The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-11-28

was so far completed as to show at
a glance its remarkable character.
Mr.. l.. enquired what he intended
to do with it. He seemed only anx-
ious TO have it placed in some church
where it might long be looked upon
and reverenced by devout people,
himself recovering little remuner-
alton for four years labour. Mr.. l..
Immediately offered him five or six
times as much as the poor Monk had
dreamed Of receiving, adding that it
should be carried to America and
placed where it should be preserved
and receive great veneration. AZ
ter much hesitation he accepted the
offer, and this wonderful work of art
became the property Of Mr.. Lester.
As described by competent judge,
the figure certainly, as it now exists,
is an extraordinary work-equally
in conception and execution. The
ideal seems to have been the Saviour
at the moment after death, but be-
fore the agonized expression had left
the divine iorm-an ideal we do not
remember ever to have seen repre-
sented. The first great impression
emanates to the beholder from the
entire appearance of the frame as it
hangs upon the cross, distended with
the immortal pains that have hardly
departed.-The exactness of detail,
and the wonderful effect of the whole
combined are truly astonishing. The
anatomical structure to the most ex-
perienced eyes that have scrutinized
it, is found perfect. The delicate
veins are seen coursing under the
skin as in the living model, while
every muscle is sloped to its termi-
nation with an eXactness and natu-
ralnesS that seem almost miraculous.
Not the slightest particular effect
moreover, that would result in bo-
dy hanging in SO unnatural a posi-
ton as the great protrusion of the
chest, the unusual distension Of the
chords of the arms-even to the
gathering Of the flesh above the nails
in the hands and feet, by the weight
resting upon them-fails to appear
in distinct execution. But the tri-
umph of the work is in the face Of
the Redeemer. The characteristic
there presented can never be once
seen and forgotten; and with pro-
longed study they appear the more
remarkable. The linaments slight
lly bolder than the usual Grecian,
but beautiful in the extreme-the
wonderful union in the features oil
manly messiveness and exquisite
womanish dehcacy-the contrast,
above all, of intellectual agony, knit
into the brows and frozen upon the
lofty forehead, with the sublime com
posure of sweet and calm resigna-
ton that sleeps around the almost
feminine mouth-are a combination
which could belong to no human
countenance, which we have never
seen localized in any work of art,
and such alone as could arise fro m
the great conception of the Son OF
Deity, who had been able to feel
deep joy in dying by an infinite tor
ture.
1t will appear extraordinary that
a solitary person, who had previous
ly studied no anatomical models.
fashioned no images, should sudden
Iy be able to achieve so triumphant
an effort of art. But if we do not
believe with the earnest Monk, in
Heavenly impulses in such cases,
we may remember another inspira-
tion-the power which arises from
strong native faculties, and a con-
stantly excited resolate and cxpcc-
tant spirit concentrated together on
a single absorbing object. This is
in fact simply the inspiration of ge-
MUS, whose wonderful achievements
always come unlocked for.
In the present work the sculptor,
while he has represented every mus
Gle and tendon with scrupulous ac-
curacy, has done more. He has in
fused spiritual expression into the
whole, and as we gaze with wonder
upon the beautiful outlines, we feel
that we are in the possession Of
something divine; that the form we
look upon is that of the Godlike Sa.
viour of the world.
Hints TO the Mle.-Gerritt Smith
who is man of much business anc
wealth, and consequently receive.
many visitors, has inscribed con.
spicuously in his oifce-'BE SHORT.
) He has too much upon his hands tC
idle away any of his time, or to hav,
! it wasted by his visitors. A cele
bratcd Venitian painter, who wa,
: probably annoyed, as many painter,
are on this side of the water, wrot,
over his door--'No leisure for Cos
sipping-despatch business in as few
words nc noee;hla , A., J.ol;o,,z