Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-02-05
a seugptor,s System of Modelling.


A writer in the London AMeacam of a late
! date, thus describes one Of the first and most
| important processes of producing marble
statue -
Mr.. Hiram Powers process of sculpture
| modelling in plaster Of Paris was most courte-
| ously explained to me in detailed manner, by
himself, in Florence, in the year before last
He reverts to literal sculpture, manufacturing
in the first place block of sulphate of lime
(bounded merely by the rough outlines of his
intended statue,) which he then cuts down, by
means of hatchetS and chisels, to the more ac-
curate figure and finishes by means of spuds
and files Of his own invention The original
block is constructed in masonry of small bricks
laid in plaster and of dimensions varying from
three to four inches long by Two and a-half
inches wide, and about three-quarterS to one
inch thick. These piled together, become a
homogeneous mass of sui phate of lime, and an
cassidy workable artificial stone The block
so made is next Clipped down to the required
size, the component limbs and trunk being hewn
out of the solid principally by the aid of small
and light chisels and hammers Upon the
scay Clipped surface of the figure in this state,
the modelling OF the muscles and features is ef-
fected in paste of plaster dabbed on with
trowels, floats, and finally spuds of various 81
yes The finished surface of the nude is lastly
worked up by hollow flies, pierced at one end,
like a culIender, with holes, half round, which
a tooth is raised. These files are extremely
effective they are made by the artist himself,
OF every shape siZe and curvature, and rasp
the dry plaster away beautifully, leaving plea
SAINT texture OF surface In the fingers and ex-
tremities of the plaster model, copper wires are
inserted, being the only representatives of the
unwleldy mass of iron framework necessary
for the setting up and support Of a clay model
and these wires, by their ductility, afford suf-
tcient liberty for changing the pose and att-
tude OF members, if, as the work proceeds, oc-
casion arises for so doing A finger, for in
stance, requires to be more bent it is sawn
through to the wire at the joint, the wire is
twisted into the required position, and a fresh
modelling OF the joint-muscles is alone requir-
ed The wires in fact take the place of bones
For finishing the limbs of his figures with that
extreme ncety which he does, Mr.. Powers
adopts bold and novel mode lie has invent
ed vice-wlHch is set upon ball-and socket
joint-and has, by virtue of raising and depres-
sing screws, every possible variety of motion.
This Instrument is the perfection of ingenuity
The sculptor cuts Off from his figure an arm
a head, leg, when modelled sufficiently for his
purpose and, fixing it in the vice, turns, twists,
scrapes and polishes it at his ease to the most
detailed finish. In cutting off, dowel is i'll
serted into one side of the cut and mortise-
hole left in the othCr-and these are SO arrang-
ed, with regard to a groove which is first made
on the outside Of the limb, as to insure an alb
solute accuracy in refitting. BY arrangements
OF this kind, the working of the torso is rem
dered much less difficult than when covered
in part by limbs stretching before it and the
finishing of the nude to that eXactnesS which
Mr.. Powers always adopts before touching the
drapery, becomes a less tedious operation The
several advantages obtained 10y his system Mr.
Powers explained to be-the saving of one
whole operation, viz, casting-the model it.
self being used for hepOints the convenience
of being able at any time to put aside or re-
sumo study without that intervening watch
fulness and care in mostening and covering up
which clay model requires the facility of
beading the eXtremities when modelled by
means Of their central wiry bones, which would
only cut through instead of moving the clayey
limbs the saving of time and labor by remo-
delling portion only instead Of whole limb,
when slightly altered in position and last
ly, the better anatomical eXactitude with which
members detached from the body may, Us mem-
bers, be worked"