Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-06-27
From the Washington ST.

iy located. with a clear stream Of water rununs
through n invaluable for his artistic purposes ana
which he has made OF further use as al S'''NS@'
Lake serving az 60 ice and hs1 pono.
On a commanding eminence stands cluster %
bpildincs composing the artists establishment
Consisting of dwelling houses, studio, foundry,
bIacksmith and carpenter shop. stables, &c; Out
% reach this "Palace Beautiful" IL is necessary 10
p4ss the kennels Of some ferocious bul oogs' VI
great size, whom, however, we iound secu'eV
chained, else this article might have remaioeo uu'
written. ,,,l;.-
cnstomer was seen rubbing his horns against the
patcl In the shape OF an American elk, the oe-
scondsnt of ono which escaped from Mills two or
three wears ago and was shot while swimming Tue
p,,omsc About the same time bison, procured
sec bv Mills as a model, got away one night, ana
vas found dead the next mOrui &, having persheu
Ike the unfortunate elk Oy Tue hAnus Vi SO"ue
tboughtess marksman.
The studio which was erected in place OF one
bjovn down by the wind towers above the country
like stately castle being l'rge octagonal build
ig some eighty feet through by fOrtS feet In hiegn
The explanation given by the artist Why he has
had This building constructed OF such size Is inter-
esing.
He saws that ia the execution Of the Jackson
statue be was so crampei for room in the small
shed-ike structure, which our readers will rem m
Der as having stoo1 south Of the Treasury building.
that he did not during its pro ress have an
opoortunity TO view il at the prop focal distance,
and that when the statue was unveiledln Lafayette
SQUARE il was as new to him as 10 any spectator.
Tho multitude received it with accamatons,
INT his artistic eve detected defects at once which
he would have avoided with his model sufficiently
elevated TO Judge Of the effect at the height il was
to take on iis open-gir pedestal. These ELECTS he
quietly remedied in the duplicate statue ordered
by tue city of New 0leans, aud be has now taken
tie precaution to secure himself ample room and
verge BY throwing open the large doors the octag-
opsl sides of the studio the model is displayed in
any required light, or at any angle OF depression
or elevation.
Entering the studio, we pass through room oc-
cupied with ingeniors mechanical appliances lnven-
ted by Mills to facilitate his art operations, among
which is a simple but admirable working contH-
vance for copying busts on reduced or enIirged
scale Passing into the great central room, the Eye
Is arrested by the colossal pla ter model of the
horse for the Washington statue, and which, though
roughly outlined as yet, is marked by all that in-
tense vitality and spirit which the severest critic OF
this artist must concede to his productions.
Mil. has, we think, with gooo ju igment selected
for illustration that striking historical Incident oil
the battle of PTncetou-the point OF time VII n on
the precipitous retreat OF MERGERS troops, Wash
ipgtun putting spurs to bis horse, dashed passed
the hestating militia full upon the advancing Zoe,
his commanding figure end white horse, making
him conspicuous Object for the enemy's marks
men, Washington, in this terrible emergency,
maintains the sublime tranquility OF the christian
hero who feels that he is in the hands OF an over
ruling Providence, whose instrument be is; but the
horse has 20 such sustaining power, and recos ter
ror struck at the peril upon which he Is thru't.
The figure of Washington is not yet modelled;
and 10 the achievement of this we look forward
wlh no little interest," for TO Mills falls tue singular
good fortune of having 1t in his power TO furnish
what alone will give his work an nestlnable value,
the Only absolutely correct likeness and bust OF
Washington the world has yet seen!
