The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-10

pleasing composition 10 group called Reject
ed Addresses "a sitting figure Of little girl,
holding her kitten, which dog at her knee is
striving in vain to concliate. The attitude and
look Of the little girl are very pretty and arch,
but the group is yet hardly in a state to be de-
scribed in detail
Among MIR. Mozier's ideal busts | am most
pleased with a Ddphne-several copies of
which are now in America. IL is an exquisite
head--uot alone rarely beautiful in form, but
expressive of much poetic thought The face
and bearing of the head convey a sentiment of
resignation, with tenderness and purity pecu-
liarly sweet and touching
With some of the works Of Mr. Ives have
been much pleased. If not an enthusiast, he
seems conscientious student in his art lie he
does not produce works startlingly powerful
aud original, whatever he does he does we'll
He models with taste, feeling, and careful
finish. Hlis portrait busts seem to me remark
ably good, andssome of his ideal busts are ex-
ceedingly fine. OF the latter like especially,
head of Ariadne-ful of beauty of II noble
| character
Mr. Rodgers, "A young sculptor of much tai
cat and promise, has lately executed, in marble,
a figure of Ruth, which is very lovely; and one
Of charming and think entirely original
subject little skater, making one of his first
essays on the ice This last which is called
"The Truant," delights me greatly, by a GER
tain freshness of feeling there is about il, and
| by its grace, novelty, and naturalness.
MIR. Bartholomew has two ideal figures late
| ly commenced. which cannot yet be Judged OF,
| except by their studies which are very pleas
ing This artist seems to excel in bassO reIieUo.
| He has in his studio beautiful monumental
group, and Homer, with his young guide,
which is marked by force, grace, and delicate
feeling.
Mr.. Bartholomew has poetic sentiment with
taste, strength, and patience-he has genu-
| inc reverence for his art, and modest estimate
Of himsef---s beyond doubt an artist whom
America will do we'll to encourage.
There is here young English sculptor, MIR.
Shakespeare Wood of whom speak in connec-
ton with American artists, because of some
works he is now executing for America, and
of peculiar American interest "a figure Of
Evangeline Bellefontaine, and one of Gabriel
| Lajeunnesse The former il now being put
into marble; but, as yet only q study of the
latter has been modelled. Evangeline is repre-
scented as bearing to the reapers the fagon of
home brewed ale,D and is lovely embodiment
of the poets fair ideal. The form is light and
graceful the face sweet and tender, but not
| and while perfectly modest and maidenly, hides
little of the symmetry of the form.
| The head is crowned, but in no way con-
| cealed, by pretty little cap; the curling hair
| ia lightly lifted, and blown backward by ac-
ton and the air. The Gabriel is handsome,
| gallant-looking youth, standing by his anvil,
| and leaning on his hammer. Mr.. Wood il
now modelling bust of Miss Charlotte Cush-
man, which already gives me higher idea of
his talent aud artistic taste than anything he
has yet done. 1t shows strength feeling, and
delicate perceptions-is marked by rare truth,
| not alone to form, but to character, and by a
noble breadth of expression. should say that
in portrait busts los MIR. Woods chief forte
| All those have seen, of which | know the
originals strike me as most faithful and favor
able likenesses.
Mr.. Page is here, painting some admirable
| pictures, and talking grandly on art to his sit
| ters aud friends. He has some peculiar, but, I
think, profoundly Just ideas, concerning por-
traitpainting He desires to know well his
sitters, and requires to grasp somewhat more
than the surface-life for his picture, which
he makes study of character, revelation of
soul, as compared with other portraits real
| ity, instead of likeness; a living presence in
place of haunting, nnsatisfying shadow. His
pictures have about them that mysterious some
thing OF the sentient and the vital, which makes
| you half believe that the artist has wrested
the creative secret from the jealous heart of
| Nature. You look to see the rich lights stir
in the hair, the lips breaking into smiles the
breast softly heayed, the very blood beating
along the veins
Mr., Page has in his studio several copies
from Titan, so marvellously true to that great
"a IA L. Ill. tls.~.S~ I,,
any other hand than his. ] am convinced that
we have no painter possessed of clear and
profound knowledge of his art ~ Mr.. Page.
| He lives in it, and through it; wanting the pas.
sionate energy of personal ambition, he docs
not pursue it ardently but studies it with all
the powers of subtle intellect and contem.
plates it with the calm devotion of reveren-
tial spirit By bringing 80 much thought and
power to bear upon ait-painting, Mr..
Page has done mpch to rnnOble that branch
of his art; but we yet look TO see manifestations
of his genius more original in character and
universal in Understanding which shall
be a full and worthy expression of himself--in
which the artist will live as sole creator and
first cause. One who can produce such ideal
works as he has produced should not he alb
sorbed for any length Of time in mere portrait
ure-merging the imagination in the actual,
the creative in the initiative.
Mr.. Brown is painting some glorious land
scapes this winter, filled with the peculiar
beauty, flushed with the warm lights, and
bathed in the soft atmosphere of the South.
| He seems to witch the true Italian sunlight
| down on to his canvass. He has lately painted
| a sunset view on the campagna, which is gor-
geous beyond description.
| MIR. Terry has in his studio several beautiful
pictures, mostly on Scriptural subjects all of
which, am happy to hear, are to 90 TO Amer
ica Mr.. Terry's coloring is brilliant, but soft
and rich; his composition is very effective,
without being studiedly no and his spirit is
evidently pure and religious.
Mr.. Chapman is painting his charming cos
tune peices, peculiarly Italian, and what call
delicious pictures---fnll of warmth and rich
ness--golden lights and purple shadows--the
| glowing passion and indolent repose of Italy.
| Mr.. Wotherspoon il q landscape painter Of
much talent, and admirably rcproduccs come
of the most exquisite scenery of this wondrous
land of ruin and loneliness.
| Mr.. Tilten, very young artist seems to
mellow the almost int0lersble brightness Of
Italian sun and sky by dreamy poetic at
mospherc which he throws about his pictures
He has true genius for landscape painting
delicate i'm agnation; and, with patient study
and little generous appreciation, will yet do
beautiful things in his art.
| Mr.. c. g. Thompson is engaged on lovely
little picture, called The Guardian angels. /
seldom see in the paintings of any modern art
list coloring equal to his.
Mr.. Wight, young painter Of Boston, Of
much talent and promise, appears diligent
student, and seems to be making fine progress
in his art.
am aware that have written all too hur-
riediy and briefly IN this letter OF art and art
| lists but could not do otherwise, rs could
not well Let the subject run over into another