New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-05
THE VAGABOND SCULPTORs.

The profound writer's Of antiquity found excellence
in each separate phsse Of Art and unlike the critics OF
tie present day acknowledged IN the meanesi votsry
Of gsthetic pursuits deserving object Of approoa-
ton in 90 far superiority marked his efforts. Ii
msttered not whether tha' superiority was evidenced
IN tis fearful imsgery of Peiugino, the fasCi-
Dsing seusuOusness Of Praxltees IL was still
superioritydeliDg onlJ with regard to the absence
orpeseDce of that spirituality which has, in later
wears, cons itu'ed the criterion Of high art,
But who has formed standard whereby to critlctse
che productions of our modern scuptorsl who has
eyr bad tho temerity to institute comparisons be-
tween tbose wandering venoers of gypsum insges
Fortunate vsgabonos they escape the trials AID dis
sppointmeI ts Of tnose who assums 20 walk above
them In the art of which they but the Dimics
Their wants few and easily satisfied; happy ia their
vocation, and oheereo by tue object of their wander
Dgs-those gipsies of civilization I'D apIessure
lsterce which is often denied to the more educated
type Of humanity, who lives by the conventional la.
Dor Of society. And around the rude details OF this
life Of itDerancy there is thrown vail of romance
which exerts an uuooubted Influence upon the unedu-
Gated minds Of its votaries. Romance" says Jean
Paul, sis mareralized spirit world; and what
better description of the present men'al condition
Of these Italian anterers can be inas,ued taan
that applied by the profound Germso philosopher
to the vague ideal-of Ibis people il whom spritu-
atty is msieiiazed, and only perpetuated in tue ro-
nance Of tradition
A moderate estimate gives us two hundred makers
ard veucess OF images in tnls City. OF these per-
hsps ore eighth have fixed hsbitations and shop'
where they carry on iher business. The remainder
ere tiuersn's who manufacture their own wares, and
ytnd them through tie streets Of the City, aud the
country villsges They are exclusively Of Italian
origir-comug mostly from toe shores Of The lovely
Lake Of Como, in onbardy. They usually emi-
crate in small psr's-forming on their arrival here,
into COMPANIES and constantly cheiishng the des Of
n return TO their native lard Many of them will
wander through this strange country for from five to
twenty years-exstiDg Gu the humblest food and
often in the summer tbs trusting to the bouahiai
Earth for lodging pace-thus, OF their own choice,
encounteripg difficulties and privations unkno wn to
any other class of our population, and all tnat tney
may return TO their early homes and die IN conp'-
fence among the loved scenes of infancy. Those
who die during this term of seltexe intrust toe
little which they have accumulated to a companion
who trsI smts 1t saely to the family or friends OF the
deceased in italy. And rarely, indeed, is this trust
violated for these poor people are characterized oy
ss high a of honor as OF amor Patrie In ta't,
fheee Italian emigants much superior, Ia moral
point of view, to the generality or those thrown
upon shores ard though 1t is true they add but
little to the importance or usefulness of society, 1t is
also certain that they constitute she least troublesome
class Of foreign poor whether they be found In the
country or the metropolis.
Unlike their fellow country men, the "Trouba-
"douIs our modern sculptors do not centralize
their forces in any particular quarter; on the con-
tsry they may be found Inhabting the most extreme
wards aud those dtDgy streets in the very heart OF
the City You will fud them occupying half
furnishe ed room, 10 which everything is 50 smeAred
with the material used in their occupation, as TO ap
pear to have been white washed. In the center OF
the room are table aud board covered With calcned
eypsum or plaster of Paris aud strewed around the
floor ana m the corners, knights with weak legs
and crooked lsnces; poets without any nssh appen'
dages cross eyed Madonoas; numerous quadruPeos
viyidly cclored abo an Immense variety oil Gus 8
statesmen, neurological figures. etc.-some OF waicn
are completed sod Others IN h.h-nnlsosd
state. The industry Of the "sculptors IS mps'
prsise.worthy. They will return from their wander
ipes Of the day, to toll during the greser part OF the
right in completing stock OF images TO take oat on
the succeeding moru1g. 0ns bed answers tor the
eLtIe frm, which Is ueually composed OF tn ee or
four members. Their food is simple, and OF the
poorest quality. II is cessaIy to make any com
uent Upon their style of costume; the world IS an
opportunity Of observing for itself. The extreme
psrsinopy of the "sculp,ors /, excused by its OBJ
ject although it renders the best portion OF theu
lives dresry and oyless, aud leaves but little to be
ssid concerning their customs, the manner OF their
existence Beyond the immediate partners of his ou--
mesa the msge-msker does not look fr society. To-
oeed. amsy be raid be lives without society--exist-
,ns enosg his memories and bis hopes. He regards
ns ne In Ibis country period of labor, aad looks
De!ond the ses to bis native land-hopins for q
place OF rest Thus, unlike the adoar, the
sculptor Is DOT a social animal; or, rather he
does not form new 'yups hies or attachment, in this
country; being occupied with the remembrance OF
bis home bssesth the bright skies OF Italy, he hes no
Dom In bis thoughts for any new friendship, and