The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-13
AMERICAN SCULPTORS.

letter from young American In Florence to the
editor of the New York Spirit of the Times, gives
an interesting account OF the dongs of the American
sculptors in Italy. The extract from his letter as
follows
GAS it may please you to hear something OF our
sculptors here will say few words about them II
is impossible for an American not to feel proud OF
them. First of all stands Powers, who has hnished
his cast Of Eve, which he superlntended IN person.
introducing altogether a new method OF taxing inc
mould from the clay, with entire success IL IS wen
of which impart that peculiar heshlike appearance
to his busts allowed to be by Italian artists and rav-
elled detantt the perfection OF that branch OF his
noble art AS likenesses they are perfect. lie has
finished his bust of Mr. Everett, one OF his very best
performances. Until lately he has been principally
employed upon his countrymen, but his fame is now
spreading far and wide, and he has had several Eng
lish sitters. The bust of Minister in London,
will, trust make him known among class able
and willing to promote worth. To acquire aiisence
from his chisel he must look elsewhere than at home
and he certainly has to be satisfied with the
treatment he has received from his country. his
friends must be glad that he has conceived and eX-
ecuted such beautiful and divine figure as his EVE
embodying everything that one can imagine oil the
mother of mankind. An American should WISH IL 10
be owned by an American but 1t would be more 10
the sculptor's advantage that it should ind lis way
into the collection of an European connosseur' In
dependenty of his skill an artist, he deserves per-
sonally all the gifts Of fortune. His amlaillty, uf-
assuming manners and intelligence, mingled with
great originality, make him popular wherever he Is
known.
CLEvENGER's busts also very remarkable per-
formances. 1t operates rather against hlm having
such competitor Powers, but he is very busy. lie
brought out number of casts from America, when
he is executing in marble here. Personally these
two artists great friends and 1t Is pleasant to
see such total absence OF any OF that jealousy
which but too apt to exist in their profession Here
generally there too much of it. trust this rivalry
will only serve to stimulate them to greater eXer-
tons to acquire for themselves foremost rank
among modern sculptors
Since writing the above have seen Powers, VINO
has had royal vsiter in his studio, IN the person OF
the King of Bavaria, the celebrated patron OF the
arts He passed through here 'incog,' and have
not heard that he has honored any other artist
From his being very particular about the spelling OF
Powers name hope he intends to order something
worthy of them both From the description OF a
person present this occasion, his Bavarian Majesty
must be odd fish very deaf, very inqulsitve, and
| very unlike what would be apt to fancy con-
noisseur of his rank. OLD HICKoRY's colossal bust
of course drew his attention particularly, and well 1t
might for it is of Powers chef PGurres. He has
Just terminated the cast of Mr.. Z. OF Baltimore j;
than which think he has done nothing better
There is a minueness about it altogether admirable
| Every vein that stands above the surface, every
smallest line every ndentation transferred to the pas
ter in which it is not possible to surpass.
consider the very beau ideal, the ne plus ultra OF
sculpture, and destined TO place him as the first
sculptor of busts in the world. This IS American
prejudice, am | singular, for even the Italians
consider him far above any living artist. 1t must be
borne in mind that he has founded quite new
school. | do not know whether his friends should
be glad greycd that he has taken his leave of this
branch of his profession. He says it takes too much
of his time and does not remuncrate him. He is
about to commence another original subject. 1t is
kept secret, for he has other occasions, when
too communicative had his ideas pirated He has
impaired it, however, to me, and am not afraid to
predict that the embodiment of such conception
will be one of the most interesting things of modern
days. So as | am relieved from my promise of
secrecy you shall, if agreeable to you, be made
quainted with the subject.