The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-27
VOL. VII.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.
Por thu National Era.
For the National EN-
IoopYRreHr SECURED ACCORDING 10 LAw'i
spvENwoop LEAVES FROM OVER The SEA.

tcopvRIeHr SECURED ACCORDING 10 LA~'i
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER The SEA.
No. "a.
ROME, December 6, 1882
NV DEAR A: In the few brief COM
u,ants which feel inclined to make today ON
some of the great works of sculpture and
nainting here at Rome, you will know that
Fooak by no means sas one having authority"
I, v;rtue of any ripe critical knowledge of art.
T.bonN be silent altogether on these subjects,
"a no, observe that ones true, fresh, and
ND impressions Of such things are worthy Of
sor0a respoct and that sincere and reveren-
,;aI love of beauty gives one an instructive APP
,r wa of the spirit OF the higher forms of
~ howeyer deficient the judgment may be in
'no,tars of execution and detail. One may
IF nrofDundly feel effects in art, with very
TD,;tad understanding of causes.
II Is rare to find an honest opinion honestly
a,nressed. by one not an artist or a connois-
sur -, :, =.
Among modern English authors writing
f,om R me, remember Mrs. Kemble and Mr..
Dickens as most independent and individual
IN this respect. They boldly uttered their true
thought their whole thought, and were evil
dentiy not to be Numbered down by the canons
Of criticism do not mean this as an exor-
dunn to a criticism contemning, critic-defying
dissertation; in the little have to say on art
NAV not utter any treasons--and | may.
Nous urronS.
OF all the antique statues have yet seem
lave been by far the most impressed by the
Apollo Belvidere, and the Dying Gladiator
the one the glorious embodiment of the pride
and fire, and power and joy of life, the other
of the mournful majesty, the proud resigna-
toa, the conquered agony" Of death. In all
bis triumphant beauty, excellent vitality and
rejoicing strength, the Apollo stands forth as
a pure type of immortality-every inch god
There is au Olympian spring in the foot which
seems to spurn the earth--a secure disdain of
death in the very curve of his nostrils-a sun
born light on his brow while the absolute
perfection Of grace, the supernal majesty of
the figure now, as in the old time, seem to lift
it above the human and the perishing. into the
region of the divine and the eternal Scarcely
can it be said that the worship of this god has
ceased The indestructible glory of the lost
divinity fingers about him still and the deep,
almost solemn emotion, the sigh of unutterable
admiration, with which the pilgrims of art first
behold him now, differ little, perhaps, from the
hashed alteration of his early worshippers. |
have never seen any work Of art which had
such difficulty to realize az a mere human crea-
tiOn born in an artists struggling brain.
moulded in dull clay, and from thence trans
ferred by the usual slow and laborious process.
to marble. Nor can | even think of il as hav-
ing according to the old poetic fancy, pre-ex-
isted in the stone, till the divinely-directed
chisel Of the sculptor cut down to it. All so.
methinks, the very marble must have groaned.
in prescience Of the god it held. To me il
rather seems glowing. divine conception.
struck instantly into stone. IL surely embodies
the very soul and glory of the ancient mythol-
osy and, with kindred works, forms, il not a
hr Justification of, at least a noble apology
for, religion which revelled in ideas of beauty
ald grace, which had ever something lofty and
pure, even in its refined sensualty--and for the
splendid arrogance of that genius which boldly
ehlselled out its own grand conceptions, and
named them gods.
The Apollo should like to see every day of
nay life. would have it near me; and every
morning, as the darkness is lifted before the
sln and the miracle of creation is renewed |
Eould wish to lift a curtain, and gaze ON that
tianscendent image of life and iiebt--to 70.
ce'ye into my own being somewhat Of the en-.
eTgy and JOY OF existence with which it 30
aoounds-to catch some CLEANS of the glory of
the fresh and golden morning of poetry and
art yet raying from his brow. One could drink
10 strength, as from a fountain, from gazing
On that attitude of pride and grace, 30 light,
YET hrm, and renew ones wasted vigor by the
mere sight Of that exulting and efortless ac-
ton. But who would live in daily contempla-
lon Of the immortal agony of the LAGOON, or
NE mighty death-pang which wrings the brow
Of the Gladiator | must confess that the
SIGHT Of the FORMER gives me nothing but pain
admiration and wonder seem absolutely crush
ca IN the folds of those enormous serpents
me van struggling Of the old man, the fear
ana suffering Of the youths, and the endless
@'lng of the serpents, constitute a mass of
norrors which not all the wonders of the sculp-
lure can redeem, and from which shrink
almost with disgust
The Gladiator, grand in his perfect human.
NY, a prouder figure fallen and overcome "a
ne Is, than many an erect and victorious hero
'Io ,n 'ne r1ch blood of his prime tricklng
, n,owiy ana s'ekeulngly from his one deep
s,;J profoundly touching had almost
s S',a q heartbreaking sight. And vet you
To- dare 70 grieve-he is too royal for pity.
tu nI n marble age-embrowned, seems shadowed
~ Dea'n awful wing There seems q strange
I".a ABOUT 1t, and you hush your own
S.e''n III Involuntary reverence Here is no
asgie no contortion-the soul seems making
uu'y xingiy abdication-the @manly brow
I.nscnts TO death, " and yet you can see by its
TreePened lines, by the sunken eyes. the relaxed
Ups and by the swollen veins Of the extended
,1hos, that the very citadel of life ia stormed
Y mortal anguish. II is impossible To uaze
Va the Dying Gladiator without further sad.
~snns Yourself by Citing him, a. does Byron.
r Nun a neart whose sweet sad memories blind
mo nn " lhe dizzying sight of the crowded am
puisheatrel and whose last wild throbs of love
uu yearnng deafen him to the shouts which
greet his conqueror
DoIJ ~ the hail Of the Gladiator are several other
L,;aJ. u.ques--a very grand Amazon, fine
inr Aenei the Faun Of Praxitiles most charm
ihsnre, and the Autinous, considered a
~oaIe es' IDEAL of youthful manhood. IL Is
sguaMrcu''y beautiful, but wanting in that
,Ie'n'ng snperbuman which, in the Apollo,
yan,' compeis paganish alteration. The
VI the Capitol is but beautiful. soul.
a., vi PIuous creature--an exquisite animal
VI aIhNorthy to lace the sandals Of the pure sim,
que and august Venus of Milo which. broken
49,, " ls' It'll stands forth grAndy uusppyoach.
ho'e among all antique forms of lovely Woman.
s soe Near the Venus stands a most delic;oo.
soup OF Cupid ard Psyche, whose sent;rent
,', ms 10 me wonderful union OF passion and
ssarl'y' The expression and attitude Of each
sase are iull Of intense lovngness chiIdlike
&c .ernesa and Innocent unconsciousness The
~ nght and warmth, the divine atmosphere
d young love seems floating about the eroun
N. ene pure sentiment pervsdes and permestss
80. TWO lar embracing forms. II flows in the
in ery, u nes,ies in the hair, it 10 expressed
ur,s ne slightest curve Of each delicate limb A
elm. aiaely a. in that fond ki~ Of lips which
eros, . ". seen many wonderful paintings Of the