The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-09-25
W WORLD or Art.
Sculpture at the Crystal Palace.
The Herald Commissioner Among the Statues,
10, &C., 20.

y
ture Of the exL b ton. As the visiter enters the
building the first object which meets his eye is
statue 20 where he will within its precincts the
speaking arble is always by his side, and the last
look cast towards the interior as he slowly makes
his exit is sure to light work of the chise
Mr. is this altogether due to the number and favor
able position of the statues. large proportion of
the works in this branch of art possess very high
merit. Unlike its twin-sister sculpture is well re-
presented at the Palace Native and foreign artists
have sent their best works. Europe has been ran
sacked to furnish contributions. Men Of genius in
Sweden, Norway, Britain, Germany. France, Italy,
and-tbough last among the first in point Of merit
America have cheerfully labored to make our exhi.
bition worthy of its aim in this respect. Did the
Palace contain nothing but the marbles and the
casts which border the naves would still be worth
journey of several hundred miles to visit it. The
collection has never been, and possibly may not be
for many years. equalled on this side the Atlantic.
Even in Europe, where so many valuable galleries
abound, it would challenge general notice, and be.
speak much admiration.
II Is not impossible to assign reason for the
striking contrast between the collections of painting
and sculpture in the Crystal Palace. Mediocsity is
both more easily obtained and more respectable in
the marble than on canvass. correct knowledge
Of forms and anatomy is more easily acquired than
an Acquaintance with shape. color, lights, perspec
tive and all the other requisites essential for the
painter; and though mere academical statue can
never occupy high place as work of art, it vii
nevertheless please, where painting Of equal merit
would pass upnoticed. great critic has said that
q statue of the first rank, such as Michel Angeles
Moses or the Apollo Belvidere," shows q
higher order Of genius than the finest painting ever
produced. Mil ael Angelo himself said, as every.
body knows. that chevalet painting only fit for
women. The opinion, which is based on a variety of
very ingenious if not very solid reasons, may not be
worth discussing But it is certain that the world
contains fewer statues Of equal merit to the Moses
than paintings which can comp are with the best
works of Raphael and Murlo. The statues which
arrest the beholder, rivet his attention, and hold
him transfxed with ave. pity, or enthusiasm
which gain on him as he studies their beauties,
and, after years have elapsed, still preserve
fresh place in his memory and retain the power
of awakening his emoti ons-such works IS these
are rare, very rare. To have seen two or three of
them is enough for lifetime. To compensate us,
however, for their rarity, we are happily enabled to
admire and even to feel enthusiasm at works Of
mu ID lower order of merit. Beauty Of form though
cheaply attained, is almost sure to please. A bold
anatomy that would be Insignificant ON canvass is
admired in bronze or marble. Indeed, though the
sculptors claims on admiration be but negative
though be have done nothing more than copy cor
recty, he will win laurel that should refuse to
an equally conscientious painter. From the latter
We expect something more than accuracy. Hence
it is perhaps that it is easier to collect respectable
sAsw Of statues than an equally popular gallery Of
paintings and hence, in all probability, the wide
disparity between the sculptures and paintings Of
the exhibition.
We may perambulate the gallery of paintings for
many days before any Of the works of art there ex
pssed excite 1.-THE Of the emotions aroused by .
single glance at Thorwaldsen's Apostles Fancy
room shaped somewhat like the larger half Of circle
and hung with purple; around the wall stand on
D raised dais the Twelve Apostles larger than life,
and ct the apex colossal figure of Christ rises,
overlapping his disciples, and stretching forth his
hands as he bids them, GO, and preach the Gospel
TO every creature" Each figure is Stamped with
individuality and full of life. There stands Philip
bearing bis cross and mourning at the prospect othe
loss OF hi beloved master There the sweet angelic
face Of John, our Christian BelYidere. Matthew
wears an aspect of worldly wisdom and sagacity;
bis bag Of money at his feet tells both of his former
calling and of the part he bore in the early Christian
commonwe alth. Sern resolution is written in the
features Of Bartholomew; the knife he ARIES be.
tokens the determined character Of his zeal. Peter
is Of course the conventional figure we all know
There il more paternal kindness in Pauls expression
than 1t has been usual to ndi ,ate The Italians gene
rally blen led more OF Saul in their Paul. Finally
for we cannot stop to indvidualize each-the Christ
is magnificent in grandeur and godlike majesty.
1t is not the Christ of Michael Angelo who in
clouds and thunder to judge guilty world, but the
Christ Of the Evangelists, beaming with goodness,
humility and -forgiving, not Furnishing, cher
ishing not spurnipg, plying not condemning his
creatures His ,utstretched arms cover whole
world So great is the triumph Of the sculptor that
as we stand at several feet distance, gazing on the
figure, we can hardly repress the apprehension that
it is actually endowed with life, and advancing to-
wards us. How much of this group Thorw aldsen
owes to Leonardo and others it would be both diff
cult and invidious TO say. Who can tel what Leo
nardo himself invented, and what he borrowed from
bis predecessors Let US give the Northman full
credit for this invention Executed it the group
would do honor TO any sculptor Of ancient or modern
time.
The exhibition contains reproductions of thres
other works Of Thor saldsen by modern artists. or
his " Ganymede' we end two copies. both In arble
and both, like the original. graceful and pleasing.
The Italian painter had very different notion of
Ganymede. HIS Mercury has been cooled with
considerable success by Sr. Lazzerin Mr.. Gels,
has contributed a copy Of his Hooe"-a y,uth
with hand upft-who might well have sug sested
those beautiful lines Of Keats
As Ia sparkling majesty astsr
Gfes the bsight summit Of ZONE gloomy cloud,
Bsbtspirg the nall yelled face of heaven sfsr:
50 vbes dxrk thouT,ts my boding spirit shroud,
Street Hepsl csls' tia influences round ne shed,
Waving TOY silver piniJnt Ger my bead
II II gratifying TO find America well represented
in the department OF sculpture. The English critics
spoke OF Powers Creek Slave one the nobIest
ornaments OF their exbioiion; we may Justly consd
IL one OF the stars Of our II is too we'll known
here 10 need description. Admitting, however, the
truth ~ the comlums which have been lavished
upon t. one may perhaps wonder, If II be fair type
"a the ladies' Of Greece, how certain Italian pro-
verb familiar 10 al travellers In the Mediterranean,
nrax rsc.s into MA We had almost th0uuht of