually called " Gnevra,'
and the conception was SUCCESSFULLY the lovely and
well known description in Mr. Rogers Italy. MIR
Powers has preserved as much of the picture
sketchcd by the Nestor Of the English Parnassus,
MS is adapted to representation in marble, and could
be introduced into II bust:---
She sits inciinng forward rs to speak,
Her lips halt open, and her finger up,
As though she said beware "
And On her brow. firer than alabastcr
But then herf.
So lovely, yet so arch so full of mirth,
The overlowings oiun innocent heart,
1t Iaunts me still, though man! a year haS Ned,
Like some wild melody.
She was un only child, her name Gineyra,
The JOY, the pride 0l an induscnt father
And in her fifteenth year became BRIDE
She was all gentlencss, and salety.
There is nothing in the sculpture intended TO re-
call the tragica part of the story. Faulless beau
W, bridal gen,!cness, the guiety ofhe only daugh-
ter of her father, the sweet innocence oil the NOR
ming of life, these are the elements OF Mr. Powers
ideaIizaiion of Gineyra.
Mr. Powers has planned some other works;amons
them sca-boy on the shore, holding shell TO MS
ear, aud listening 10 the iOrebodnss which gives
of the storm. This not recent conception ON ms
part, which we mention by way oil establishing ms
claim to the originality Of the idea, US the subject OF
work of art. He has also projected work rep
resenlina Grecan maiden, exposed Tors ale III
Turkish slaye-market. Our readers will precelve
n, once the extreme beauty and capacity Of these
subjects.
Our country has much 10 boast of in Mr. Powers;
we hone he will have as much 10 be greatlul Tor TO
his country. The bust of the late Chief Justice
Marshall, of heroic size,--a most splendid work.
for which the price paid by Congress was but lille
more than the value Of the marble Labor, and time,
at iourneymen's wages, bestowed upon II, Is hilh-
erlo the extent Of the public patronage accorded TO
him. We are sure this can only be, because OPP
po,uni,es have not presented themselves for more
impor,ant commissions. 1t is not thus that Amer-
ca means TO encourage her Lysppuses, 1t Is really
cruel TO keep master like this ON The drudsery Of
priya,e bus,.making, which after all, at the usual
prices, is labor poorly paid.
Meantime, and till something more worthy oil
Mr. Powers talent is proposed, we would observe
that he has now on hand very perfect models OF the
bps,s of Presidents John Quincy Adams and Van
Buren,, and an amirabe bust Of General jackson
in marble, of heroic size What could Congress
do better than order these three busts on suitable
pedesiaos, at handsome prices, for the ro'unda OF
The Capitol, with Clevcnger's busts OF General
Harrison TO accompany lhemI A row Of the buss
of the Presidents of the United States, to be placed
around that magnificent hall, between the pictures,
or at proper distance in front of them, would lar-
nish very appropriate Ornamen: for the ro'unda'
and surround, in Il very becoming nanner,lhe stat
ue of Washington in the center. President Jeher-
sons bust. BY Caracchi, might be removed from
the library 10 the ro,undn 10 take its place in the
row. The other Presidents, Adams the eIder'
Madison, and Monroe, could at any time be ad-
ded. As to the -four named one of which, jack
SON. is already finished, and the other three mod
ellcd they could he furnished in three moh'ls.-
This, we trust, is an affair which could, in no case
awaken any political feeling but it Happens luckily
that the four Presidents ae equally divided De-