New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-16
Monument to Goethe.

monument TO Goethe.
we find IN the Scanelipost letter copied from
German journal, which gives an interesting
account OF the festival on the occsson of erecting
tho statue OF Goethe by Schwanthaler in his ma.
two place, Frankfort on the Maine, 22d Octo.
Der, last.
Few persons OF celebrity from distance were
present. not even the great contemporaries of
the poet, Ticck and Schlegel. His friend the
Chancellor Won Muller came, and answered on
the part Of "ienar to the many compliments
that wee naturally directed to that region.
"On the evening of the 2lst," saw, saws
the writer, "a young man pass, dressed in
mourning, who is, am told, the grandson Of
Goethe. He is in mourning for lovely sister,
who, some few days since, went to sleep in
Vienna that same Vienna where, a winter or
two since, the Yiennese crowded 10 see her dance
with Herr Won Schiller"
AT the theatre, drama by Goethe was pe.
formed, with appropriate decorations. Emblems
and inscriptions designated the house where he
was born, on every occasion to strangers the
most interesting object in Frankfort The pub.
he houses attracted visitors by notices taken
from his works. There was, however. in the
preparations an obvious lack boih of enthusiasm,
and that address and grace which the Poe. him.
self possessed in illustrating such occasions He
never WIS fortunate IN so rich an occasion, as
the suggestions afforded by his works and lie
are endless in beauty and variety. I.is pity he
left no heir Of his genius to make use of them.
For busy as his life was, he was always ready to
lavish the treasures of that genius Oh such an
hour, knowingly how many suggestions may thus
be, unawa:cs TO themselves, sown in the minds
Of spectators. 1T was, also, insufferabe to him
that what was done at all should be imperftc,ly
done. Had no been sculptor he would have
been as patient as the Greeks IN finishing bas-
rel efs on the pedestals of statues.
At neon, the cover was taken from the statue.
There he stood, grand and commanding, looking
upon his unknown countrymen, with hls tranquil
eye, with HE high earnest brow, with the promo
mouth. Then up few hats and handkercbieis;
then many an eye was wet; many checks
glowed, aud, only after a deep full pause, YVES
raised the shout CT homage"
"Whoever had the luck TO see his face in lie
finds an exact transcript in this work Of Schwal-
thaler, but the figure is idealzed. Goethe had
legs tor short, in proportion, from the knee
downward, to the rest of his figure the head
was uncommonly perfect Schwan,haler has
brought the whole figure into colossal, but har-
monous proportions, and given him, so far as
the drspery lets it be seen, u handsome leg. AS
To the head he needed only TO copy nature to
produce magnificent result, and has done So
AS to the attitude find, perhaps from re-
membering his habits, the idea of his personal
presence mach better conveyed in the well. known
work of Rauch: where he stands free. in a larg
surtnut OF modem form, kerchlei loosely tied
around his neck, his arms crossed behind him.
To say nothing of its baing the exact prcscnta-
ton Of him as he was in life, there is most
powerful expression of his character, selfrcly.
inc. selfcentrcd and contained, sclEco1scious
ness, not untinged with hauteur and defiance,
vet full of dignity. Here no artist has come
near Rauch Oh this subject, Marchesi took him
sitting and this suits the Olympic rcpose of his
person bettor than standing, even upright. But
Schwanthsiel has given support to the figure;
bringing forward enc knee, and bending one
hin, he breaks the grand effect of the whole
Neither do see any reason Tor placing laurel
crown in his hand Shall the Poe. cary his
laurels in his hand 2" Neither the robe nor
tho place which has been selected for placing
the statue please the critic The former is the
night. gown or bathing mantle which has been
assigned to SO many modern statues, Jautc dc
nicar; tho place does not allow fair opportu-
nifty to see the figure.
i Gentlemen artists !" no continues, you
should take lesson fron our dear ancicnts
They dedicated to their rulers and generals
standing or equestrian statues, but to their ora
tors poets, and thinkers only busts, IN groves or
halls. Let him who doubts their good ludg-
ment, in this, compare the effect produced by the
bus,s of Goethe and Schiller in the library at
Weimar with, thatof theful. length statues ofthese
Dioscuri in Frankfort and Stuttgart; l think nc
will agree that the ancisnts were wise people"
eyes, Goethe is Gernany's
greatest, and rot enly SO, but her most German
Poet. Schillel's poetry, admirable as it is, might
have been produced in any European stale this
side tho Nicmen, for he is just the cosmopolitan
or as the French style 1t, Humanitarian"
poet the nobly tempered speaker Of the new
time and lis IDEAS of life and civil duties. bu'
Goethe is not only European, but German hearts
blood; none but German could have written
G6tx and Werther, Hermann and Dorothea'
his songs and his Faust"