The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-02-09
Gbc 4f,su Of tbe Gilncs.
From Primes Travels in Europe and the L asst
HIRAM POWERS.
Among the pleasant memories of month

Among the pleasant memories of a month
in Florence, are the hours | spent with the
great American artist, whose reputation is
now the common property Of the world
His studio is in Via la Fornace, and just over
the way from Casa del Bcllo, the house Of
Mr.. Kinney, my home while there. His
history is to be studied by every young
American.
The most remarkable work in the studio
is the man himself. At the age of fifteen,
he was an emigrant from Vermont, his native
State, to Ohio, and there, at the age Of 26,
he made his first bust, a head in WAX. 1t
gives little promise ofwhat has since appear
ed. Twenty years ago Mr.. Powers went TO
Washington, and while pursuing his labors
as Il sculptor, he enjoyed the friendship Of
Mr.. Preston, of the Senate whose brother
sent Mr.. Powers oItaly. Here he has been
at work sixteen years. The first few years
were lost to him, in consequence of his hav-
ing taken orders for busts of his countrymen,
which it cost him more to execute than they
were to bring him, and he was for long
time compelled to work out the marble with
his own hands which he now commits to
artisans. Thus, in addition to the loss Of
all the early years of his life, which were
occupied with merely mechanical pursuits.
he sacrificed three more to engagements he
had made in America. Yet in all these years
of bondage, his soul was at work upon some
thing higher and better than had ever come
from his hands, and perhaps, like the blind
ness Of Milton and Imprisonment of Bunyan.
il was well for him and the world. that he
was not suffered to put forth his hands until
his soul had been refined by the fires Of long
years oft trial, such as consume those that
are not made ofgold. Now he is not less
than fifty years Of age; and when lie was
many years younger than he is, the greatest
ofmo!ern sculptors, Thorwalsden, paid him
homage. He is destined to inaugurate q
new era in sculpture, and leave a name to
postcrity as the founder Of school which
will attract the admiration, and finally Sc
cure the approving verdict of the successive
ages of the Christian world. Yet, great as
this man is, his greatest beauty of character
is his ssmcek simplicity" A model for a
king in form and height, he would sit for
child, if his spirit found expression in stone
or in canvass. / met him first in social life,
and was all but grieved. The majesty of a
man who conceivcs and executes works that
hold in mute wonder and delight the most
cultivated minds, was all concealed in the
gentlcncss of genial friend; but / fell in
love with man before sat at the feet of. the
master. And he was just the same when |
stood by him studying the glorious creations
rising into beauty and life like reality under
his plastic hand. His studio was gallery
of glorious stutuary when l entered it.
Among the greatest of his works, is one Just
passing from under his hands. .amcrica is
here presented in the form of a woman of
youth, vigor, and promise, confident and
earnest, with face radiant with hope, faith
and energy. At hsr right, and supporting
the figure, are the .fasces, the embcms Of
strength derived from union, over which her
mantle is talng gracefully. Her head is
crowned with laurcls, to show that union is
victory as well as strength; and on her head
the thirteen original States are represented
by as many stars, forming a tiara, which she
wears, her brth-right jewels. Her left hand
points to heaven. From this shoulder, the
drapcry hangs carclcssly, concealing much
of the form, while one foot advances with
firm, yet, elastic tread, whcfSspeaks of tho
progress and stability Of America with elo-
quence that cannot he misread.
The State of Louisiana has OF dcred a
statue of WASHINGTON, by Powers, and is
nearly completed. The head of Washington
is after the Houdon Inst, which Stuart told
Isaac p. Daviswas a better likeness Of Wash
ingron than the portrait which he (Stuart)
painted, and whciein his portrait varied from
lIoudon's bust, the bust was the best. In
this great work Of Powers, Washington is
presented after his retirement from public