Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-01-08
81
Horatio GreenOugh.

whose death, in the apparent vigor of his
days, has been recently announced.
Mr.. Greenough was man that relied upon
his own faculties, and, in one of his earliest
works, the "Sleeping Cherubs," executed
for the late Fennimsre Cooper, exhibited
remarkable degree of originality and force.
1t was of this exquisite piece of sculpture
that Washington Allston wrote his we'll
known lines, addressed to the sculpture. 1t
was finished in 1929, and the next year his
Medora, graceful female figure, was mod-l
elled for Mr.. Gilmore, of Baltimore. Al
the while he was employed on busts and fig
ures Of less pretension, until 1888, when
he began the Washington, ordered by the
Congress Of the United States.
Mr.. Greenough was nearly ten years en-
gagged on this statue, which he intended to
make his master work, but which did not
receive from his countrymen that need of
praise which he expected. A colossal figure,
almost nude, and in sitting posture, was
a conception so opposed to the traditionary
idea Of Washington, that it was hard to re-
concile the public mind to the merits of the
execution in the shock given to its feelings
by the novelty of the design. But critics
of unquestionable discernment and taste,
such as Calvert in his ''Scenes and Thoughts
in Europe" have defended the choice of the
artist, and give some good reasons why he
should have made such a work as he did.
The last completed work of Mr.. Green
ough was also ordered for the Government,
and is now on it's way to this country from
Italy. 1t represents the struggle between
the advancing civilization of the white
race and the original inhabitants, in the
person Of an Indian and Hunter, who
rescues child from the tomahawk of the
former, and is said, by those who have seen
it, to be the masterpiece of it's author.
Mr.. Greenough, however, was never salts
fed with what he done, and Immediately
on his arrival here last year, entered into
connection with Mr.. Brown, to execute
colossal monument to Washington, to be
placed in Union Park in this city. He had
also projected a monument to his early
friend, Cooper, the plan of which, as he de-
tailed it to us, not long since, struck us as
most admirable.
Mr.. Greenough was a writer as well as
an artist, and had he devoted his time as
sedulously to the pen as he did to the
literary men. A small book Of his, publish
ed during the last summer, for private Cir
culation, abounds in original and racy re-
marks and generous sentiments. Few men
had reflected more deeply than he, on the
various questions of social and religious
concern, that interests the public, and his
views of them were always clear, candid,
and liberal. He often contributed to the
newspapers anonymously, and his contri-
buttons always challenged attention.
In his private life Mr.. Greenough was
manly, amiable, and upright. He cherished
none of the pretty jealousies which are i'm
puted to artists, and though he had so long
held the position of the America Sculptor,
he delighted to speak of the merits and
growing fame of Powers, Crawford, Clevin-
ger, and others, who were making names in
the same walk of art. He was so widely
informed-his habits Of thought were so
exact he had observed 80 much in his
travels-and had been intimate with so
many eminent men, that his conversation
was equally instructive and delightful. A
day passed in his studio, or in wandering
with him in the fields was day to be re-
membered. We think we never met him,
even casually, without getting from him
some new suggestion or some beautiful IL
lustration of truth.
Mr.. Greenough has left wife and sever
al interesting children to mourn his loss, in
common with the whole country.
The New English Ministry.
The Load on Daily News says: The most
nlausihle and nrohahle list II has soon die