The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-16

those exhibited hsve bsen principally bus:s Of
distinguished living Americans, which Occasionally
found their way INTO the annual exhibitions Of
of paintings. In l846 Crawford's statue OF Or
pSeus" ~ss shown in the Boston Atheoacum; bas, |
having unfortunately bssn much broken on ship |
board, it was impossible 70 remove II to other
the public apathy regarding sculpture at that time
even in the Armenian city" that the proceeds Of
the exposition of this beautiful and highly classic
production, by an American hand, did not excsed
800 delsrs-a sum scarcely sufficient to defray
1ytbe commencement Of the American Revolution
there stood in Bowling Green, New York, statue
Of George III ana during tos retreat Of the the
pant populsce deoApitated the status and demo.
lahed the PEDESTAL with every mark Of resentment
From thst day to period little short of half GEO.
: 9 Union, # we except that OF Washington (by
HI udoD) 10 the capital OF Virginia. This GLORIOUS
statue 20 fully represeniag the majestic dignity q
the original, may b as truly termed the 'ashef OF
AMeYicsn sculpture as the subjsct Of II u the F..
ther of HE Country. II struck the first blow az that
pr judics 10 the American mind which blinded It I,
the usefulness arc noble mission OF an art which
msntnt form and place before the eyes OF the mil.
hons whom they have blessed with freedom and
happiness. soy, it struck the first blow at prejd-
oise; but It ola not cinquer-thls ~ the work OF
host ~ itstlf for wh,t American hea cgu deny to
his services 90 simple and apprO pirate testimony
OF q nations love and gratitude2 North Carolina
socn followed Virginia in the grateful path, oy
then Chsnsrey Was commissioned by Massachusetts,
to exc cute another; ana thus sculpture breath
ed into hfe OF in the saer phrase, na,ionalzed in
e. American republic. But how long 1t l.1guisoed,
early giving mp the gaost Still, the ackooWledg'
me mt res made, that statues we're pos necessarily
idols, nor their admirers aolaers; and then followed
az Gomez quence among ali gifted minds, an a2pre
ciation and encouragement Of the art.
The spacious halls Of the Capitol at Washington
almost destitute Of sculpture till Within very
few years. In the Hall Of Representatives we're .
colossal plaster figure Of Liberty, and hne marble
one Of History adjoining the clock; In the rosunda
seresI of panels containing miserable bassiraieci
ecepes from American history; in tho tympanun,
over the east front Of the Capitol, very low relief
alleGolic srsup. All these we're by Italian hands
The few intelligent lovers OF art among the re-
Pre- sentasives in Congress- whom foreign travel had
educated to its and beauties, struggled steadily
aId long for ts advancement and at last succeeded
In carving through resolutions TO l the Two MIC es
under the portico with statues o. Peace and War.
These were siveD to Persico, an Italian to execu e
Next came an order for . colossal "Washingtcr;"
end this wsa given to Gresnough, young Auaeri-
csD. struggling mantuIy against adversely a,s In fio
few years PeIsico returned from Italy with the
statues Of Peace and War; and these were 80 much
admired that other resolutions we're 20 N passed
the New World and he Pioneers Struggle
the first being given to Persico and the second to
Green ough-$20, 600 being appropriated for each.
Whilst these we're Ds asIt cSpe1Ss1 90
Greenoueh, and PLACED on its granite p pedestal In
1916, PersiJo's Columbus" arrived.
United States down 10 as late as the year lS47.
From its rarity, and the great sums paid for II, It
YVES raturslly looked upon "a higher branch OF Nt,
requiring Isatsr aDt:s and attended WITH more
iIg had become fam'liarized to the people through
tt 9 works Of many artists, fr'm the time Of West
and Tlumbul 70 that Of Wier;. It had It's chartered
Of merir-"old masters" and new were scattered
or exhibited Throughout the country-henoe there
was no mystery attached to painting, nor oil could
have access TO studio and witness its secrets. Not
30 with 9, uJpture--fcr the genera! superstition
was. that to make even bust is was necessary to
cast the tilters face In plaster to obtain likeness
even in that material-how much more difficult
thtg, must It Be to make bust IN marble, xhic,
whole figure in this hard and brittle substance, where
asrgle rslse blox would destroy the whole york,
ar sctual)y to initiate the softness and fexibtty
o. nern was sUns n aoS
ard allowing nettte or experiment, correction, nor
chspge. As these options are still extensively en-
teItair ed in America, may be excused for making
Az fay as mere exc cution Is CONCERNED, the s,ulp
tors art Ia Of all others the easiest Of attainment
Viewed in this light, II falls among the 10 sess
baD6icrssts. Even machinery u nov successfully
employed in cutting ma bic 70 almost any required
io,n; ard 1t is 10 mose ingenious than that
which tuIns out lasts Of every shape from q sim
pie block of wood. Indeed, 30 little artistic skill
that the sculptor need not touch it. His art Is
higher and pober, dealing with things OF feeling,
imseir alton and philosophy, and bridging thsm
into visible forms in the most manageable substance
shall readiest reot i've the impress OF his thought an
here bis work s doce. His fortune Ia efs for ether
hsrds to gain for MIN by mechanical means alons :
by transferring to any required dimensions the pc
risbabIe model to enduring bronze or marble f1us,
figure Of fifty feet In height costs little more Of the
ecuipttrs time or talent than one Of three feet
Copy sitter copy may be made to any number, with
ont even the supervision o. the artss eye; 90 that
ncresfe the number of woik keen AID t,e quantity Of
marble to fulfil any number Of commissions in q
given time. The town Of Csrrara, N the mids. OF
the marble quarres of Italy, Ia one crest at0'y CT
this bind re peatitg ad infnitum the works of an.
cieIt sLu mOcern masters at very low rascs to BE-
sect to sll parts Of Christi ndon 30 that Venus
de Medici sn Apollo or LAGOON 10 sous ut Of equal
merit 70 tie orie ins M Ley can find either OF s5s
In avery short time.
IL s cors dered By sculp.ors themselves that cut
tjrg ra BILE Is not an essential part of their proas
sion, emo robe but those whose m ans do not allow
them 10 en- ploy worsmsn, ever take t3e c1sel IN
hard. Il abe clay model IL shown the artists merit;
the clay and modellitg tools are the only necessary
implements in the hands Of genius to pave tho way
to fortune and to fame. That the essentials % the
soulp'ct's art lie in the clay moael Ia not only
according TO reason, but to all history Of the plss
art for they do not depend upoa the material, bat
upon the form IL Is made TO aeune. In fact: IL was
from potter's art that soul pture sprsng, first,
by baking The clay after IL was modelled into the
required form, ss may DO kuo IN from the household
goes OF the Egyptists; after tbess came carv'ng
Bguies in wood and ivory, end lastly metels AZ /:
stone.
The Etruscars and Creeks were particularly
tbIattd for their works In clay, TIE former being
employ ed in decoiatipg the Roman Capitol, and me
latter in sdorI ing the most magnificent temples In
Greece Psueanias mentions temple at critGs.
Gale that Of the greatest gods, the statu,s Of
which we're Of csy;" and the Athenans are known
to have held anrual OK ,ibtons OF their best works
in the same substance. European collections CON.
tain mary specimens OF the ancient terra cotas, or
baked earth 6gures; in that OF Naoles are some as
Oge as life. No traveller in Italy can fall to be
struck by the beauty Of those Of the famous Lucoa
dtllA Rohhia. and 70 Join In the eeteem in viii b