The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-18

POWERS Statue, as our distant readers
have probably already learned, is the Lion
Of the day in New York and the fine spi.
rits OF Boston and Philadelphia. who, una
be to restrain their impotence I'LL it visit.
them, have come on for the express purpose
OF giving a couple Of hours to the levees Of
THE GREEK SLAvE-unite in declaring TIA:
the arrival Of this work Of the great Amer
lean soul ptor proclaims a new sdvent in
art among us. Every man. in hearing Of
such production, forms Of course MS own
idea Of it from description. The curren,
story OF the effect produced by the duplicate
OF this statue in London, where half mile
of carriages blocked the streets, has Of course.
like all exaggerations, It's due effect here
upon such Of the carriage-keeping votsries
of fashion as are in town; and We doubt
not that each visitor has Greek Slave of
hls or her own as clearly Pencilled in the
mind as the often questionable heraldic
paintings upon the coach panel; yet.
Judging rom our Own experience, the copy
which fancy draws bears little or no Iesem-
blance to the original: at least the mode in
which the sculPtors art has trimnphed over
the marble, must be seen before il can be
conceived Of.
The marvellous point then is thar the
statue is not marble-ous; that the flesh
looks as plastic. and the skin as porous 40
if it could-pray do not shudder madan-
Greece is warm climates il !, could
perspre. Now inasmuch as the marble Is
in reality actually much smoother than any
complexion which has had the most elsbor.
ate grooming with Gouraud's cosmetics, this
effect IS wholly and most subtly produced
BY the consummate perfection Of the sna;o-
my; which insensibly suggests TO the imsgi-
nation the delicate tissues which could rot
be actually wrought in the stone. These
Pygmalion touches Of Palpitaiins lie must.
however, be studied TO be recognised, Tor
their result is an aspect so perfectly natural.
that you do not behold the statue with ery
surprise whom you 6r<f look upon il: tho
Promethean art that lives 50 rarely in the
Expression OF the countenance being the
first thing that arrests your attention. Here
you look first for the sentiment. i, speaks
here most transparency; and The res; Of
the statue forms unity with this expression
OF the nobler part. And now having dis
missed the impression that those wrinkles
in the elbows can be distinctly taken I'D in
your fingers-stand aloof. and look at the
whole composition Gas the Poets in marble
and paint call their exercises) How nice.
ly does the accommodating shawl pro'ec, ,hoss
delicate limbs against the, Probably rude.
post that is hidden from view That Greek
cap fonns still further support. and cush-
ions the figure in a way that can best Do
appreciated BY those who have grieved a.
the cruelty Of the stone pillar which makes
such an awful dent in the form of one Of
Canova's Grsces. The dainty feet. 100.
how modes,ly they are kept away from The
sacrilegous pavement of the slave market.
while securing the ultimate possession OF
the drapery To the outraged maid. from
whose shoulders il has been torn. Thus
looked the sweetest Of Dianas nymphs
when awaiting the action Of her mistress iu
the moment ere the human scrutiny OF SPELL
bound Action became only the gaze Of
/, stag at bay.
Even yet, however, one OF the stronges,
points in the sentiment Of the whole has
escaped the spectator. That poor gin is
chained, and slave. But she is a Chris
tan girl las you may see by that Cross
5 worked upon her raiment, and placed there.
5 amid home-life needle-woIk OF some OF her
: smaller articles OF apparel, which throw in
G the association of domesticity 30 unob,ru.
D sively )-she is Christian slave in chairs !.
! but cannot any one see tina, the chains
. themselves are nothing to her amid the op-
0 preston upon her woman's spirit in ,hs
d conditions Of the present moment
But study the statue again and again, and
+ other points alike of thought and execution
n will grow upon your view, until you own
d that the sculptors art has hardly in modern
y times produced aught more perfect--L,te