The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-24
= Elected by the Legislature.
From the Democratic Repitic
PERSICO'S COLUMBUS.

by far the greatest object of attraction and add
miration at Washington is Psrsco's last and best
work, the DIscovereI and Discovered Of America,
which now occupies Its permanent resting place in
front of the eastern portlco Of the Capitol building
As work of art, of prolific genius, Of intellectual
conception, OF precise and admirable execution, this
group, consisting of Columbus at the NON ent be
realizes bis theory of the rotundy OF the earth which
is simply yet beautifully illustrated by the globe held
forth phantly in his right hand and the figure
OF an Indian female startled at the approach Of the
bold adventurer, presents an entire picture unequal
led in grace and unapproachel IN ina jesly by any
thing which native foreign talent affords ia the
public or private collections of the country The
ust has grasped the history of the man. his undsmay
ed courage amidst all viscisstudes the providentis
guidance which overruled his destiny the great aim
and the beginning of enterprise whose results have
changed the character and condition of the world
Inc wondering behoIder Is irresls,ibly impressed
with all the higher faculties of patient endurance,
elevated purpose discriminating Judgment and the
well balanced split Of resolution and Of eoniumna-
ton which are developed and harmonzed in the head
OF Columbus. Mind, sjesty, and grandeur per
wade, and thought seems TO utter the poetical reaza-
lion of all the principles at which an ignorant world
had scofed One is not approsc he'd as with satuary
generally, and other works of the same sculptor
which stand near by Che statues of Peace and War,
emInenty distinguished for ability fail in the e6eci of
this composition
" In Columbus there is eloquent and touch ng
appeal to The feelings an energy of character and an
emotion which exciles and moves which persuades
TO esteem, and carries recollection along through the
dark chambers Of FIVE centuries placing US, as it
were, face TO face with common ancestor distin-
guished beyond the men of hs time and foremost in
he march of civilization and Christianity. Even
inns generation, IN the minds eye, has formed fell
lo~ship with the man and his age and the ptompt-
ings, both OF affection and reverence urge the Anne
mean heart, as Il expands IN glowing homage To the
oiseo'erer Of continent, designed the experiment
and perpetuation OF free institutions
| Inc Indian figure is Of eptfaordinay ease
and most pleasing attitude. She Il unnotced by Co
umbus, but Is herself alarmed at the advent of the
mailed discoverer. Every Characteristic feature Of
mat peculiar race ~ most appropriately blended and
developed In the pesments and symmetry OF this nm
mated marble and the co animation is so perfect and
the scene so real TO the active mind that il wants but
Prometheus To set the machine of 4 4. in motion -
Ignorance, as usual has become quite offended al the
indellcacy of this figure, because the drapery has
fallen naturally and gracefully at the instant Of her
surprise which discovers proportions that prudes think
ought be bsndaged up with great care and concealed
from observation. Such ridculou. preten.ions IN de-
cency and delicacy have often met the ebuke thev
deserve, to require eiIher argument or censore now
Sin and crime are measured BY the deriee Of irf,s
'on which influences the act and in the moral world
purify CONSISTS rot In the observsnce of Convention.
al code, OF the edo's of morbid socety, bot in the
heart, ard the inner temple Of ali tbngs.c,e The
female, of proper capacity and eduoaiion W a. You'd
ercep 70 the simple and graceful posture of
bsbed but honest Indian, has much need to examine
her own conscience lest association and the bbey
doctrines Of fashionable life have mislcd her do.
mant and shaken her principles and the more fstl.
dous, and less intellectual will see in this met ure
lesson Of nature in it's primitive beauty prrarIy In
contrast with the vulgar and losthnp
OF the toilet, so Prominently elaborate in themselves
ouiraelng every notion Of proprey, aud utterly at
/ war with the sentiments Of truly vttuous vo.nsn
10 The whole work. there ever, thing To admire and
n'ihing 10 condemn II is the sublime without pre-
tension and great without effect.
! " The marble used in This work was taken from
the recently opened quarry of La Pala ut SRA Yer
IA, beiwsen Pisa and Csrrsrs, about twenty miles
distant from the latter II differs from the Carrara
marble, Of WI ch the statues Of Peace and War ar,
composed, being harder, whittier, more transparent.
and mpervious to atmospheric action for which ousl
/ hy II was selected. Transparency seems A singular
expression to apply to heavy body Of marble but il
requires only to be studied under the influence Of
vertical sun, TO realize the fe-hesiowing ustre which
It sheds no, only upon bu, through the figures.
Persico was employed FIVE years upon this ore,-
ton Of his geniu, and the marble was TRANSMITTED to
his STUDIO IN Naples, distance Of seven hundred
miles iron the quarry. The srmor upon the statoe
OF Columbus ~ accurate to rivet having been copied
from suit in the palace Of the descendants of The
dseoverer at Genoa. The cost Of the rrouo !.
$4,000 sup :"