Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1844-04-13
THE AMERICAN SCULPTOR
POWERS.
Extract of letter from Mrs. Trollope, 10
an American gentleman in London.

Extract of letter from Mrs. Trollope, tc
an American gentleman in London.
sin my judgment, there is no studio in
Florence which so well deserves repeated
visits as that of Powers, the truth.inspired
sculptor of Ohio. should, perhaps, ex-
press this opinion with less confidence,
had | not heard the grea, Thorwalsden
pronounce such a judgment upon this
transatlantic Apelles, as may well justify
il. In a conversation upon arts and art.
lists, which had with this great man, at
Rome. Two years ago, his eye kndled at
the mention OF Powers; and he said: 81
consider The birth of this young man as an
epoch in the art of sculpture" This
word from ThorwaIsden is worth a million
OF minor voices, and therefore well de-
serves respect. But, il there ever was an
artist who might set all words of praise al
defiance, it is Powers; for nature and
truth speak for him in his own eloquent
marbles. He is in sculpture what Shlks-
peare is ir poetry. In neither do you find
the .fault!ess monster that The world meier
saw but such strength. such beauty, and
such grace as nature invented, ard 10 al
tempt surprising which is about the worst
b.under that either poet, painter or scuIp-
tor can commit. Powers has finished mo.
deling a young Greek female slave, in
tone OF such deep feeling, if the expression
may be permitted, and with such exquisite
truth of youthful innocence and womanly
beauty, that few marbles have ever seen,
(less than two thousand years old or So
could stand beside it wthou, running a
terrible risk of being overlooked. The
young girl stands in no theatrical, no mel
odramalic pose. Her attitude is as simple
as innocence and sorrow can make it, all
lovely as she is, one thinks less of her
beauty while gazing a, her, than of her
melancholy fate. Powers was horn
pott; there ran be no doubt about it; but
he writes with a chisel instead of pen.
Even in his portrait busts, notwithstand.
ing their inconceivable truth of resem-
blance, there is poetry. For, where
matter.of fact, prosaic eye, would only see
nose or lip, sholt or long, thin or thick,
Powers catches the impression which the
workings of the spirit have left upon the
cmntenance, and contrives 10 give more
striking character of moral individually
TO every head, than have ever found in
marble portraits before. doubt much if
the United States are yet aware of the
value of the noble specimen OF native ge-
Mus which they have sent forth; for, not
outstanding the wealth Of many of the
States, cannot find that any work of this
great artist has yet been ordered 10 nd IN
either of The numerous public buildings OF
his native county, with the exception o!
the bust OF Chief Justice Marshall, which,
if mistake not, is placed in some public
building at Washington. His majestic
Eve still remains in his studio, nor has the
matchless Crock elavo yet found master.
Travelling MOBILES and gentles cannot al
ways be caught as they gallop across the
land, and, in fact, the higher labors OF the
sculptor can rarely be purchased, save by
crowned heads, or public bodies of men
Our own admirable Gibson would not, and
could not, have reached the commanding
elevation on which he stands, had his &c.
Mus been encouraged by private patronage
alone. But it is to be hoped, that the great
and yearly increasing number of intelli-
gent Americans, who arc perpetually visi.
ting Italy, will, in time, make the name OF
Powers known, as it ought to be, from
Maine 30 Georgia; and then this highly
gifted man will receive his fame and re-
ward from the quarter whence, think, he
would most rejoice to welcome it.
"Yours, very truly,
FRANCES TROLLOPE.
Or nnn 1912