New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-05
THE FINE ARTS.
Harris Bust of Clay and Pruden's Copy.

FLORENCE, ITALY, Friday Jan 81, 1883.
SIR: In August last | sent the following let
ter nd statements to the United states 10 be published
in reply to an advertisement and printed communca
tons wi ich then read from Ibs Nsp York Express,
10 sustain the claim TO what there termed 'Pri
dens Bust Cf Henry Clay" Not having heard from
my communications. apprehend they miscarried,
therefore send the following, which desire to be
published in TIE Netc- York Trjbrne that the
thorship Of that bust shall be established beyond
doubt as due both to myself and the friends of that
great man who has passed from amongus.
In the spring OF ls45 completed plaster bust OF
Henry Clay which exhibited in New.York and other
cities where disposed of copies in plaster, which
bust approved Of 10y society OF ladies OF tho state
ol Virginia who hCnorcd me with u commission 10 exc
cute Ter them MAJ bic statue the size of life of Henry
Clay for this bis native State
For the great e possible perfection OF this, made
several models took casts anum5er a daguerreoypes,
drawings ana measurements from the life, through
period az several years up 10 the later part Of August
ls4a. when stuted TO Italy.
During u is time Mr. Clay kindly Afforded me the hos
piiGiics his hOuse which made my home on one oc-
CAsiou iCt than two months. AT A bland, az his
Office N Lexington, and elsewhere, produced all my
studies for biz taue, among which was second bust IN
plaster which made in size, form, and expression OF
the head face and neck, perfectly as possible The
shoulders, un0rpcd old not carry out entirely to their
ponte nor did pay much attention In the modelling of
yious models perfectly could produce them In
plaster This but finished and cast in to autumn Of
si (cmC three years after producing my first one OF
him when slr CLAW was in his seveny.trst year This
my second tust OF Henry Clay. modelled especially for
TIE alluded 10, with the head turned 10 the ryh
instead of q lcit(my fret bust Of hun being draped,
with the head turned To the lc1 having been exhibited
in New York and other cities where copies dis
po ed o. as stately
This my last head, being much more valued by the
,nds and nrlhbOTs Of Mr. Clsy than the rst and for
a. a. Il Mi
cGtos be made oil H. From OF these casts In plss
ter, sOwed Mr.. Pruden, OF Lexington, ny, to exc
cute in marble copy by the use Of an instrument of
my Invention, and 20 dispose OF said copy for his
own benefit; lot exhibit allow IL to be exhibited
for pay, the subioned articles OF agreement in
duplC ate, viii show.
his ed naibl bust he commenced in the spring OF
ls49 and had completed the face head and neck except
finishing the hair, by the goth OF August OF the same
wear al which time stnrted to this country Almost
every Guy, up 20 this period during It's progress visited
Mr. Prud,ns sudio from desire that il fhould be
cuted perfectly ae possible, which frequently tested
with much Subtraction with said instrumentthe use of
which, from my exp nence with il, often aud with
pleasure impaired to him this, had the scuptur
log OF hair 10 marble, modelling in clay, &c, many
former occas.onP. This mention TO make the whole
most clear, many OF my acquaintance In aud
about IL dDgton well know, whose attention have fire..
Quen CALI 10 the perfection OF the OF the instru
ueu and the beauty Of perfect copy IA marble beyond
the plaster cast, which strikes every observer who
makes the comparison here in italy
In the Of lag, while Mr. Clay was sitting for
his EoTtrIi 10 the Gccompl he'd gentleman and artist,
Mr Oliver Frozer, who was so kind as TO invite me 10
his studio In Lexington, kywhie Mr. Clay sitting,
be then loo king well for bis nge and DESTROYS that my
lst labor in the United States previous leaving should
be upon BIZ head and TO make any further improvement
poesble that our JOINT esrvatiOns might suggest-l
then and there compared my last bust from every point
OF view with the great original ia the trying light Of the
painter, and made some slight improvements, which
would not have dared 70 attempt except under such
most favorable circumstances.
