New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-27

| that tie imagination and other high faculties Of the
mind, when educated and intehigen, are anected by
the yerv reverse of those qualities which are merely
visual u;crnseonic and mechanical; and, secondly.
that hi. invention was fertile, his thoughts and
fancy so teeung with forms OF grandeur and beauty
that the necessity 10 create new WORKS
Some cha o.s were made against Michael Aogelo
low groundles,ly, history is PerpetunIy demon
strafiug Does j. ever occur W cutl
waited ind that the Sybhs ana prophets IN
| rio s;s,ne Chapel are wanting in finish Still
the xo,ks of Carlo Dolc have many admirers, and
Wcbasl Angelo has left the indisputsble proof t
bs ability 10 lose in mOnotonors softness oil traces of
other character and has showed his contempt 'r tin
-olitarv has relief in the Chzze gallery at oreDee
Csvford also in some Of his work., carried tender
ness and elaboration into the superative degr,e In
Nh. qroup of The Children IN the Wood, nothing 10
omitted that belongs TO The story Inc shoe, the little
trptbfuness while the touching pahos of the sleeping
children il consistent and exquisite. But We may
safely assert that there ia not work in sculpture
cient or modern, that surpasses in elaboration the
portrait bust of Mrs Crawford, executed 1916.
Every attribute of the be art retained in its fullest
expression. Intellectually, dignity, and womsnly
sweetness glow with the artists ska. The effect OF
the whole is classical, preserving in almost faultless
symmetry the minutest individuality Of character. This
is carried with studied particularly into the aces and
flowers Their ornate and delicate tracery is 40 sub
dued as to highten the imposing perfection Of the work.
In the entire range OF sculptured porralture 1t has
neither superior nor equal.
II is not however, by these qualities that succeed
ing generations will estimate the works Of Crawford
Admirable as they are, they belong to lower plane
of labor II ia the difference between Phidias and
Praxitees-tbe creative and constructive power Of
the ideal, and the patient finish OF sluggish nven-
ton. His superiority is shown in the universally Of
his subjects and the originality Of their conception
and treatment. IL is remarkable how the course OF
study he adopted secured to him the true develop
ment of bis faculties. His first studies naturally
among the celebrated antiques. This led him 70 make
most of his earliest compositions of a classical
CHI N ride n npr uOw n
my. As he acquired more skill and mastery over his
tools and material he selected his subjects from the
Bible and New Testament, tamiliarizing himself with
treatment of more complicated draperies, preparing
for the mort difficult works so that when the large
orders from Government rendered to him, he was
competent to accept and execute them with equal
honor TO himself and the nation. His works naturally
classify themselves into three divisions. First: The
Astrological, including the Orpheus, Genius of
Mirtb the Muse, Autumn, Cupid, Flora, 10, Peri,
Apollo, Homer, DIANA Vesta, Sappho, the Archer,
Paris presenting the Apple to Venus, Mercury and
Psyche, Hebe and Ganynede Jupiter and Psyche
Psyche Found, Nymph and Satyr, series of four has
reliels, Boy and Cost, &c.
His Scriptural compositions were Adam and Eve,
David and Golah, David before Saul, the Shepherds
and Wise Men Def re Christ a group of twenty-Our
figures; Christ disputing with the Doctors, twelve
figures; Christ ascending from the Tomb and Christ
raising Jairuss daughter; the Daughter of Herodias,
Repose in Egypt, Eve tempted, Eve with Cain and
Aiel Lead us into Life Everlasting, single figure OF
Christ. Christ blessing little Children, and Christ at
the Well of Samaria. This, however, is not 9 CON-
plee list.
But, notwithstanding the high excellence Of his
earlier productions his genius only found its full scope
in works of history and alegOry, of which, in all,
there than thirty; and the latest OF these are
the best for the that the subjects brought him
at into the vital contemporary history OF his
try and excited his patriotism.
The Virginia monument is nobly conceived. The
colossal statue of Washington, includug the horse is
% feet high. The pedestal rests upon star-shaped
statues of S ee Mason Neson and Patrick Hen
who, with his arms raised and extended, is in the act
of speaking, while jefferson, in an attitude of earnest
contemplation holds pen, with the Declaration of
Independence. These figures, which to be in
bronze, excited great admiration when they were
hibi ed in Rome.
The figures for one of the pediments on the extern
sion of the Capitol at Washington are allegorcal, and
filed with historic interest. In the center stands q
figure of Liberty, with appropriate symbols. 10
her right, q soldier in Continental uniform is draw
ing his sword from ts scabbard as II to defend the
rights of the statesman who sits him. absorbed in
deep thought Then two youths are coming forward
TO cheerully in their counrys cause; next the
schoolmaster is teaching lad; aud the last figure on
this side il the mechanic. To the left IL, first, the
pioneer or backwo odsman whO with an ak, is clear
inc the forests, emerging from which is the hunter
with his dogs and game. The next is the figure of the
Indian broken and bowed before the progress OF the
civilized white man. Seated by his side are squaw
and child, and near them are the graves OF their
fathers. There are all full statues. The figure OF
Liberty in the center Of the pedmen and these near
est to her the right and LETT, are colossal Ihey
are conceived in such simplicity, and the story is 80
clearly and forcbly told that even child may az
once detect the meaning. This was q characteristic
Of Crawford. While he maintained in theory and as
serted in practice the most exalted principles Of ar ne
seized the iden in all ts relations, with broad and
universal significance, which made his meaning clear
at once. He maintained, in common with the great
masters that the Office Of art was not to crafty the
nses or TO delight the fancy but to enlarge and en-
tighten the understanding, by communicating to 1t
ideas Of simple incident profound sentiment aud uni
versal truth.
The designs for the bronze door for the Capitol
with their superb, gigantic figures OF Law and JUSTICE
were conceived in the same spirit. But the most
sublime of all his creations is the colossal embodiment
of America. 1t is the figure of a woman erect with
majesty, robed to the feet, and swayed with an nde-
scribabe grace. The face filled with pride, triumph
and magnanmity yet the daring and power which
peryade il make il stern and awful. IL seems like
concentration of the Phidian Jupiter and the Moses OF
BuonarOtti, comprising the omnpotence OF the goa
with the unreehting DEGREES OF the prophet. Inc
head is covered with a helmet on the crest OF when
covers an eagle, whose plumage, sloplng backward,
blends with masses of rchlybraded hair. The right
hand rests upon the hlt OF sword the point OF wheh
is poised at fer feet. The left hand holds wreath,
and rests ON shield embossed with stars 1t Is to be
cast in bronze and to stand on the summit OF the
dome Tbis is the work that received the last touches
from his hand and is preemlnenty MS grandert
conception, il is fitting that 1t should STAND - Inc
climax of his fame
From his first essays a. student TO his last labors,
he was actuated by the most exalted desire OF greater
and greater perfection in his art. He sought TO IN
Crcae the renown of his country, both by augmenng
its and pepetuating the history and spirit of
its institutions His own ideas upon this subject e1,
pressed in letter to friend in 1913, are worthy OF
record here He says:
Ihsye commenced small statue Of Truth for Mr. Hicks Of
N.wYort Tn. model will be completed in about month II
bow OF seven or eight years dancing IN great gee ana
nkns pair cymbas the music OF which seems 20 anus
him exceedingly The sentiment is joyousness Throughout -
eyden. thought the future troubles his young MIND s
he may him in being made IN marble
tor thus his youth remains without change. go -.
commencing has relief which VIII contain