The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-01-20
Pswer| Greek slave.

This great work Of the American sculptor
has arrived in our city, and 10 daily visited b,
large numbers Of delighted spectators. Ii /:
beautiful as the hrst pure sigh Of virgin love
There Is nothing about the statue that is moi
beautiful. IL is beautiful in the general idea
and beautiful in all the details There is a SOU
ia that marble that kindles soul in every be
holder. We wonder al the magic power Of the
artist which can give sOftness TO the rigid mate
| rial, and Till IL with the features of life. This
statue does not seem. like Pygmalion' :. to re.
qnire the Goddess Of Beauty to give Il life
The life is there. The statue tells tale Of rob
berry and inhumaRity, Of blighted hopes aud
affections, Of home and friends lost forever
We look with the maiden to the past. where all
the sunshine Of her life is gathered, and TO the
future, where no ray Penetrates the gloom
The brightness OF the past serves only to give
intensity to the darkness of the future.
Some have objected to the exhibition Of this
statue indelicaIe. We feel confident that
none who have seen the statue have made the
objection. They fear only the effect upon the
minds Of others. We believe that any one who
Is affected with any but the paresi feelings in
the presence Of this r-preseniatio Of purity, is
SO impure that there is no hope for him-he is
gone past redemption II is the impurity of his
own soul that is reflected from the marble. lie
is corrupted by il as the dead carcass is corrupt
ed by the rays Of the sun. lie would gather
impurity from the sight of Virtue herself, as
the spider collects poison from the most beauti-
ful flowers lie would be warmed into vice by
the sight Of the ieicles that hang on Dian's
temple.
We wish to say a word or two about the
charges that have been lately made sgainst Mr..
Powers. We have read with care the publica-
tions that have been made on that subject, and
We believe that Mr.. Powers is entirely free
from blame. Ia August, le45, Mr.. Robb re-
quested Hon. K. IL. Wilde TO write to Mr..
Powers. and learn from him on what terms he
would furnish. Mr.. r. with copy of the Greek
Slave. Mr.. z. agreed TO furnish a copy for 600
pounds, one half to be paid in advance, and the
other half upon the completion of the work, at
the end Of two years. Everything goes to show
that the statue was to be delivered in Florence
In December, ls45, Mr.. X. wrote TO Mr.. p. or
deTing copy Of his Zee. Mr.. p. believed this
10 be a mistake, and wrote TO Mr.. X. stating his
belief Mr.. r. wrote in answer that it was
copy of the Greek Siars, and not of the Epe,
that he wished. This letter was received by
Mr. Powers on the 9th of June, ls46. Every
one must see that the two years within which
he statue was to be completed must be COM
puted from this time. Mr.. Powers could not
knsss that Mr.. R0bb had not changed his mind.
He could not commence the statue till he had
heard from Mr.. Robb.
At the time of Mr.. Robb's application, Mr.. |
Powers had nearly completed copy Of the |
Greek Slave for Lord Ward, and had made con- |
progress on another copy which had |
been ordered by Sir Charles Coote. These are
he two copies which nov in this country. |
Seither of them was originally Intended for
Mr.. Robb. The artist had obtained from Mr..
(. permission to exhibit his copy, when finish.
ID, in the cities Of the United States Gas long
IS he liked" Before Mr.. p, however, had re-
eived an answer TO his application for permits
ion to exhibit. Lord Ward consented to give ND
lis copy to the artist, in order that he might
xhibit II in America.
Mr. P. then determined to let Mr.. Robb have
he copy originally intended for Lord Ward, If
dr r. should make no objections TO the exhi-
ition. But after this copy had been sent to
merica, Sir Charles COots wrote to Mr.. Pow
rs, Informing him that his private fortune had
cen impaired by the troubles In Ireland, and he
'ished Mr.. p. would take the statue of his
ands. Mr.. p. suPposing that Mr.. Robb raight
fish TO receive copy sooner than the Ward
atue could be delivered to him, wrote TO Mr..
!. and offered the Coote copy to him, stating at
he same time, that IL was of much purer mar
e than the Ward copy. Mr.. R. refused this
Ter, and demanded the delivery of the wizard
,py on the first Of March, ls45. To avoid liz.
alton the statue was delivered to him.
Mr.. Robb claims that the two years expired in
.nuary, ls4s; but it must be evident to every
he who examines the subject, that the time did /,
ot expire Till June 6, lS4s.
Mr.. Powers contracted TO furnish copy 10 !.
r. Robb; but Mr.. r.. acted as il the artist had ,
reed TO furnish the copy intended for Lord i.
ard. He had no greater claim to this particu. :
statue than he had to the one purchased BY
=. Grant. lie Indignantly refused the Coo.e
s'ns' as II there we're an intention to cheat q
m Our conclusion Is. that Mr.. Robb must !.
we iaoored under some strange misap prehen- ia
IN In regard to his righs. We cannot see any y
Ing to censurs in Mr. Powers' conduct. IN,