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

excited by the arrival of his "Grcck Slave" in
this country, induces us to copy the following
account of him and them written some time
since for Magazine by Edward Everett
Having spoken of Mr.. Greenough and his
production in former number we propose to
devote the present to some remarks on the works
of Mr.. Powers. another distinguished American
sculptor, residing in Italy. Although it is but
a few wears since Mr. Powers can be said TO have
commenced the pursuit of his art, he is already
to be regarded less as sculptor of the highest
promise, than as one of the highest reputation
1t is but about three years since he went to
Florence. Before that period, he had scarcely
executed anything in marble and since his ar
! rival in Italy. he has given much of his atten-
ton TO the busts which he modelled in America,
and vet he has attained the name and standing
of a master. We do not know of any way in
which we can do Justice to Mr.. Powers, and
convey to our readers Just idea of his merit,
| and of the estimation in which he is held by
| good Judges abroad, cfi1ctualy, as by trans
latiny an article from the GiOrnaie Arcadeo, for
the month of October, 1910. This is highly
respectable scientific g. literary journal, publish
ed at Rome. The article which we propose to
lay before our readers. is written by Professor
Mgliarini of the Grand Ducal Gallery at Flor
l
the day. The biographical facts were probably
! furnished to him by some well informed Amer.
can and are in the main correct. We translate
| the article for the most part literally, but have
occasionally added a few words, for the sake of
rendering the sense more apparent. tits enti-
tied
THE YouvG AMERICAN SCULPTOR, Mn. HIRAM
Powers The history of the fine arts, eXpatiat-
ing in Il region most delightful to the human
mind. has constantly awakened more and more
the attention of observers, presenting them n
succession Of pleasing results, almost entirely
free from the sources of painful reflection fire.
quently encountered in other variations. The
portion which regards the preliminary training.
designed to put the pupil on the road, which will
conduct him to the desired goal, was early at
tended to for the direction of studious youth :.
and among the various suggestions to this end,
we find expressions of the admiration excited BY
some rare geniu~cs, who have attained celebrity
without the guidance of a skiliul master. /
propose at present to treat this last topic. in ref
crencc to Sculpture exclusively.
Pliny,* upon the authority of Duris, relates
Of lysippus that he became great master
without having been the disciple of any one.
although he informs Us that Cicero differed on
this point. If the passage of Cicero which PHI
ny had in his mind, is that with which we are
all familiar, we must suppose Pliny to have mis-
apprehenaed us purport' cicero says That ly-
sippus recognized the "nce oearer OF Polycletus
as his master.t lie could not, however, have in
tended mat single statue OF young man had
served him as guide IN the great variety OF
characters required for his very numerous pro-
ductlons Neither is there reason to suppose
that in any of his lost works, Cicero expressed
different opinion on the subject of Lysippus,
from what he has done in this passage, which
far as it bears on the question whether Iy-
sppus had MASTER in the ordinary sense of the
word. would lead to an Inference directly oppo-
site to that which pny drew from it.
1t may be advantageous meantime, to rctrace
the few traditions which remain to us of Iysip-
pus.t In the first place, we know that in his
youth he was employed in the establishment ola
bronze ;, founder ~, here we may suppose that he
was leu py Inclination 10 make commence
meht IN sculpture. Do"ot'nl, however as TO
the choice OF preceptor' he determined TO take
couhSei oil competent ana unpre]"uccd adVls-
er. for tn's purpose he applea TO EuponpIS,
was al mat time the teacher OF the young APPEL
les. Eupompns was probably acquainted with
the disposition of Ivsppus and when asked by
tn, la,,a, ,,ho,, Lo sborh Gallon, ,r ,,rocoJ;n.r
-. wv E ".'oA' y. '.'o I: 'Jo" "
'''aS'er' HuPoinPus repheu ny po.h''h9 10 u
Y n =