Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-16

niodesty of the maiden than the absence of thc
vital spark. The innocence OF youth the uuri-
ty of dawning love, the brightglowing promise
OF the future, the mnglng Of the soul 5 high as
| piratlons with the tenderness and warmth of a.
true feminine heart. are exguistey combined in
| the expression of the whole face. You feel that
1t is just the kind of beauty that you have been
searching for all your life, combining soul and
sentiment with the most winning simplicity, and
| resolve to get married provided you are bach
| elor) In form and features; or, upon second
thoughts, to order this very statue in marble and
put 1t up at the foot of your bed where you can
see it when you come home late from the club
smiling pleasantly at you, mot the broken. heart
| ed pleasant SMILE and behold it when you open
| your eyes in the morning, through the mists of
bad champagne as amiable and loving as ever,
and as mute as heart could wish, with no re-
proaches, no complaints of the children in
rags. wounded feelings shameful treatment which
alas
Mr. Ives has lately completed another very
| fine work entitled Pandora, of a more severe
style, and consequently not so pleasing as the
statue OF Spring. but admitted by the best cri-
tics IN Rome to be production of great merit.
1t is full length figure. without drapery,.
Though | believe he intends drapng it, hold
ing In the left hand the fatal box presented by
Joye, and looking down upon it with pensiye
expression of countenance, if about to open
it, but pausing with presentment that there
might be mischief at the bottom Of it, which
there was, sure enough. Another late work. and
one of the most pleasing of all his productions,
is bust of Flora rising from vase of flowers.
The halr is parted in the middle, and thrown
carelessly back over the neck and shoulders. 1t
Is charmingly decorated with rosebuds, violets,
and other flowers, so truthfully wrought that
they seem the real flowers turned to snow. The
purity Of sentiment evinced in this work, the del
lcacy and winning beauty expressed i'll the fea-
lures, the high tone of idealty and appreciation
OF the pure and beautiful, the aud freedom of
style, never exaggerated, always bcld yet with
Ill the gentle nodesty of nature, can scarcely be
surpassed. A bust Of Achante may also be
numbered among the best of Mr.. Ives recent
productions. One copy is already in marble and
another is in progress The head is crowned
with grape leaves the hair falling loosely back
and dividing naturally over the shoulders without
any tie; it is lightly draped, showing just enough
of the form to inspire wish to more. But
it would require greater space than | can spare
to give you any idea of all the good things in this
studio. There are busts of General Scott, Hon.
d. s. Gregory, Miss Porter, Mrs. Lambert, Sui
ly, II. I. luckerman, and numerous others, all
most striking Ekenesses and admirable works
OF art. Such talents as Mr.. Ives possesses must
eventually land feel confident the time is not
far distant) win for him that eminent rank among
modern sculptors to which he is justly entitled.
With no other interest in the matter than that of
X,
ciated hope our wealthy old relative at home
who takes charges of the affairs of State, as also
private connoisseurs, will, in looking out for what
is excellent in art, bear in mind that America has
produced few good artists we'll as Italy, and
throw aside the absurd prejudice in favor of all
present age.
In letter from Florence I gave you some ac-
count of the statue of Ruth, by Mr.. Rodgers, of
New York. The cast is now in Rome, where
this very talented artist has permanently taken
up his residence. Already it is well blocked out
in marble, and promises, not only from the lnrin-
sic merits of the work itself, but from the purity
and beauty of the marble, to be in all respects
a most attractive production. During the pro-
gress of the mechanical part of the process, THAT
of cutting out in marble,) Mr.. Rodgers has
ployed himself on some works of lighter char
acter, one of which is very charming design re-
pres enting Cupid, disguised with the mercenary
love of the present day. breaking his bow. The
figure is that of beautiful child, four or five
years of age, seated on the bed of flowers, sup
porting himself with one arm, while with the
other he pulls the bow towards him, the end be-
ing caught in the bend of the lower leg, and the
foot of the upper leg so pressed against the mid
die as to enable him to break the bow. culver
of arrows lies at his back, which he cast off i'll
despair of ever having further use for it, The
slight scarf by which it was carried falls across
the lower part of the body, and forms the only
drapery. An arrow which he has just shot from
his bow lies by his side broken, the point having
struck against coin instead of tender and low
ing heart st which the little god always aims.
The expression of the face is admirable, giving
Just the right idea of childish disgust mingled
with that mischievous spirit which historians,
poets, and lovers have attributed to the way
ward boy who deals in hearts. SO well-conceiyed
is the whole thing that cannot but suspect the
author of having dipped little into another book
I ~ = +ho, thn1n | tba
strange book of nature, in which one reads les
sons of Joy and pain, and learns that there are
delightful little things in this world, most Gun
certain GOV, and hard to please" Mr.. Rodgers
has also conceived very happy thought, which
he has already developed in sketch, OF repre-"
sentng winter and summer in their most pleasing
phrases Winter appears in the form of a boy,
who, with loose hood thrown his head,
and draped to suit the season, is just making his
first essay upon the ice. With one hand he holds
the stump of a tree on the edge of a pond, afraid
to let go lest he should fall; one foot nearly sup
ports him, while the other umldly touches the
ice TO test it's strength. The face is that of
sturdy, headstrong little fellow, VINO mas run on
from home against parental authority. and is de-
lighted with the novelty of the enterprise, while
rather fearful of the result. Summer is repre-
scented by nude figure of the same size, about
to plunge into stream OF water. Flowers grow
upon its banks, and it is overhung by shrubbery,
giving pleasing sense OF shade and respose
Both of these designs are certainly as original as
any can be ON such a subject; and, as well as |
can Judge by the sketches, evinee high talent
for expression of ideal character; aud will, when
completed, form two most pleasing works, each
distinct if necessary, but bearing the same rela-
tionship to the other as the seasons which they
represent.
In tho studio of Mr. Mosier, another Of the
American artists now in Rome, | had the plea
sure of seeing several good things, chief among
which is his statue of Pocahontas, not yet finish
ed. 1t is sufficiently near completion, however,
IL. at II will be q work of