Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-13
From the Baltimore Patriot.
Nr. Bnrbce, the American scutptor-A studio

We have seen from time 10 time and read
them with degree of pride aud pleasure. highly
tlattering notices in leading London aud other
European journals. of our American sculptor,
VIM r. Ba, bee, Esq, nnd ofhs productions.
Mr.. b. is native Of Virginia, mud though edu-
Gated for the law. which profession hc pursued
for some time with much promise, yet i,
c"ngenial to his taste and peculiar genus In
enrly boyhoodI 1t is said, tu.tc 70, sculpture de
veloped itself. This, despite all Effort seemed
Ia absorb his whole soul. Whilst pursuing his
Inv studies. ~ we are Informed by those hest nc
qunintod with him. the ever present l,,nii If art
would take captive his nrlistic powers aud thus.
almost iires -tubly mould some hinge. even IN
rude obsou,ity, which stood forth object, not
only nf wonder aud admiration, but of rnrc beau
ty. AT the instance Of friends who discovered
this early dominant characteristic of his mind.
who had watched its Development from youth to
manhood, ho was induced to abandon the law, and
visit Europe. Yielding willingly Ia their solic-
taions he did so, and after visiting most # tho
Italian and other celebrated stndies established
timselfin Florence, where, for more than five
years, by intense application, hn achieved re-
nown in the art ct sculpture, seldom oquallcd in
so hrief u period by either European Amor
cnn calling forth criticisms aud deserved piau-
dts from ,he highest authorities.
A letor ut hand from highly intelligent and
influential gentleman Of Virginia, in speaking of
him. thus remarks: II must shy. from whit lit
lie have seen, and from what have gathered
from intelligent men of the old world, who have
visited me during the last ycnr their return
from Europe. (anl some of whom hud seen all tho
principal s.atunry of the odd countries J that ho
has but few, II any, supcrlor> IN his art" We
hnve also, ON frequent occasions, observed highly
favorable notices of Mr.. b. in letter. OF Europe.
an correspondents, who had visited his studio in
Florence, Ia journals in this country. II is cs.
peoially gratifying to know--as we have our in
formation from Mr. Barbee himsei-thai he pur-
poses locating permanently in this country. aud,
II possible. IN baltimore, whore it is his wish To
establish IN elaborate studio. thus giving tone,
character. and elevation to the Find Arts Of our
city and country. Such nm establishment. wa
feel confident would prove. not only interesting.
and instructive TO artistic taste, but eminently
useful in promoting the general good of Balti
more. His CoQuErrE, supeihly beautiful fig
ure, will told, be for sale on it's arrival in
the United States. He could have obtained for
II IN Europe II fair remuneratng price, but he
wanted to bring it to his own country. that it
should be seen here u specimen of his work
and that it NIGH tall into the hands of his own
oopntrymen, rather than in the hands of II for
eigner. Mr. b. has expended some ten or twelve
thousand dollars in the prosecution of his labors
in ltaly. and is now wholly dependent on his pro-
fession.
! Native genius and talent rare, we feel con
fdent cannot DO overlooked, and it is earn. sily
hoped TINT the lnudable enterprise. contempt ted
| by this American artist may meet abundant sue
cess. Having thus returned to his country
after course Of studies abroad, too ardnous for
his physical constitution, in OF der to estab sh
himself prominently and to devote his energies
to the building up of art. with the ilattering no
| tices given him on the other side may he find
ample encouragement here.
4 gentleman Of ack nowledged taste and iudg-
ment. who has been la Florence and seen MIR.
Barbee's three full-sze figures, thus describes
! them: The first representing the "Coqnefts." is
a young female, slightly and coquet,ishlv lrapel
| in the act of piercing Il heart with arrow. Her
playful attitude, and the arch smile beamng up
| on her face. evince her m-chievous delieht at
the torture she iniiicts At her feet i thrown u
! bunch of thorns, nearly concealed by an open
rose indicative of the hidden ills, which are the
fruits of her deceptive life. The design of th
figure is to portray character in real life ia
miliar TO every circle which though attractive
and admirable in all eyes, yet is not beyond the
reach of the retrihutive punishment allotted to
life of Maynard sport. This figure is finished
in mar BILE and will he in America in the course
! of Il month and half.
The second work is The Fisher Gid" n
nude figure. representing young girl in the fall
bloom Of youth, seated on the sea shore, in the
act of mendng a fisherman's net She inclines
her head aud body gracefully forward. in order
to bring the net, which is upon her knee. within
the proper focus of vision. Around her are scat
tered profusion of sea Shells leaves. and peb
bles, Indicating the beach Her hair j. gathered
up and caught by wreath of beautiful shells;
over which it drops loosely upon her n, k Her
position is that of graceful, independent ease.-
The design OF this figure is TO illu,trrte the fac,
that God has not confined ,ha hpauties of form
and feature to the higher orders of the human
| species alone; but that WE may expect TO find il