New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-26
FINE ARTS.
The Nonumeut in ~. stephens Church in
Philadelphia.

The Nonument in ~. stephens Church In
Philadelphia.
The recent erection Of this exquisite work
il an event in the history OF Art in this country We
doubt whether there be anything Of the kind on this
side of the Atlantic that surpasses equAls-we had
almost said approaches il or even on the other which
more fully and beautifully expresses what i'll designed
10 represent
Edward Shipper Burd, citizen of Philadelphia,
dying few years ago left provisions by his viii $4,000
for 4 monument be erected in the Church, Of which
he was member to the memory Of his three children
who had died in the opening bloom OF youth two young
won en- and boy.
The execution Of the work was entrusted to Stein
hBuser of Rome, a German sculptor, well known and
admired in this City for the evidences Of his fine genius
which have reached Philadelphia, the most beautiful
being the Hero and Leandor the Philadelphia Acsde
my Of the Fine Arts.
The monument, which within few weeks has been
placed in St Stephens Church consists Of four life
size fguTes representing the three deceased persons
and the Angel Of the Resurrection.
The eldest is the central figure seated asleep at the
foot Of cross with her head gently ineining to the
right and resting the head Of her sister who sits on
the right also asleep, with her head on the others
shoulder the face upurned il she had fallen asleep
while gazing a, her sister, and the lids had fallen over
lovneeyes The right arm Of the second sister is
thrown careiessly over volume which lies open on
the right knee OF the central figure On the left the
boy is seated on the ground with his head resting
his arm and bic arm resting his sisters knee. He
holds loosely in his hand twig Of pOmegranaie
The group u characterized by entire simplicity and
the profoundcst rcpose Il ills and satisfies the eye a
the frst glance The faces purely Ideal, differing,
but az beautiful.
Behind the group to The left stAuds the Angel of the
Resurrection with outspread wings as II he had just
Aehted the trumpet In his le hand, while with the
night he just about touch the shoulder OF the cen
tsl figure and so 20 awaken them all Slightly bend.
ing forward his attitude expresses expectation. lie
looks to see them awake the instant so true Is his
eounienAnce and air TO his angelic nature that the wings
are not needed 10 distinguish IL.
While the three sleeping forms represent the persons
to whom this wondrous work Of is sacred they also
synbohze Love, Faith and Hope the eldest, having
one arm round her sister while the other hsnd rests on
the shoulder OF the boy represents Love, the second
sister whose arm lies on the open volume on her SIS
tiers knee images Faith and the pomegranate in the
boy hand Is the symbol Of Hope
The cross against which the central hure leans rises
some three feet or more above the group.
This thing Of beauty attracts numbers 10 the Church
who are freely admitted Al certain hours. We have
vet 70 hear the hrsi whisper OF unfsvorsble criticism
All beholders away filed with sense Of the "a
credness and touching sediment Of this fsutless pro
ducton Of Art Il Is impossible that shsud not in
spire and iiase the love Of the Beautiful Il worth
vsi FhAdelPha from any part Of the country 70
see Il p