The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-12
American sculptors In Rome.


American sculptors In Rome.
The FIRST art which, in times Of antiquity, arose,
after the spear and aven had been laid aside, from
the choas of bar oarism, the art of sculpture.
Form, more than color seems to have impressed
the uneducated mind; and the ancsnts were far
advanced in the art of sculpture long before any
mention is made in their records Of the art Of
painting
Between the ancient Greeks and the modern
Americans, there is great affinity of character,
the same vvacity, the same spirit Of enterprise,
and the resemblance, seems destined to become
very important one with regard to the fine arts
The Greeks were the fore most Of all nations in the
noble art Of sculpture Their school is even yet the
model for all students; and yet, the moderns, so
far beyond the ancients in the positive sciences
have not in the fine arts attained the perfection Of
their predecessors. The Americans, Of all modern
people, seem ntuitively TO have understood that
art which first saw light in Greece. This must
arise from q peculiar organization, somewhat
from the grandeur of the scenery around; perhaps
to the influence of climate for, most assuredly, the
first settlers did bring either the taste or the
art from either England or Holland, neither coun-
tries having, in proportion to other European
nations, ever been renowned for their scuQ :ors
But 1t IL from America that will come the sue
cessors Of Thorwaldson and Canova; and the Greek
Slave of Powers will long stand side BY side
with the "statue which enchants the world "
As the artistic world looks 10 America, il is but
right that America should knew whom sho has now
within the walls of the eternal city already main
tanning the high standard Of Columbian genius, as
well a. those on whom she rely for her future
glory in that art.
! Foremost in the list stands Gibson--cslm, re-
served, and sad as with his deep set eye he gazes
on his works, smile, Of incredibly, plays
around his lips when enthusiastic raptures, inspired
by his works, greet his ear. What o others nus
the summit fart, is TO him, its infancy hi grasp
ing mind, and vast conception, being far beyond
what his hand executes. Each statue of Gibson is
poem worked gu. in his mind for months before
he ever moulds the modelling clay. Hence the
versatility Of his genius. Ihs works, as you
stand in his studio, seem not to be tho work
| OF one hard or head In this, he rises far
above Canova, whose ideal was ever, in
I different garb and attitude, the same, from
the voluptuous dsnzatrice, to the holy vcstal-
the features vary but in their expression In Gibson,
even when the subjec: has some analogy, the con-
cepton Is entirely different, and is working out Of
al individual thought. Aurora descending, thought
q heather goddess and a perfect model OF the
! female form, is totally unlike his Venus. In the
studio near them, stands a hunter holding back
his dog which is full Of nervous strength; then,
again, his Narcissus is younger brother Of
/ Apollo; his Wounded Amazon, combining mus
cular force with the rounded grace vt womanh0od;
his Sleeping Shepherd, pastoral poem Ia ITSELF 80
gentle 30 full OF tender dreams is that sweet face,
SO full Of youth and vigor arc the limbs in
utter repOsc Of sleep One Of these statues Che has
two) IL for Mr.. Lennox, Of New York. lilo has been
engaged this winter ia modelling his statue Of Sir
Robert Peel lie has made three, from which the
Committee to choose. Happily, they cannot 90
wrong, for an English jury on the subject Of Gle
arts is generally not very enlightened; All the
portrait be executes in classical costume
/ lie has orders for, and will speed ~ commence, q
/ group Of Queen Victoria, seated on throne, be
/ tween elemeDcy and justice Her Majesty Of Eng
land has already him for the head and Gibson
with the poetry Of artist, which In any other per
son might have passed for the iattery Of courtier,
has, without destroying the Likeness, so idcalized
this really plain face, a. TO produce beautiful aud
! classical head. In one Of his leisure moments ho
made n medallion Of himself which IL admirable,
and too precious TO be left in ! /, own hands, for
Gibson is subject to fits OF depression and disc,n-
tent with himself, which might lead him, IN "A mo
/ nent of dacUursg z, meut, 70 destroy shat, TO the
present ard future generations. IL, aud will be,
most precious. Ia the studio which belonged once
! to Tborwaldsen, is nov another sculptor (Mac-
donsld), worthy &C ihhsbulne the walls still filled
with the ms uaury Of the SOU ~ e. titus Inc rvoms
(therc ar, twO) flied WITH three tour hundred
. busts, which tbis a Tie. has tSccu ea-hv prriec-
/ ton and gfsce, this spvcial brsuch Of the ART
+ having brought under his cbi,ei most of tho illus
trious ana Gel, brsitu vi evety nation Tempted
1 by cOIstsbt d, uHLus aud very high prices, Mac
dor ID hss beth OBJ Ktd o. neglect The ideal. for he
L. 81 sitst Of pOiUui feeding auo deep thought,
d Ike tfbtot, and would not give o. the world any
immature sketchy statue, tut. like Gibson and
Powers. the poem 10 composed In bis brain,
\ fiom which, Minerva like, the statue " t.
cone forth complete, in ali but the material labor,
vbtn he takes MS cLisel in hsni TO execute IT,
There ~, bOvestr showing bis full genius, a sta-
tue OF Uy sscs, 1t the moment he Is recognized by
bis dog Ulysses bee The grandeur Uf the II ,merIc
hero, yet tbtle h 10 much u the that
the heart nClts o. JVu gaze Here, too, an Andro-
mtos chained 20 the rock, and a statue a portraib
Of Lord kilmOrsy lhi. bobeman being fistiu.
quebec for all the BRUSH acc Hn pishsicnts aui
fpors pu gIlisuc al others. tas cLOstn % b. im.
rrortalitu % an uIthis p Sc figure "a scmi nude
full Of siren 9Th, dsilayIug ia, uuscgsE form la
The prime u yUuth.
Cia~iord Il. Of course. n.g Engaged In the stu
! PEI dous Washington ur'uuep.i Patrick Henry
= AID Jellfson src already mt delcH The statue Of
+ lstTck Henry u cOmnCLce1 in JOS jeGniti4t sc,
about iouftes feet high lut Che positive has q
made him ucgltct the IueRl sui ibc D. autfu group
I OF Hebe ana Gam u de, iof Mr. 4. Pc kin, VI
Boston, will hvstIy oriDg t.dlg. o. bis genius 70
h- native lsud.
one II the most Interesting studio. % WRIT at
Rune is ore from whish TOE I4t .iding spiri. has
D nco-tLst OF Nyatt--on whose works ctth has
stt the s,al q merit aud mu Ortaliiy. lis great
work which stab1s there awaiting Foe royal d,s;i-
nation in Uuc g the Queen a B.. glands l.4la9et,
isamR.sstio statue Of Penelope tue lace aud form
/ both expatssi Of r. solution mingled vita iVvc
I ard sonss Afoutd srr msny other Statutes.
| WyRts iayorte subjects were the NJ ophs Of
] IasIa's usiD--tbo nvst bvsutiful Of these is VA
/ the great Ishibitioo. WJsu genius vas grace
sul spi descsts a. CAnsyn' he resembles Sim Ia