Daily American telegraph., 1852-09-22

9 The figure is in the substance OF the marble;
only extricate it from the enclosure, or PICK u
out" Thus said Roupiliac But the extrication
requires wonderful nicely Of conception and
execution. There are few who can do it, and
they are poorly recompensed for their study and
toll in this unideal republic Acres are too
cheap commerce is too tempting; and political
distinction, like the gilt-edged clouds upon an
autumn evening" too seeming near TO mans ex-
tended grasp. Few essay the task of discover
ing the beautiful figure in the MARBLE fewer
succeed and none receive their merited reward.
We have just returned from the studio of Mr..
William H. Philip. Philip is New Yorker,
who, at the early age of sixteen, fred with an
ardent love for the beautiful in art, repaired to
Italy, and there devoted many years TO the study
of the art of sculpture. The products of his ap-
pication in Italy have found places in private col
lections in New York for Philip is poor, and
though Americans have but few dollars 10 devote
to the purchase of works Of art, yet, at such
prices as they can pay, Philipha been constrain-
ed to part with the resemblances or localities he
has eliminated from the substance of the marble!
But his studio is unknown, and we suppose we
must tell, even to the intelligent people of thisme
tropols, where it can be found. 1t is a little
framed house, 90 near to the northern gate of
the Capitol that Billy Bowlegs could stand with
in that gate and send an arrow into the air that
would fall upon its roof. We have followed the
footsteps Of Mr. Philip to this grotesque little
studio, and there looked upon his works in the
various stages of their progress. The model bust
of Mr.. Fillmore, in plaster, is at once striking
portraiture andEa most admirable specimen of the
graceful handiwork Of the artist. We have seen
no other resemblance of the intelligent, dignifed,
dent, so true to the original, and yet SO pleasing
in its every outline and expression. Perhaps
equal in art, and even more striking in their Sc
we're and rude characteristics are given the al
most breathing forms of Black Hawk and young
Ke-o-kuck, who have lately been sojourning in
this city. They are, however, in less advanced
stage of execution nor, indeed, will any of them
be prepared for exhibition before the latter part
of November, when they may be seen in the Ma
tional Library.
Alone and uncheered by the presence Of en-
couraging friends Mr.. Philip industriously pur-
his silent way, his profession appearing to be
his only idol. @ In the commercial Cities" he
quantity remarks "men Of wealth are all men Of
occupation, and / have come here in the hope
that occasionally some one of both taste and
wealth may occasionally find leisure to pause and
look upon the works of an aspiring artist" Yet
he may be mistaken. There are but few among
us who can appreciate the ingenious extrication
Of forms of grace and beauty from the unshaped
marble, and far fewer possessing the wealth and
berality to compensate the artist for his years of
study and of toll. He may be one of the chosen
few to redeem us from the disgrace of being
wholly destitute Of an appreciation of the beauti-
full in art and yet may afford in his own instance
proof of our universal disregard of the progress
Of the fine arts in our country. We grieve over
this neglect yet rs we know that it argues the
diffusion Of wealth among the masses, rather than
the absolute want of taste and appreciation among
our countrymen, perhapswe should not grievs for
it, but rather submit with cheerfulness to the
disadvantages of a condition Of society that de-
prives us only of the elegancies and luxuries OF
the world, and secures to each a complement OF
all that is necessary for our subsistence and the
promotion Of our happiness.