The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-07
THE STATUE OF THE DYING GLADIATOR.

From Hlards Six Months in Italy the following
description Of the celebrated antique statue Of The Dying
Gladiator in the Captolne Museum Rome Italy, an ac-
curate copy of which, in marble by j. Got distinguished
sculptor is exhibition at Morrisons building AK
street. near Pennsylvania avenue
"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
should have BY itself for in its presence difficult
to look at anything else. II is admitted by the
authorities that the statue dying aul and not gIadia
tor; but the popular mind the Old appestion win cling
forever Byrons immortal sanza exquisite creation Of
genius equal to the theme which inspired it's alone enough
fase there with associations that severed
But there work of respecting which discussions
intrusive unnecessary. We do ask whom
represents because wholly absorbed with what
is M power and pathos are independent OF time place. and
condition.
"What is ii SEQ before US A man dying nothing
more II ID that which happens to all menthe only newt
able fact in every life Nor is it marked conspicuous
person. He is not hero poet, The form
not IDEAL the head not intellectual the lips
fined The shadows great thoughts never arkened that
place brow did the OF beauty ever thrill
along those bres But the charm and power of the
in the amazing truth WITH which the two great
elements Of humanity and mortality deneated vigor
animal Life suddenly stopped by the touch Of DEATH and
the sensible notion becomes kneaded clod before
eyes, The artist gives all the pahos and tragedy
Of death without its ghastnes and horror The dying maR
and vulgar associations but an mmor; pirt breaking
through its walls OF clay Tbs rags Of life fall away from
him and be puts on t9e gn.y and grandeur Of death
fore whose icy scepue all mortal distinctions eveed
Life and death all that for time admit into the
mind.
As the sentiment and expression of this a
gsbe ! the mechanical execution Of the hgAs. e,i.
human frame are represented ] Eos strongly els BY those
whose professional training and experiences make their udg
meht upon such points the valuable. The hair
and crisp and matted BY the sweat OF the death struggle tho
wrinklsd led brow che drooping I'D the lips dstensod with
of patient eye and skilfu hand No
marked BY simplicity or more gree from anything like ex
temptations and unless artists taste and Judgment
equal his enius he would hardly have escaped falling
mt rgN pHpf
laying such weight upon sympathes that they would
have given under the pressure But here nothing has
been done for effect Novugar applause Is courted and
the decency and dignity of truth crupuousy observed
Gift be right TO Judge Of works Of art subjcctvey and
not obectiyethat is exclusively by the effect which they
leave upon the individual who contemplated tnem should
put this work the head of all the statues the world To
deep meaning \. each successive visit it seemed be
something which before had been unspoken
awaken echoes which before had been silent Though
solitary figure taken in and comprenended by the
single glance it involves broad circle of experience and
1such il with the which genius
gives when walks in the way of truth, and disdainng
Visions and reality to the universal dream.
"This statue is indissouby associated with Eyrons i'm
mortal stanza* which, familiar il il become
hackneyed than the relations Of husband and father which
it is founded.
From lines like these which everybody reads and every
permanent and general nterestwe learn how much
to the poets Who that has filling upon
has had distinct pleasure in the sghs from the fine
Illustration of the brief duration Of sensual pleasures which
Burns has drawn frcm III
tEF0r like the fall in the river
moment white then mes forever
"Who that has beheld scarlet maple in aa-
tumn woods ha. not felt that charm was given
to by the lovely image which suggested Bryante
% But meath yon crimson tree
Lover 70 Listening maid might breathe his fame,
Nor mark, within its roseate canopy,
Her blush Of maiden shame
So we, who look upon the statue since the stanza
written, il by finer light than shone upon
it before. For alone the rude hut by the Danube il
reared and those Young barbarans porting upon
banks. We may form notion Of obligations by
imagining what would have been the emotions Of Of
cultivation and feasibility If the poet had suddenly put the
lines into mis- hands while he standing before the
Would something like the miracle OF Pygmaion have
taken place before his Would the marble breast
have appeared heave with emotion and the dropping brew
to be darkened with suffering?