The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-10-12

Nature stamps her impress on the features, va"
equal force, though perhaps in different manner In
the decline as well as in the prime of life. He who
looks for example at the statue Of Jackson, behods
a face furrowed by the wrinkles of age, and eyes
dimmed by the lapse of time bu, by that Lions
mouth, the sculptor, true TO nature, Portrays Inc
Lions heart within.
Some, however, who admitted The excellehce OF
MIR Powers's busts denied his ability TO make a
statue. Imitation they freely accorded 10 his MAD,
but Of invention they doub ed the capaci OF his ge-
nus That, however, which was ascrbed to de-
feciive genius was the suit of sheer poverty. The
scultor had not the means Of attempting flight into
the higher regions of his profession After the hard
est labor, the most rigid economy, and thousand
struggles he found himself in cond ton to produce
works which have already made him the hrst oil
living sculptors. Two Of them are already
finished, and the intelligent traveller would as
soon have Florence without examining the
,llery of Paintings in the Pitt palace, as de-
part without visiting the studio Of the American
Sculptor.
"The Grecian Slave" is beautiful and poetcal
pton executed in the most chaste and fau'less
style. In graceful and easy attitude, she rests
upon her right leg while her left is slightly bent aud
inclined forwards This position is selected by The
artist 10 give that line of beauty the discovery oil
which is ascribed to Hogarth, but which has ever ex-
sted in Nature. Through the whole of this charm
ing statue this line OF grace is carefully preserved
Her fair and delicate wrists are manacled with
double chain, most beau fully wrought and aPPa
renty placed TO indicate her unfortunate condition.
Ia ring his emblem Of her state the artist shows
that he has studied the classic models, well as Ma
ture, to advantage Apollo Is always represented
with his Tyre, Neptune with bis trident, and Diana
with her bow. The right hand of the "siave" rests
uron small column, and her left hangs gracefully
on her side as if physically Submissive to the chains
wi which it is fettered. Her averted lace the tinge
of touching affection that shades her classic features
tell but TOO plainly the tale of her grief and the story
Of her misfortunes. Torn from the dear circle Of
her admring friends, from the protecting roof of her
beloved parents from HE sweet of her early
childhood and the sunny hills of her own native SOIL
she has been sold in the savemarket to the turbaned
Turk. Perhaps the memory Of home and OF those
forever left hut forever dear, at this moment steals
over her afflicted mind Perhaps the sweet but long
lost images of her father, her family and her friends
now fill he cup of her tender but touching grief
Perhaps she dw,lls with pleased fancy bu, broken
heart upon her atanced lover, who even now, from
the seaside looks, but looks III vain upon the wide
ocean for the tracks of her ruthless robbers Who
can look upon that aultlesz form, gaze upon that
lovely face still loveer by its grief behold those
ewes whose nstre is soened but not dimmed by holy
tears and not be touched with sympathy and inspired
with love for the unfortunate girl +! Who con-
a
to break the chains which manace the lovely crea-
ure ami VOW that the Grecian maid shall no longer
be The Grecian save' The omist may study this
divine creation and learn the malchless beauties and
the perfect concord Of a fsultess form. The enlhu
siast may here behold woman atlired in b. auy, re-
peie with grace, and moulded in syph like sha e.
found only in the Western Eden that first inspired
the genius Of the sculptor. The sober and he ser-
Gus may Amos. deem the artist impious, who thu
draws the gift of life from high, and attempts TO
rival 100 successfully the ia rest work of God. In
terest, pity, sympathy, affection, the alternate
sentiments with which this statue fills every feeling
mind. The idea is drawn neither from history nor
fr m poesy 1t is the pure and elegant emanation Of
the sculp'or's own chastened faucy Who can d ubl
that MIR Powers is poet, for his chiseI produces
the same effects as the sweet flow Of harmonious
vefs,; The marble is pure and spouess as the
undriyen snow Nei her on The face or the body
,tan or speck to be Executed W IN the
purity Of the mind ha, conceived il, 10 drapety
necess ny to suppress the grossness Of unlicensed
thoughts Its very nudity is but emblem of it,
purity fills the mind with the most refined emotions
aud enables as to reach the 60 like state OF
Adam, when he and he mother OF mankind walked
naked in the garden without shame. The cohtem-
platon Of this statue reGnes the taste purifes the
fancy, improve. the heart and eIevates the SOUL
Fl sh and blood might give color and motion, but
would these animal elements add 10 the auties Of
this charming creationl Even Mr.. Adams would not
object 10 pr perry in such slave, either in the Dis
trct or any # the States. Alas she will perhaps
find master English ground And il the doc
trne Of Manifold be true, and the defamation Of
Curran correct, the moment she lights her airy feet
on Albions soil, the chains which fetter her snow.
white hands will fall o the ground, and she will stand
on Saxon land, maid tie Ike Of whose besuteou-
form has never sat on the throne or glded in the
lordly halls Of the sea.girt Isle.
In his Eve" Mr.. Powers has executed a work
different in character but equal in beauty to his
"Grecan Slave" Between these statues, opinion is
almost equally divided 10 truth theysre equallyex.
ceent, aud persons prefer this or that the subject
Of the one or the other is most pleasing their tastes
The mother Of mankind is represented by the artist
as we readily Imagine her in appearance 10 have
been. Her person, though symmetrical, is larger
than that Of Venus or modern beauty. Her
features, though regular and beautiful, inspire re-
spect and admiration rather than warm affection or
ready love. Perhaps, in our present corrupted state
our spirits not sufficiently pure nor souls SUI
6ciently exalted 10 be inspired with the sentiment Of
love by being pure, so faulless, so divine was
! Eve before the isl Formed and fashioned by the