Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-05-22
HIRAM POWERS EVE"

Tho following description Of this beautiful
statue is from work called " Thoughts and
Scenes in Europe" Iltcly published io New
York. The book is published anonymously,
but il is under, TODD to be from the pen of
Mr.. Calvert Of B Gilmore.
In executing his Eve, Powers has had
twenty or Thirty models. From one he took
an ankle, from another shoulder, frar-
mcnt Of a flank of third; and so on through.
out, extracting his own preconceivcd image
piece by piece out of Natue. From such a
labor even a good artist would recoil, ballad,
dishcartcncd. To none but supreme ge-
nins does nature accord such f1miliari. w.
With instantaneous disccrnmcnt his ewes de-
tect where she comes short, aud where her
subtle spirit Of beauty has wrought itself out.
lie seizss each scrap Of perfection, rejects
all the rest, and 50, ont of ore Of models,
re-oomponnds one of Natures 0wn originals.
Such is the movement on the surface, that
the statue has the look of having been
wrought from within outward. With such
truth is rendered the flexible expression i'm.
parted to flesh and blood by the vital work
ings, that the great internal processes might
be inferred from such an exterior. The or
psns of animal life are at play within that
elastic trunk; there is smooth pusation be-
meath that healthy rotundily Of limb. The
capacity and wonderful nature Of the human
form I'LL the mind as you gaze at this union
Of force, lghtneSs and buoyant grace. In
spite Of that smooth feminine roundncSs OF
mould, such visible power and springiness are
in the frame and limbs, that, though now SC
still, the figure makes you think of Eve a.
bounding over shrub and rivulet, ii dazzling
picture Of JOYOUS beauty. Then again, a,
the eye passes up to the countenance, witt
its dim expression Of mingled thought anC
emotion, the current of feeling changes, anc
the human mind, with lis wondrous endow
nenis, sbsorbs for awhile the beholder. Blu
J mark it is by the power of beauty that he
is wrought upon. Through this, humanit,
; stands ennobled before him. By this, Tho
human form and capability are da'ed. Thi
awskens delight, breeds suggestion. b,
means of this, the effect of the statue is full
various; its significance infinite. TAX,
away lis beauty, and all isa blank. Tn
) statue ceases TO be.
is beautiful, i, is Grecian; but it recalls n
Greek model. Nor Venus, nor Juno, no
! Niobe, can claim that she helped to nurse il
Nor back to any known form does it carr
= the mind ; it summons il to compass a ne,
= one. Ii is a fresh emanauon from the dee
d bosom Of art. In form and expression, i
feature and contour, in the blending of beau
ties into a radienl unity, il is n new ideal, a
: pure as it is inexhauslble. Lightly it spring
Q into its place from the bosom and shoulder,
These flow into the trunk and arms, an
e these again into the lower limbs, with sue
graceful strength, that the Wilderness Of wor
I is the idea that establishes itself among III
$ first upon tho mind of the boholder. To III
e hollow of foot, TO the nail of finger, ever
d part is finished with the most laborious m
- nutenoss; yet nowhere hardness. From he
@ scattered stores of beauty Nature supple
IS the details; with an infaliblc eye the arti
o cuIled them, and transferred them with
Is hand whose firm precision was ever guide
by grace. The natural and the ideal hcr
Is blend into one act, their essences inlerlusC
"a for The unfolding of full blossom Of beauty