Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-10-08


daily grantcd-the superiority of Mr.. Powers
as a skifnl maker Of busts, may vet be slow to
allow him the name of perfect SCULPTOR, in
consequence of his not having produced works
in the more important branches of the art. To
such directors ] would reply, that they must
consider that his progress has been so amid and
mpetuous, in the field in which he commenced
as to have left him no leisure as vet for other
labors. Meantime he no longer inhabits a dis.
tant region where the Arts are in their infancy
nor does he any longer want the aid of examples
of excellence, and the necessary information.
He who has been able to make such PROGRESS
without master, will easily achieve whatever
is yet wanting, now that he is placed in situa-
ton more favorable TO his progress. 1t may be
also added that he has already commenced the
model of nude statue, which we may well
fatter ourselves will be carried on to its perfec-
ton, equally with any other work which Mr.
Powers may undertake.
Wherever there is the gift of happy genius,
joined with assiduIty and a nassion for the cho-
sen Art, together witn the modesty necessary
for constant search after improvement, there
it is safe to predict a complete and easy success
A. NJ. MlGLTARlNI
The foregoing estimate of the talent of our
distinguished countryman becomes still more
satisfactory, when we reflect that it is charac-
teristic of the Italians, remarked upon two GEN.
turtles ago, by Milton,f not TO be forward to
bestow written encomiuns on men of this side
the Alps. We have not the least wish to receive
ungraciousy the praise of Mr.. Migliarini, which,
we are sure is bestowed il good faith and with
good will; but it is not onl' not the language of
a panegyrist but evidentl' framed with some
care TO avoid shocking national partaties and
the scnsibility of eminent col temporaries, among
his own countrymcn. He weighs every word
in the golden scales of n leaned criticism md
yet not only institutes an elaborate compars on
between Mr.. Powers'S case and that of Lvsi D.
pus, but justly states that the case of our coun-
tryman, in attaining so high degree of excel :
lence not only withonta maste' properly SO call =
ed, but without the advantage Ct a general con-
temptation of the works of other scuptors, is
WiihOW q pardiiei.
| A few statements in Mr.. Mgarini's article
invite one or two words by way Of explanation
The mechanical exhibition at Cincinnati, in
the construction and superintendent of which
Mr.. Powers passed some years of his YOUTH
though seemingly an humble field, required a
nigh degree of talent. Nothing could be more
successful in its way, no great proof, it is true
of merit. Mr.. Powers lavished on the wax
work figures and groups the first energies of
that plastic skill, which will live forever in his
marble. Some of his moving figures were
brought to perfection by months of assduous
labor and the application Of the most ingenious
mechanical contrvances. There is no doubt
that his noviciate in this humble sphere was an
excellent school for the development of the me-
chanical skill which he possesses in an eminent
degree. lie was at hter period employed by
Maelzel to repair some of his automata. Mr..
Migliarini alludes TO tn, readiness with which
MIR. Powers contrived new instruments of soul p-
.l,.,, t.I
him the effect which he desired to produce. He
has invented and manufactured several such in
struments both for the clay and the marble, to
the use of which NAY 70 asc'Ued a portion OF
the wonderful softnsss which he gives to his
flesh.
1t is stated by Mr.. Migliarni, that Mr.. Pow.
ers represents in his marble the porosties and
habtual wrinkles Of the skin. Without expla-
nation statement like this would convey an
/ erroneous idea of his manner. Should Mr..
Powers becomc-as he already is to some cx-
tent-the acknowledged head of school of art,
his injudicious disciples might run into such an
imitation; as the characteristic eXcellency OF
every great master is sure to be pushed by his
followers to extremes. His principle, as prac-
tised by himself, we understand to be to repro
duce the man in the best and most accustomed
expression Of his character. To attain this end
whatever is essentially characteristic in the
oritrinnl ha nrnsaryob ,,.lntbnr IL ha crn NJ
or sr,aI c,a,rro ~ ,.r;ntIa Tho consnro,,,e
St;li 81 Tho ar,'-t :, sh",,.n in ,bus soinct;no
L.', 20 -, s,.,'
;nna,,.ilnn"i,, I e.;,, ", aal,in,r ,i'7,o
,a a"u s.'.i in,'o ~ ',.""s 81 w.
mHnp"'I ueaa's "o'N .ou, 'I rc' ~" ~
""' nj p-;,;a', n IT, "
;, NV ~. I'll; S "nai " P.ia"t o,,l',n..
" a'''' -Mary VI ."o an;.LeI =. H.
'nu ''or. VI i,'1sc Wiz q. '';'
.'na. u ','o "', Poi',n.u VIC .;., '' ~;
,u''"ts a"u '"st9 i'o"ece. i:'''
"' ~, oe - ''e ooero"' Iia Vi ,bo s
'o ""o'o"' ''c''"o" u''''''''V' .nI s.'os
eheut n"p'''s '"c ,eSt'''o'anoe W WINS 'ct'.
sen'''a nun, 'ou 'no"I'' at Vs.
accordingly 90 not PoliSn e surface VI ''c mar
ue' '''o! give u .t VII NJ
''rc natural appearance d, Ic's' VI 'nuac portions
VI ,"c SKIN expo 10 ''le ar mr. lo"c'S
WI instruments VI Ms Nv" "noo' w
~ ooc we surlacc ~ MS 'o'o'u NeiIa.e
W ro"s.'ie's II can DC cuheul "non apro'''cll
couhter,e''s he''' anu P'ouuces al alius'on .io
merely peyohu any 'nns we n nu seen ~ ti'
WORKS OF Doha.slo, 'h!"o Ut r'csoic' o' yam
Dareiii (whom Mr. M'ghar'hl names IN tiis con
: hecuoh'l out beyond any 'l,hs we nave "ithess
ed from the ch'sei OF any o'her arus''
Since the article we have just laid before on
readers was written, Mr.. Powers has very nearli
completed the model Of the statue, alluded to il
4