Mills has nov 10 his po session the Houdon head
taken from the face OF Washington, and the only
one ever taken. THIS obtained by Houdon al
model for his celebrated Richmond statue Of Wash
ington, IA copy OF which is now in the rotunda OF
the capito) But now comes out the most singular
of oil. VINO has not felt sense OF dissatisfaction
at the narrow, retresting forehead, and perked up
chin OF the Houdon statue; oil criticism and ques-
tiouing being declared by the assertion that the
head Was an exact copy from life. Such is not the
fact. Houdon, following the wretched taste of his
time, must needs alter his divine mOdd-
"A combination and form indeed,
Where every God did 10 set his zeal
To give the world as uTance OF a man"
and gave bis Washington the features and port Of
the efiemiDste sensual royalty OF that day, viz the
narrow recednR forehead, wide heavy jowls and
thrown up chin and nose
PrUvidentisly, the original head from the cast,
though overlooked, has been preserved intact, and
is now in the hands of artist rsmbliugy alive TO
lie priceless value as the only true representation
OF Washington in existence.
IL is a grand head, showing in its balanced pro-
portions, that perfect equilibrium and harmony OF
qualities exhibited by the Father Of his Country,
but which no other represen tatoD Of him. pictorial
or statuesque, has yet ado quately shsdowed forth.
Mils must not alter line Of bis model, much as
a hairs breadth No ideal head however, noble,
can equal this taken from Washngtou's own iea-
lures.
hills spoke with much qualification of an inter-
view held by him with President Buchanan few
dsye since, in regard TO a site for the Washington
statue when completed it being leit 70 the Presi-
dent OF the United States by the act Of Congress,
TO designate such site. On his attention being
called TO the matter by Mr. Mills the President eI-
pressed purpose TO obtain the advice of artists
to the proper location, evincing by bis manner OF
saying it, that he was fully aware how much itJus-
tice may be done 10 a work Of art through being
placed in an uniavorable position.
In the studio we noticed the spirited outline OF
the model OF tiger executed 10y son OF MIL,
some sixteen years OF age, who exhibits no small
degree Of tlent in his fathers walk.
Emerging from the studio noticed in q store
room 10 the left, hundreds of barrels OF plas-
ter OF Paris, enormous quantities OF which are con-
sumed in modelling these colossal statues.
Next In interest TO the studio is the large foun-
dry, bu Il Of brick and which replaces that
burnt 10 the course OF Mills "chapt-r Of accidents
shortly after bis studio blown down. High
overhead impend two pondeTous cranes, designed
to f. the TASKS containing the moulds-from thirty
TO forty tons In weight-at the time OF casting.
Here are two enormous watts, one designed for sul-
phuric acid In which the casting, after being fitted
and hlied - loSered for couple Of days for bath
The second IL the nitre acid bath, in which the
casting is immersed but moment, and then water
IL dashed upon it, else the acid which changes the
metal al once 70 brilliant golden hue, would eat
deep into It's surface.
Here is ills wonderful furnace, to the invention
o. which he was driven by imperative necessity,
which, without chimney, bellows, or draft, snd
with pine wood for fuel affords heat sufficient for
Tossing the immense Of metal required In his
castings.
OF the most graphic narratives ever listened
70, IL the artists description of the difficulties
through which he struggled, 10 executing the cast
ings OF bis Jackson statue; how, after having per
mission 10 use the Navy Yard furnaces, be found
at the lsst moment thst to make the requisite eH-
caVation nesr the ERE, would In the opinion OF the
Navy Yard authorities endanger Tire safety OF the
tall chimney hue, and he was forced 70 look In
some other quarter; how the hrst mouders 10 the
country refused 20 undertake the work except AZ
bis ii /; how, when AZ be wits end, he recolrcted
having seen in bis boyhood piece Of OF chain
taken from q eoal-pit which with pieces OF brick
was completely fused by the intense heat Of the
pin; bow b. cried "Eprek,l' and started 10 con
suruet his furnace upon the principle OF the coal
pin; bow al the scientific Swans Of the Gay rid'-
culec the idea OF furnace without drAit. sod oo~
HE nearest friends aud patrons appalled, BY the
dictum Of the sayars, entreated Lin 10 aoan-
don bis visionary pnjeet; bow hrm To his be-
lief that "soms things can be doue ss Wsh as
nthars ha f,eraav.raa ana triumuhrd and All tnr
iucredulous saEsns came aud examined The farnse .
inside sud oatside, aud admitted that IL was an
achievement not dreamed OF In their peiloso-
phyn