The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-17
American Art and Artists.
NEWARK, N. j., July 2, 1857.

NSWAhhb W. Suy LOU.
JAMES GORDoN BENNETT, ESQ
read In your paper Of this morning, with much inte
rest article relating to the price given by govern
ment for paintings TO adorn the Capitol The article states
that Mr. Msson said to Mr. Horace vernet that the
price given o00 but he believed they would with
him be more liberal that Mr. Mason inquired OF distn
gushed painter Of naval what he would charge
his reply was tina. the price would be object that he
would paint for 100000 for government This
cited interest with me- Mr. Pierce carried out the
order Of Congress by directing Hiram Powers execute
the statue of America and appropriate the for that
purpose He required Powers 70 make the statue and send
to America and have its value left persons decide
In every former instance the paid in advance or
named and the integrity Of the artist relied its exc
cuton. Mr. Powers is anxious to return to the United
States and the $25 900 would enable him to do but he
would rather die Of starvation than be made exception
10 the general rule Mr. Pierce has explained his failure
to give the order recently, the ground that Powers
tended sending the statue Of America that he has finished
lie is under great mistake here have three let
ters from Powers-he first written not long after the ap
preparation madesaying that his preseut statue
only model, and 30 intended, a. II too small to
exhibit in the Capitol-that he would make II Of
any size the President directed. / recently had it
from Mr. Everett that he bad twice named to Mr.. Pierce
that he had two letters from Mr. Powers stating his In
tentons and wishes We have in Cincinnati, Mr. Powers
Gerevra, executed after his arrival in Florence
heard but opinion given of by the Or
talent recently In Cincnnat-that they had never
work Of European artist executed at any age, superior
toM
will state two OF The cir ;umsances that nrst brought
Nr Powers to public notice The day will come when they
will be interesting. Madam Tro!lo spending
ing al Mr. Dorfeuiles the then proprietor Of
In the course Of conversation che observed to D0reue
that representation of the internal regions from the poet
be fOr in his
um "fhat true Madam said Dsreule "but there is
artist in America who has the genius and talents to execute
the figures and scenery there represented" Yankee
cockmaker, (Luman wason,) and man OF talents,
present, and observed Ihave the very young
ever executed apy work the kind W .sd watson
'he has never presume read the poem Give to him TO
read and will guarantee that he shall make his tools
and everything there represented equal to fe" Doreue
had him at the WORK in few days. In three months
serpent thirty feet long running about the room and
all the figures equal to life. The evidence Of his
genius was the following Alexander Drake was the great
comic actor in that day. and often between the play and farce
sang the comic song OF Sieve and S.ssenges On certain
evening the public notified that Drake would sing the
comic Of Glove and Sassenges" and the house
crowded usual The curtain rose and there stood Drake
tered Drake occasion ally drop much and such
then the supposed OF his silence and slight hiss
was heard HIS friends rose and with stamping feet and
capping Of hands, supported Drake The curtain fell for
moment apparently by accident but instantly
and there stood Drake in the clothes and attitude
encored, and sung second time, and they endeavorcd
to get repeated the third time But the curtain fell,
the mystery understand how he recovered
the power OF speech and memory It all explained
the next day for In Dorfeue's statue Of Drake
was seen In IKE dress and came position When the
curtain fell the statue suddenly removed, and Drake
took its place.
Before Mr.. Powers known q sculptor, Ueviaser
had rival In busS. He had taken Of Jacob Borne
Esq, that thought sculptor could equal. Powers
year before he went 70 Italy told he TO take
pass was impossible He replied the en-
eagement and must do H." did not 60 Powers studio
till was told IL WAS finished in clay. then wen, and
took Cevinger with me. We found the empty
When Uevnger got within SIX feet OF the bust he raised
his head and looked at for minute, when he raised
hand and with sadness raid "rha past my power- Is
speaking' From that day Cevinger always endeayored
TO give the most favorable expressions TO his busts To
accomplish this, Powers often sat and talked hour
A C1NC1NNAnAN.
MR.. BARNES NEv srATUE-THE COQUKrrE.
From the Washington Union.
the Baltimore Weekly Dispa,eA the folio Wing oompmeuts
" notice OF work In marble by VIM. X Barbee, Esq
This statue has been repeatedly spoken OF possessing
merit We have not had the pleasure of seeing II
oursef but 1t Is doubtless entitled, work ART TO all
the enoomiums which have been so lavishly bestowed
this gentleman a model nearly finished which be calls
the Young Republican," which certainly struck
work Of great beauty.
II Is the figure Of boy. apparently eight ten
years He has stripped OF his clothes and thrown them
on the ground as II impatient OF all restraint to
tho freedom OF his emotions. He then sits upon
them, leaning forward and resting upon his left
hand, whilst with sort of stylus In his RICH. hand be
ties upon the ground the word Liberty" The
writing itself Ia 10 perfect keeping with the idea Of boy
hood The word written with capital letters imperfect
ly formet and IN struggling manner such might
tuTaly be expected OF a boy Of that age.
But what struck MS as peculiarly beautiful 10 this figure
the head aud face. Nothing could be graceful
nothing expressive. The cOuntensnce
press sor, OF intellectual glow smile, which transfers
aud expresses itself by the word Liberty" II Is alto
Rether e genius, aud when finished 10 marble.
will be- add greatly to the reputation Of .he
young sculptor n n 1rk OF art
THE CoorErTy This beautiful work OF art, which II
exhibition at The Euaw House. con Ter 10 be OF
the highest triumphs OF American genius II IL full
length female figure In marble. placed upon a revoly.
ing pedestal The Cnque,te Is represented the most
fascinating period OF life, when youth aud beauty are
jus, entering on full maturity the figure 1, erect, and
bibs inviting symmetry and grace excelled by
any similar work In hand the coqGe,tc
holds heart; in the other arrow with which she ap
pears about TO pierce. and yet holds II In pity The
expression OF the counienance Is admrabe there
II gloS of satisfaction at the triumph has made and
upon tho captured trophy, II she regretted the car
that triumph inflicted Tho general expression OF the face
Is that OF exquisite beauty. II n the coquctte
asking her,ef the question: Shall sacrifice this
heart and proceed 10 other conquess surrender my
own It's r-nsomp" The question 70 yet In delicious
doubt " can IL will shall T9' Toe ooyness, ipno-
cepoc. and bestsncy admirably expressed AZ her
feet full blown rose culver flu OF lies also
the pedestal The statue IL, in short, beautiful pro-
ducfiou, and TO mind, deserving OF iniraon
ana epoornums than even tho Greek Slsve OF Powers
The Co1uete' Ia the work OF American sculptor,
william X Bsrbee, who has shown 10 its production tho