The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-06-27
from the wv TOTF FIfI.I|
THE STATUE OF JEFFERSON

THE STATUE or JEf bhSON.
That adaifabie statue PR scented 10 the Aurr.n
peoule b, Cap. Levy, OF tie United Slates Nat
which fora efly stood Ia the kotundn of he Carts.
ha. been placed in front Of the Presidents hou,-a
well selected spoiconsPeuopsl presenting M Ipa-e
of the talro,-'o cfeer such of his successor O. Ne.
Chef Magisracy Of the Unioo as shall pufsHr. zoe.
,n,inidaied by HE oiainoTs "f the srsiocracy te-
fous path marked out 10 them for her guidanlr b.,
his glorious fsolsteps--fo fetuke such may rlg
from u. The statue of Jefferson is enc Of The u.t.
ierworks Of David. la addition 10 the Periec..aI ..
" hat artists have termed composition, We perceive 20
the first glance that the seult has not fallen lG9 M
erlor (too prevalent among the disciples OF Can S.
of fame wing that Imitation OF nature always
falls short the copy equal IL effects II - Necessary
10 give Il sore Advantage over lie model. tie Be
leved, on the contrary, that ideal beauty" nus-
delling the features Of historical, not fabulous c.l
racters was best obtained by presenting such giItd
beings 10 the nation that claimed their mage, a'
nearly possible, such as they remain imbodled Do
the remembrance of their contemporaries. Nor !,
fidelity TO nature, and truth, exclusive Of beauty, o.
even grace as anciep staiuary has sgLally shown
in the Aristidis, IN the Museum Of Naples, not
we grant the unearlhiy beauty Of Apollo, or the
Youthful grace of the AntDous not the beauty Of eX
pressive features, lighted by The consciousness
bic daring The grae attendant on the perform
ance OF generous acts-in the sense attach 10 le
me aiming Of the w.rds beauty and grsos, the one, sid
the other happily combined, bo'h the cUuu,e.
nance and the attitude OF the American St3tfsTaH-
a lust proportion, manly ease Of bearing invest d,
limbs The high purpose OF has mission kindes b. BIZ,
eye by following nature, the artist has best cpy.
ed The iull power OF art
David has shown more good taste in deranrg
from the rule which has too long governed modem
statuaries, by representing jefferson in the costume
OF the time which The subject indicates, than d.
American sculptor did, VINO, in compliance -
ii, has thrown antique vesiments over N.~...
ingon. David was aware, that, though b e
true, that We are disagreeably impressed, willie
viewing the portraits, even Of immediate anct.
| tors dressed in manner which, The 1ce,, p,
changes If fashion in modern babilimeni render .r
eouth TO our eyes, yet, this effect is not produce
" hen the mind seeks, with eager curIosity O.! lie
chseled marble, the breathing canvas the WISE.
BILE Embodiment Of heroes, ssges, whose image.
deeply engraved in the memory, always rccur. -a..
ted with all the familiar associations, Of their w..el
costume.
1t is Msrengo with the ! ng doubtful STRIFE O.. ,r,
well fought heid-i, Is the Sun Of Austerltz crown
| ing with angural brightness the brow Of the YOU
EmPerorit rs jena, prostratug, at one fell blow ne
laboriously constructed power of Frederick, which
the veteran soldier salutes, when he the Napa-
leon of the Column Vendome, in the same drrs, be
wore on the fields Of fifty battles.
II IS the independence OF world-the future I'd
countless generations, We read The inspired iea-
lures OF the sage, legibly written there as they
10 bronze letters, on the unrolled paper, held BE
hand OF the auth Of that immortal appeal Of an r..
pressed people to the sympathies Of All CIVILIZED DE-
tons
We fear much, that the pious devotion OF tie ng-
phcent donor OF that statue to the fame Of great
man, has not been accounted a merit by those pt1
would fam have inflicted on Captain Levy punish
ment SO dispropor,ioned TO the venal Offence of
which he was accused but that the President of ta
United States, on that occa ion with the fru
ness which ayerted from the American people
calamity OF another fiscal experiment rebuked the
,ndicise cruelty OF their senteoce and pr ed b
al. se"nir, the oer,iees Of meriiorious uflcer.
1T was captain Levy who directed the sculp or rs-
sPeeihg The costume OF the statue, and David el-
pressed hls satisfaction at the suggestion.-IEd H.
tssonian Republican