Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-12


we have greatly the advantage; but the of-hand an
generous in which they give orders to our artist
evinces liberal spirit matter what may be the
tive. only wish that wealthy men Of New York an
Boston would devote little of the same sort Of attention
to the interests of American art instead Of wasting
every year buying up trash and encouraging imposi
ton One good original production is worth dozen ba
copies Of the old masters II we intend building ii
for the fine arts in the United States the best wa
to begin is by encouraging artists to make goo
pictures from nature and not by employing them upo,
copies Of the old masters which never be as good
the originals. No copy is good as an original saw
that which is made from the fountan-head from which
all artists should copy taste for the arts can never
promoted encouraged in America by importing picture
or other works. that only have the effect Of disgusting
people neither is it by academies or academca ciques
1t is in the genial sunshine popular favor that poetry
and the arts fourishnot in gloomy halls where conten
ton reigns. But here off again prosy lecture
Passing up the Via ST. Basilio took peep to-day
the studio Of Mr. IvEs the sculptor whose works had
missed seeing previous to his departure from Florence
Had anticpatedthe pleasure that in store for me
assure you it would not have been long deferred
Not only highly pleased, but most agreeaby sur
prsed for often heard his works favorably spoken
of by the artists of Florence my attention was net
R0OQ
in Italy only to be disappointed Something above me-
docrty is requisite to enlist attention. after soourn
few months in this land Of art where every church
public promenade has its boosted statuary every palace
its gallery of paintings and sculpture every family its
household busts and every tourist his flights of enthusiasm
the productions of genius In truth genius becomes
rather drug and could almost wish Of art as Dr.
johnson did Of certain piece of difficult music that it
were altogether impossible. My visit to Mr.. Ives's
studio has convinced that there ways than
of obtaining celebrity in art and that genuine merit
often remains unnotced in consequence Of too much hon
esy to adopt egitimate Of obtaining patronage
While there thousands ready to award their blind
homage to the genius of Canovs and purchase at
price the rie from his hand there in Italy
at this very moment American artists, comparatively
elected by their countrymen greatly superior to him in
all the essential attributes Of genius-men who would be
sorry to the authorship Of his emascuate produc
tons and when say this of Canova, it is not because
he is an Italian, for genius is not of country; but be-
cause it surprises me, after seeing what he has accom-
plished, how artist deficient in manly vgor and
knowledge of anatomy, could ever have arrived at emf
nence the merit of his works alone. cannot but
suspect that he what popularity he yet retains
among tourists flor the best artists with whom have
conversed rather underrate hm to the fact Of having
been the first to revive the arts in Italy, and perhaps in
some degree to having supped with Madame de Stael
made statue of Pauline Bonaparte, and formed the sub
ect Of idea for Byron Who by the way had about
much love of art he had of virtue This much for the
of truth and now let US refresh ourselves with
something really excellent in art
Mr.. IVES is just finishing beautiful female figure
presenting Spring The subject Of course, is not new
but fortunately it is as broad and comprehensive as
beauty itself, and affords endless variety in design
Nothing exceed the gracefuness of design the sim
phcty of position and the general tone of harmony and
truthfuness in this work 1t does not starte by its
vety; you feel that it is from nature not presented
through the medium of morbid fancy sraining for effect
but through the soul of genuine votary who loves
ture too well to offend her Unborn odesy The figure Is
the size Of fe 1t is that Of beautiful girl just budding
into womanhood seated on bank of grass and flowers
engaged in the innocent decorating hair
probably in the very natural hope of captivating the heart
OF some Grant knight of the woods. Her left hand is
gracefully raised her head and in her fingers she holds
string of flowers with which she is binding her hair
the right is lowered and in the hand she holds the
other end of the garland giving variety and development
to the neck shoulders and all the beauties Of the FORM
especially that winding character Of outline essential
to beauty Around the hips rather falling below the
hips if by accident is loose piece Of drapery, which
covs tne lower mDs out uoes not couceal ne grace
full contour the right foot ventures modesuy from its
flowing folds and the left is partially hidden in its mystic
retreat beneath the drapery The whole form is chase
enough for the strictest moralis and yet soft and
enough to captate any old bachelor with Of ten
derness But the facehe seat Of the SOUL some phi
losophers thinks heart and soul with Spring She is
looking slightly upward If unconsciously impersonat
ing in the attitude the hopefuness of the future smile
Of inward happiness love of life and all its bright pro-
misses, is impressed upon her lips which ready to
utter the innocent thoughts that uter in her bosom yet
than the absence Of the vital spark The innocence Of
youth the purity of dawning love- the Pro-
mise Of the future the minging of the souls high api
rations with the tenderness and warmth of true ftmi
nine heart exquisitey combined in the expression Of
the whole face You feel that 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 bachelor
to the very first young lady you find exactly like her
in form and features upon second thoughts to order
this very statue in MARBLE and put it up at the foot Of
your bed where you it when you come home Late
from the club smiling pleasantly at y mot the broken
hearted pleasant smile and behold it when you oper
Jour eyes in the morning through the mists of bad cham
pagne aniable and loving as ever, and as mute a
heart could wish, with reproaches no complaints
chdreni in rags, wounded feelings shameful treatment
i whch-alasl
Mr.. Ives has lately completed another very fine work
entitled Pandora Of STYLE and consequently
pleasing the statue Of Spring but admitted b.
the best critics in Rome to be- production Of great merit