Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09
THE DYING GLADIATOR.


THE DYING GLADIATOR.
The arrival In this country Of fac smile in marble of
the famous antique statue Of the Dying Gladiator has
led Of journals to reproduce the Impressions
eminent authors respecting this celebrated work Of art
among them the beautiful and discriminating remarks Of
countryman, Mr.. HnLARD, recorded in his recent
book Italy, and Byrons immortal verse; both Of which,
for the qualification Of our readers. We subjoin.
From Mr.. Hillarfs Criteism.
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 by ITSELF for In its presence il
Is difficult TO look at any thing else. II is admitted
by the best authorities that the statue IL dying Gaul
and gladiator but to the popular mind the old ap-
pellaon will cling forever Byron's immortal stanIa-
exquisite creation Of genius equal TO the theme which
inspired tits alone enough fasten IL there with
Citations that be severed But there is no work
Of respecting which such discussions more nru-
siye unnecessary We do not ask whom il represents
because We are so wholly absorbed with what 1t is.
It's power and pahos independent Of time place. and
condition.
What Is 1t we see before MS. man dying; nothing
Is that which happens to all men the only in-
cvitabe fact in every fe Nor is marked consp-
person. He 10 not hero, poet, orator
The form Is not IDEAL the head is not intellectual the
lips not refined. The shadows Of great thoughts
never darkened that common place brow, did the
But the charm and power Of the statue consist in the
amazing truth with which the two great elements Of hu-
manity and mortality are deneated vigorous animal
life Is suddenly stepped by the touch Of DEATH and the
g sensible warm motion becomcsa "kneaded clod" be-
fore eyes, The artist gives all the pathos and the
tragedy Of DEATH without its ghastlness and horror
The dying Is longer trivial person, stained with
employments and vulgar associations, but i'm
mortal spirit breaking through its walls Of clay The
rags Of life fall away from him, and he puts the dignity
and grandeur Of death We feel ourselves In the pre-
Of that awful power before whose icy sceptre a
mortal distinctions are leveled Life and death are oil
that. for time, we can admit into the mind.
As the sentiment and expression OF this statue are add
nirabc, Is the mechanical execution OF the highest
merit The skill with which the physical effects Of death
upon the human frame represented is most strongly
felt by those whose professional training and experience
make their Judgment such points the most valuable
The hair short and crisp aud matted BY the sweat Of the
death-sruggle the wrinked brow the dropping lid tho
lips disended with pain and the sinking anguor Of the
whole Frame give proof Of patient eye and skilfu
hand. No statue ever more marked by simplicity
free from any thing like extravaganza earicature
Such subject presents many temptations and, unless
artists taste and Judgment were equal 20 his genius he
would hardly have escaped falling into the weakness Of
OVERRIDING the gle element aud Of laying such weight
upon sympathes that they wenld have given way
der the pressure Bat here nothing has been done for
effect vulgar applause - cour;ed. aud the decency
and dignity Of truth are serupulously ohseryed
fit be right 10 Judge of works uf snhectvsy, and
not oheetivelythat IL, exclusively by the effect which
they leave upon the individual who contemplaes them
should put this work at the bead Of all the statues In
the world To others expressive, 40 sig
ufcant, full Of deep meaning A each successive
visit II seemed 20 be new work 10 reveal something
which before had been unpoAsn awaken echoes which
before bad been SILENT Though solitary figure taken
in and eompreheHed by the ego al single glance Il in
wolves broad circle u experience and suggestion.
Such IL the with the creations which genius
gives ~ when i walks y the way q truth and disdsn
Ing the morbid the fantastic and The grotesqae, gives
shape to our common visions and reality TO the unlsersA
dream.
This statue Is indissolny associated with ryrons Inn
mortal stansA, which, familiar - IA is be-
haeknsysd than che rsasns 81 knsband and father
in which IL 10 founded Prom Hnes nae these, which
every body reads and every body rsme@hsrsearecialy
when conneeted with The % permanent and gsns
Who that has falling upon the waisr has
not had distinct pleasure IN Tho sight from the fne IL
u,Taon Of the hsf duration o. sensual pleasures which
Burns has drawa from itf
aOr. like the snsw -hall 10 me river,
moment white. thea Lost feFessr"
Who that has beheld scarlet maple In autumn
woods has felt that new charm vas given 70 ~
the lovely image which IL suggested 70 Brysnti
= Bet meath 700 erinsoa tree
Lover 10 iisteRing maid might hrsAthe kla asDs,
Nor mark, uihsn iss rasesss eaacYg.
Her blush o. maiden shane@
SO who lock upon the Ftatne since the stansss vas
written BY hner Hight thsn ever shens urea Il be-
fore. For MS alone The rude hut ~ the Damnhe IL
banks, We may form some notion Of ebilgAnans ~
imagining what woaid have bsea the emotions III man
OF cultivation and ssnsbity n the post had snaasay
put the lines into his haKis while be sAsng before
the statue. Would not something nke he migare OF
PygmAlon have taken place before HE eyes. Wead aot
the marble breast hsve appeared 70 btass with emotion
and the dropping brow 10 be darksnel with sEasfingf
No description Of this Sorh o. srs would be eompsie
without Byrons celebrated stapsa which are ~ World
renowned the statue itself To appreciate perfectly
their beauty they should be read while gazing upss hs
marbled representation Of the "dyiag gladistsr:-
scs before the gladiator lie,
He leans upon bis hand, bic maaly krow
Consents TO death, bat conausFs axonys
And bis drcopd head siuks grad tally Iaw,
And through hi, side tho last drops. ehblnx slsw
From tho red gash, fall heavy. ~ one,
Like the first Of q thunder shawsr, ssA nsw
The arena switns around him be 10 gene.
IRE ceased the inhumsn shout which hailed Ne wretch
who won.
BE heard u, but he Needed mol, hs eyes
Were with hs heart, and that was Car away.
He reckd not Of the life he lost, n~r rrisss
But where bis rude but By The Danube isys
Ihere were his young bArbavisns al ~ psyi
Ihere was th r Dacian mother; be, their sire
Buteher'd 10 ma he Roman hoiyday.
All this rushd with his blo,d. Shall he srpirs.
And unrevengedf Arise - 0stAss and giss ysss ssi