New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-04
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN.
XVIII Annual Exhibition.



The fourth gallery is devoted exclusively to
Sculpture, to the exclusion Of every thing else
Thus out ines, architectural drawings, drawings ia
crsyons and in water c9lors, were sent back to
their authors, with the excuse that there was no
/ space for them; and perhaps there would have
been further notice taken Of the fact did we not
fad in this room, among eyenteen pieces Of sculp-
ture, thirteen by Mr.. Fl. K. Brown.
The works not By Mr. b. being exceptional, let
Us take them frat No. is Dust of Washing
ton Allston.' by BRAcKETT-either the same that
was exhibited in the American Art Union rooms
several years ago, or else a duplicate. We be-
lieve it was modelled from cast taken after death
and is considered fair likeness Of the original
No. J. Star Gemd Aurora" by j. MosrER We
have seen some clever things om the chisel of ,his
sculptor and the work in question, did il purport
to be likeness OF some young person, might be re-
garded as having good individual characteristics.
But the idea Of calling it "Aarora is az absurd a.
the artists failure is complete in making an ideally
beautiful and classic work. An artist can make no
greater mistake .han in hese daysof infdelty 10 re-
ligious feelings and impulses. 1000 years removed
from the mythology Of the Greeks, and with the
whole state Of society and circumstances by neces.
sty utterly unlike the Greek in development and sc
ton upon human nature, 10 attempt 70 embody
or express the grandeur, submity, ideal classic and
godke beauty ever suggested by the mystical reli.
gion ofthe great period Of Grecian history. II he
would copy the works of that age let him do 60 and
make modest confession thereof; bat let him not
waste his time in trying TO invent new venases,
Psyches Dianas or Auroras, for no modern sculptor
h~.k - ~. Il Al
are best but inefficient limitations or poor pagiar
isms. It was here that Canoya dwindled and be-
came affected or inspid. The broad northern nature
Of Thorwalds was insufficient and be dealt with
other subjects to greater Advantage. The profound
wisdom Of Michel Angelo and the unerring instincts
Of bis gigantic intellect led him at once to this dis
coyery and like true genius he threw himself I'D
on the idea of his age-that is, upon Christianity
or else boldly descended into hitherto unknown
depths Of sllegory, giving form and embodiment 10
IDEAS original, grand, gro.esq1e and superhumaa--
forebOdiDgs they may be, Of beings ye. to come In
the remote future from the present puny raced
The best talent employed in Sculpture ia the pres
ent day most successful il most closely follows
Eature-refning and identifying Of course, bot
preserving faithfully those characteristics which
always indicate the temperament, and thus leave
the work natural, not IDEAL In this connection we
cite DAVID DANCER Of Paris, DUPRE Of Florence,
and the buits Of our own Powers. When Powers
attempts the ideal, he is weak and erring like the
others. For example, bis Greek Slave" however
beautiful the execution, fyou take away the chain
and other mere accessories would DO just a. well
for lymph as slave. The orpheus Of Crawford
Niobe, Thank Heaven. Mr.. Crawford cannot with
any hind Of propriety introduce the classic" into
the Virginia Monument. But stiII. OF they go with
the Greek ideal and nothing else il they makes
David, Apollo must serve a. the pattern; IL Fish