New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-21
THE VA0hBOND ScULPTORs.

The urofornd writers Of antiquity found eycehence
in each separate phase Of AIT and unlike the critics
NJ .be nresent day, acknowledged in the meanest vo-
, If aesthetic pursuits deserving object of appro-
b,ton in 50 for as superiority marked his efforts 1t
mat.ered not whether that superiority was evidenced
in the fearful imagery Of Perugno, or the fascinating
,ensuou.ness of Praxiteles; it still superiority
differing only with regard to tho absence or presence
Of tina, spirituality which has in later years constituted
tie criterion of high art
But who hes formed standard whereby 70 criticse
the productions of our modern sculptors who has
ever had the temerity to institute comparisons be-
tween those wandering vendors Of gypsum images
Fortunate vagabonds they escape the trials and dis
appointments OF those who assume to walk above
them in the art Of which they are but the mimics
Their wants few AMI easily satisfied happy in their
vocation and cheered by the object of their wander
ines-those gipsies Of civilization fad pleasure IN
existence which ia often denied TO the more educated
type Of humanity, who lives by the conventional
labor Of society And around the rude details Of TINS
Life of itneracy there is thrown a veil Of romance
which exor.s an undoubted influence upon the uneiu-
Gated minds Of it's voteries. Romance, says Jean
Paul sis a materialzed spirit-world;" and what
better description Of the present mental condition oil
these Italian wanderers can be imagined than that
[
vague ideal-of this people in whom spirituality is
rnateriazed and only perpetuated in the romance OF
tradition
A moderate estimate gives US two hundred makers
and vendors Of images in this City. OF these per-
hans one-eighth have fixed hobitatons and shops
where they carry on their business. The remainder
are itinerants who manufacture their own wares and
vend them through the streets Of the City and the
I hoy
origin-coming mostly from the shores Of the lovely
Lake Of Como, in Lombardy. They usually emf
CRATE in email FORTHCOMING on their arrival here
into companies, and constantly cherishng the idea OF
return to their native land. Many Of them will
wander through this strange country for from five to
twenty years-existing on the hnmbest food, and
Often in the summer months, trusting to the bountul
Earth for odgng-pla ce-thus Of their own choice
encouneTing difficulties and privations unknown to
any other class Of population, and all that they
may return to their carly homes and die in compe-
fence among the loved scenes Of infancy. Those
who die during this term of sefexile intrust the
little which they have accumulated to a companion
who transmits it safely TO the family or friends of the
deceased in Italy. And rarely indeed ia this trust
violated; for these poor people are characterized by
ar high of honor as Of amor patre. In fact,
these Italian emigrants are much superior in q moral
point Of view to the generality Of those thrown upon
our shores and though it is they add but little to
the Importance influence of society," it is also certain
that they constitute the least troublesome class OF
foreign poor, whether they be found in the country
the metropolis.
Unlike their owcountrymen the "Troubadours,"
our modern scupors do not centraze their forces in
any particular quarter the contrary, they may be
found inhabiting the most extreme Wards and those
dingy streets in the very heart Of the City, You will
find them occupying half-funished room, in which
everything is so smeared with the material used in
their occupation TO appear to have been white
washed. In the center Of the room are table and
board covered with cslcined gypsum or plaster of
Paris and strewed around the floor and in the corners
are Knights with weak legs and crooked lances poets
without any nasal appendages, cross-eyed Madonnas,
numerous Quadrupeds wildly cooIed and an immense
variety ofbus,s-statesmen, mythoogcalfgures etc.
some Of which are completed and others in q haf-iin-
ishod state The industry of the "scuptors' is most
praiseworthy. They will return from their wander
ngs Of the day 10 toll during the greater part of the
night in completing stock OF images to take out on
tie succeeding morning. One bed answers for the
entire firm" which is usually composed of three
four members. Their food is simple and Of the poor
est quality. 1t is unnecessary to make any com
l
opportunity of observing for itself The extreme
parsimony Of the scuptors" is excused by its OBJ
iect although il renders the best portion Of their
lives dreary and ioycss and leaves but little to be
said concerning their customs or the manner OF their
existence Beyond the immediate partners of his
business the image maker does not look for society.
Indeed il may be said he lives without sociey-exst-
ing among his memories and his hopes. He regards
his life in this country as period of labor and looks
beyond the sea to his native land-hopins for a
place of rest. Thus, unlike the troubadour," the
"scuptor" is not social animal, or rather he
does not form new sympathies attachments in this
country; being occupied with the remembrance OF
his home beneath the bright es Of Italy, he hes no
room in his thoughts for any new friendship and lives
retired among bis companions thinking always OF the
object Of his wanderings. There are social re-
unions; no balls nothing that vary the dull mo-
notony of the lives of this people Their primitive
habits pariake of certain dignity which Is upheld
by the stern spirit of selfdenal which almost unver
sally charactorizes them.
Alexander Palyi-a fair specimen of his class,
whom we met not long since in Brosdway-gaye
US a correct idea Of theexent of bis profession IN
this Countrywide account he gave being aiterward
confirmed by many others " There cannot, he
said, "be more than two hundred of us in the City
at the present time. have Travelled TO some ex-
tent through the United States and South Ameri-
"ca; there are not more than one thousand image
"makers on this Continent; that is my opinion. The
number of our profession does not increase much
for there are but few of our countrymen who have
"tho resolution TO undertake business in which there
sis 80 much tedious work and go little pleasure.
"The greater number of those employed IN this man