The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-08
THE STATUE OF THE DYING GLADIATOR

THE STATUE OF THE DYING GLADIATOR.
From Hisrds Six Months Italy we take the following
description of the celebrated antique statue of The Diving
Gladiator in the Captolne Museum Rome, Italy,
cuate copy OF which, in marble by j. Gott distinguished
sculptor is exhibition at Morrisons building AZ
street. near Pennsylvania
'The last into which the traveller passes contains
several works OF the highest excellence and above ALL the
Dying Gladiator statue Of such surprising merit this
should have room by itself for in its presence difficult
TO look anything else. admitted by the best
ss to s %a s ga Cav. mot
forever Byrons immortal sanza exquisite creation
genius equal TO the theme which inspired it's alone enough
fasten there with associations that
But there is no work OF art respecting which such
represents, because wholly absorbed with what it
is M power and pahos are independent of time, place. and
"what is it we see before us man dying nothing
more 1t is that which happens to all menhe only newt
able fact in every life Nor is marked conspicuous
person. lie Is not hero or poet orator. The form
Is not IDEAL the head not intellectual lips are not re-
commonplace brow nor did the touch of beauty thrill
along those bres But the charm and power of the
Of and ora w Two
animal life suddenly stopped by the touch of DEATH
The artist gives all the pathos and the tragedy
OF death without its ghastness and horror The dying
is no longer trivial person stained with empoyment
and vulgar associations but immortal spirit breaking
through its walls of clay The rags of life fall away from
HIM ssd ss pu Sn tine dignity s snS Of death
fore whose icy sceptre all mortal distinctions leveled
Life and death are all that for time admit into the
Gas the sentiment and expression this are admi
rabe the mechanical execution of the highest merit
The skill with which the physical effects death upon the
human frame are represented is most strongly felt those
upon such points the most valuable The hair short
and crisp and matted BY the of the death struggle the
pain aud sinking of the whole rams Ss @
of patient eye and skfu hand No statue
or I Such Ss SUBJECT
temptations and unless artists taste and Judgment
into the weakness Of overriding the tragic element and
laying such weight upon our sympathes that they would
been Done for effect Novuigar applause is courted and
the decency and dignity of truth scrupulousy observed
effectively s exclusively by the effect which they
leave upon the individual who contempaes themI should
none others were SO expressive significant full of
deep meaning At each successive visit 1t seemed to be
to awaken echoes which before had been silent. Though
solitary figure taken in and comprehended by the at
single glance il involves broad circle of experience and
such i the with the creations which genius
the morbid the fantastic and the groesque gives shape
our common visions and reality to the universal dream
mortal sanza,* which, familiar it is, become
hackneyed than the relations Of husband and father which
| 1t Ia founded.
From lines like these which every body every
body especially when connected with objects of
and general inereswe learn how much We owe
to tie poets. Who that has falling upon
has had distinct pleasure the sight from the fins
illustration the brief duration of pleasures which
| Burns has drawn from it?
! g Or ike the fall in the river
| moment white, then melts forever.
! "Who that has beheld scarlet maple in
! tumn woods has not felt that u charm given
to by the lovely image which it suggested Bryant
q. But meath yOn crimson tree
Lover to listening maid might breathe his fame,
i Nor mark, within its roseate canopy,
ii Her blush Of maiden shame
Il 'So We who look upon the statue since the stanzs
was written, it by finer light than shone upo1
it before For alone the rude hut by the Danube il
banks We may form notion of our obligations BY
imagining what would have been the emotions of
cultivation and scnsby the poet had suddenly put tn
lines into his hands while he standing before the statue
Would not something like the miracle of Pygmaon hav
taken place his eyes Would the marble
to be darkened with suffering?
*". see before the Gladiator lie:
He leans upon his hand-hs manly brow
Consents to death, but c0nquers agony,
!, And his droopd head sinks gradually low
And through his side the last drops, ebbing slow
) From the red cash, fall heavy, one by one,
Like the first of a thunder shower; and
The swims around hm-he is gone,
ceased the inhuman shout which had the wretch wht
:
"' He heard it, but he needed MOTHS eyes
Were with his heart, and that far away,
He reck'd not of the life he lost nor PRICE
D But where his rude hut by the Danube lay
There his young barbarians all at play,
There was their Dacan mother-he their sire,
Butcher'd to make Roman holiday
All this rush'd with his blood. Shall he expire,
And unavengeds Arise! ye Goths and glut your re"