The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1854-12-29
sutrrrsting 9tlimrIlnnlI,
b . W Statpt,fS are Wra0e.
THE GREEK SLAVE. -, } r,t.

I " W y alfQcf, f,6 lU1a g.
e TIE GREEK SLAVE. ~.
2 aGEoRGE H., CALVERT, through the Lite
rary World, gives the following interesting
account of the process of manufacturing
stataes, inn notice Of Powers Greek Slave:
1.-The Greek Slave is the second ideal work
of the American sculptor, Hiram Poweis---
the Eve being his first. !, The clay model was
begun and finished in the summer md an
.tumm of 1912. American sculptors having
been hitherto obliged to work abroad, but
few Of our citizens have opportunities Of wit
Messing the lnbors of the studio: acceptable,
therefore. will be some explanation Of the
several processes through which work IN
sculpture must pass, ere the artist can pre-
sent; his conception smoothly embodied in
marble. The visitors to the Slave will thus
be made acquainted with the bodily birth
and growth of the wonderful creation that
stands before them in dazzling beauty. -
The conception being maturea in the ar
tist's mind, the first step in the process of
giving form to it, is to erect, on Il firm pc
bredth, and limbs, are determined by the
size and shape of the proposed statue. In
this case it would be above five feet high,
with branches first at the shoulders, running
down forward for the arms, then at the hips,
to support the large mass of clay in the
trunk, and thence divided in two for the
legs. About this strong simple frame is now
roughly built, with wet clay, the pre:dctcr-
mined image. Rapidly is this moulded into
an approximation to the human form; and
when the trunk, head, and limbs have been
definitely shaped, then begins the close Ia.
Dor of the mind. The living models are
sutninoncd, and by their aid tic siirfrce Is
wrought TO its list stage OF finish. With
these breathing figures before him, and
through his precise knowledge Of the form
and expression Of every part Of the human
body, obtained from the study of nature and
his own deep artistic intentions, the clay un-
der his hand gradually grew into life, as it
assumed the elestic, vital look. which no
mere anatomical knowledge or craft can
give, but which is impaired by the genial
sympathy with natures living forms in aIi-
ancc with a warm sensibility to the beautiful
qualities which crown and render effectual
tile other less elevated cndowments for art.
directed by those high and refnd mental
gifts, the clay model Of the Slave was
wrought out and here. the artists work
ended; the creation was complete. The
processes whereby it was now to be trans
ferred to marble, though of DELEGATE, diff
cult kind, and requiring labor and time, are
purely mechanical, and are performed, under
the artists direction, by unilspired hands.
In order that the soft clay image be trans
formed into n harder substance withou
suffering the slightest change in its surface, n
mould is applied to it, in the same WAY and
with the same matrial as when cast is ta-
ken of the living face or-hcad, by means of
semi.liquid plaster of Paris. The clay figure
lis entirely covered with this substance, from
one or two or moro inches thick, provision
being for taking off the arms and for
splitting tie trunk after the plaStershal have
hardched.E The clay is then all taken out,
the hollow mould is cleaned, and then re-
flied with scmi-liquid plaster of Paris
When this, which now occupies entirely and
minutek the place of the clay, has in its
turn become hardened the outside crust Of
plaster is broken from it, and then is laid
bare an exact facsimile of the original clay
figure in hand, smooth plaster of Paris, capa-
bic Of bearing the usage of the studio and
OF receiving the many marks that are to
guide the marble-eutters, whose work now
begins. sR q .v.- - ~. ~. -. b.
First comes the blocker-out, with his
heavy mallcl and course chisel, under whose
rough blows the whole block soon begins TO
grow into rude likeness On humanity
Thena finer workman, who loosens more. of
the folds that overlay the beaming image
that the artist is bent on disclosing from the
centre of the marble. And, finally, the ar
list himself, or, MS in this case, refined work
er, schooled under the eye OF Powers, gives
the finishing touches, reproducing, with un-
surpassed accuracy in the transparent, pure
marble, every swell and indcntttioli, and
.minutest carve, all the countless delieacics
of detail, Tho which, combined with and
forming grand sweeping lines characterize
tile original as moulded in clay by the hand
of Powers.
Z. a