This, my lat original bust Of Henry Clsy-Shh the
result Of s last siuiag he gaze 20 any Sculptor Mr.
Prden having previously in ed with great care from
the furnhed him, the entire face and neck, copy
ing them precisely In the marble, which my instrument
viii prove by being applied to either Of the companion
ossts, which readily be Obtained, should any
desre 10 make the test then packed up In large
trunk together with all my studies for his statue, lex
cept my statuee Of him. which afterwards shipped
TO Forenee) and also full suit OF his best fitting
tune, which he presented 10 me. These brought all
the way with me 10 Florence. never trusting them 10
any other conveyance and from which am now en-
gsged upon the statue for the ladies Of Virginia
In the autumn Of ls49, few weeks after started 10
Italy, NJ Pruden took said marble bust Philadelphia
where il then exhibited which time notice of II
appeared In The Philadelphia NORTH fnlsrcan. This
tee elected the following comment from friend Of Art
residing In Lexington Ky who was familiar with the
principal facts in the case which may be secn In his
Communication, (here coped published The Reatucky
SafomaR Ia the autumn OF 1919 In Lexington, Ky,
where the bust modelled by myself and carved In
marble BY Pruden, a. stated together with the Edi.
tors reply, as follows:
For The Kensneky Statesman.
MR EpIIoR see notice OF a bust of Henry Clay re-
Gently exhibited At the Fair Of the Franklin Instss Phls-
dephia in your paper Of Wednesday How II happoned
that this marble Bust exhibited the work OF Mr. Pru
den don't know. can hardly suppose him to have been
to the imoesure. The marble Bust fac sinas
OF Has Statue of Mr. Clay, leo far the bust sconc-ned
for the privilege Of making and exhibiting which Mr. Prden
paid NJ Hart certain consideration Mr. Hart has taken
the original 70 Europe as the model from which be is to
the credit Of cutting il in marble by and
no more do DOT wonder that Il is highly estimated in
bss, boss Mr. Clay that was ever made Mr Pruden
entitled to great credaOr the skill with which he has
/ in marble. (Signedb C. d.
TAs Editor. ,eYiy % AeJo,e9oins. -
10 the ,scs 70 which cur correspondent ,iudes we are
nste had agency ia misleading the pubic on ID.
sutset We toos The article to which aunon Is made
readers wiliremember.
About the middle Of July last, advertisement ap
peared in The Ner- York Erpress with comments from
Mr. Peter " Hssed in relation to what Is there term
ed "Prudens Bust Of Henry Clay" being those sludes
10 in the beginning Of this article. Mr. Has,ed a. h
there stses purchased said marble Bust of NJ Pruder
for tie sum of ESQ., offering copies of il In plaster fo
sale &C. An extract from his communication about
runs thus
In relation to this work OF NJ Prudens il ia proper q
though that model w.s u:ed a: general suds Sy Nj
Prucen ! emphssinsg reflected opinion Of M Clay.
az st.s, dated A;aiand 1rh APr ls5l eoaIts9a.y
N relation TO the history Of said Bust IN which Mr. Ga
disirc'ly states was not aware that Mr. Pruien
ensseeo on such work until IL completed. IL wa
mace stout TWO years age, when seyenty year
Of sse IoT the Boat previously made Of By M Hart
sIc het a. tie merit Of tnat artists wok, which hs
tborsEt tie beat Likeness of ia marble plaster ina
iac ever BEEN made. There who think i'm
Prov neIt UPON the bust OF " Harg Of that, however
az Eot eempetsItto iudze. NJ reDds spd myself wer
Ls:fsttly saiisfsd iIh Mr.. HsSts did not see ID
PEgtt q, ILiI after Gnisled and according 70 m
I9dsr cut IL 10 perfectly tree ba-e aud the original
| dd lot al hmm a, ais
Another extract from Mr. Hated runs thus
so tat willie Ar EaIts basr correctly Represents ~