Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-01-20
M6Rszs:II: r. ~
FRIDAY MORNING. JANUARY 20, ls43.
POWERS, THE SCULPTOR.

POWERS, THE SCULPTOR.
The following letter from an American ar
tist,a Florence, to the Governor of Vermont,
will be read with interest. Hiram Powers,
the subject Of the communication, Is native
Of Woodstock in this State, and is, if not the
irst, unquestonably among the first, Of liv-
ing sculptors. In the department Of portrait
sculpture, in obtaining truth Of individual re-
semblance, without the sacrifice of those
higher attributes, the expression Of which has
been supposed to constitute the appropriate
object of the art, in bestowing softness,
warmth, and life upon the cold, hard, and
colorless material in which he works, he is
now confessedly unrivalled, and probably
has never been surpassed.
A rare union of inventive genius and me-
chancal skill has enabled him to overcome
the difficulties arising from the intractable
nature OF the stone, land, by the contrvance Of
new implements and processes, he has sue
ceeded in giving to the marble freshness
and hexibllty Of appearance, which invest
his portraits with the truth of painting,
without detracting from the severe dignity
of sculpture.
He has yet executed in marble little but
portraitbusts. But his genius for the con-
cepton Of works Of the highest ideal excel
lence has been abundantly tested by the COM
positions which he has moulded in clay, while
his success in por,rait-sculp.ure leaves no
doub, of his ability to realize bis conceptions
10 more durable material.
| 1t would be subject of just pride to the
artist and to Vermont, if the idea OF his first
great finished work in marble could be drawn
from the history Of his native State. The
: adventures Of Champlain, the discoverer Of
> our noble Lake, the gallantry Of Allen, or
the heroism Of the women and the unwonted
generosity of the Indians at the burning Of
: Royalton,s would furnish fine subjects for
S the pencil or the chisel, and it will be re-
t proach to the liberality and patriotism Of
r Vermont, if we neglect to avail ourselves of
:, the opportunity of encouraging the only ar
f tist TO whom our soil has yet given birth, by
o charging him with the perpetuation of the
h memory of some of these interesting events
}, Vermont has hitherto done little for the
: promotion of literature and science, and 70,
. the encouragement of art, with the exception
It of our noble capitol, absolutely nothing
= With the views of economy, which have
" characterized the policy of our legislature, i
81 is hardly to be hoped that the public patron
age will be bestowed upon our artist, but .
% fit occasion is now offered for the individual
If exercise Of patriotic liberality, and We trus
> that the opportunity will not be lost.
We would suggest that inquiry be infor
mally made, in the different sections Of thu
s. State, as to the possibility Of raising by sub
N scrption sufficient sum to procure one o
j. more works, from the chisel Of Powers, il
IN Illustrative of the history of Vermont, and WI
" :. are authorized to say that the Governor will
4 cheerfully receive any communications from
J. gentlemen interested in the subject.
r. The following is the letter to which VI
y have referred. The affectionate warmth
j. j. with which Mr.. BRowN urges the claims o
" his brother artist does credit to his heart
and no remarks ofours can add force to tn
as fervid and touching eloquence of his appeal
n FLORENCE, Italy. October 25, 1912.
!" To his ercellency,
" DEAR SIR II take the liberty Of addressing
Z this letter to you, feeling that you will sympa
O thize with its object, and pardon the intrusion
lv The good State over which you preside ha
n shown great taste in the erection of her Hous
Mt of Legislation, and only wish now she woul
10 60 one step further, and erect in it a statue t
General STARK, ETHAN ALLEN, or some othe
other great men, and she has many who ar
N worthy Of all the honor she can bestow upo
" them.
49, Time works sad changes in human affair.
- and ifthe nearest generation to the distinguish
ed dead forget them, who shall rise up in all tn
re- world to perpetuate their memory! But wi
he not enlarge upon this subject. My object is I
H. introduce to your notice HIRAM POWERS, tn
in Sculptor, with whom you are undoubtedly a.
n quainted by reputation, and who, tho long SCI
o. arated from his native hills, is true son of Ve
s. mont, and one whom she will ever DO proud
own.
f. Mr.. Powers has, for many years. struggled Q
TX, through poverty and prvation,to acquire know
NJ edge in his favorite art and although he h;
"a now risen to great eminence he is not yet b
50 yond the reach Of the common wants Of human
be, ~. would not represent him to you as "su
.Tbempson's vsrmons-part II, p. 10