The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-12-30
Rarbee's "Csauette..

production OF Virginia Sculptor Will |
liam R. Barbee. The Coquette is medi- |
um size, s feet A inches high, standing
erect on a revolving pedestal. She is
carved in the most complete artistic style,
from single block Of Serravez2a Marble. /
and is represented at about l8 summers.
the most fascinating and captivating pc
riod of female life, just when youth and
beauty are being fully matured. The
weight of the body is thrown upon
the left leg, the right is bent for
ward, with the heel turned inwards,
the head is coquettishly inclined, CIV
ing the whole figure the most ma
natural, easy and graceful attitude. A
flowing scarf is most beautifully and del
ieately disposed of, draping part other
figure. In her left hand which is eleva-
ted to an exact level with the eye, she
holds loosely grasped heart, which she
seems to be examining very closely,
whilst in her right, she holds weapon of
cupid, which is directly aimed at the most
sensitive part of the vital organ held in the
left.
When we look upon and study the
face. we read the whole design of the ar
fist. We behold an angelic creature toy
ing with the too faithful heart of her low
er--she has aoon it-she feels and knoacs
she has sis.mphed-she smiles-she e.
attts, and yet even here, we observe one
other feature, always necessary accom-
paniment in the character of the Coquette,
that whilst she is just engaged in the very
act as it were, of decorating the heart she
has at her will, and doubtless feels an in
nate satisfaction at the contemplation of
the cruel act, yet she affects to be hest
tat'ng, and we see all expression of seluc-
lance, mingled with pity and sorro,c. But
who that has been victim to the charms
of a Coquette-who that has suffered
from an envenomed dart of Cupid, but
well remembers that the darling bright
eyes and smiling face, as the lips pro-
nounced the awful verdict Of depart ye,'
seemed to have intermingled with it an
air OF pity and sorrow, conveying the un-
mistakable idea, that, Tho blast all your
hopes-tho' cannot love you in return
yet still you have my sympathy dash
aside this heart, all faithful as it is, be-
cause l cannot give my own in return
aud we turn away believing the heartless
creature, most Conscientious This is
one of the ruling passions of the Coquctte,
and this device is clearly shown by the
artist who chiseled Barbees. Whether
he has ever been TIE victim to the
charms of the character his Statue
represents, we know not, but most
assuredly he sends the whole story
home to one who perchance has loued
,dolszed, suffered and ble1 As the figure
revolves, we get d view of the front and
left side face, and here we perceive some-
thing new-the stern unaltered look-the
dimpled cheek and chin-the compressed
lips, all showing decision of character and
a determinate of purpose-and we feel
assured that she will carry out her cruel
design. In the folds of the scarf as it
falls to her feet in the rear, is culver
filled with arrows, which she has laid care
fully away and holding in reserve for flu
ture use. On the pedestal, in front, and
between her feet lies full blown rose,
which bristles with dangerous thorns.-
Who but an artist of the finest talent and
most brilliant conception, would ever
have thought of this, and yet how true it
is-how appropo-we see it verified in
our daily intercourse with the world. The
Coquette, young, fresh, beautiful and love-
ly in the morning, is attractive, she is
admired, loved and worshipped-but
mark the change: evening comes, age sets
its seal upon her brow-her cheeks with
er-her smiles disappear-her beauty
fades--she pauses-she retrospects-
sees her folly-the cruelty, wickedness
and heartlessness of her earlier and hap
pier days rise up before her in "bold re-
lief"-she makes step into the future
and 10! she steps upon the thorn of the
rose whose beauty and fragrance have