Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-08
IEXANDRA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISERS OCTOBER 1853
Bxrbee, lhe virginia sculptor.


In the B.ue Ridge Mountains, just thirty
years ago, unto tarmer If tni- good Old
State, a male child was born. Amid thu
SUBMITS OF those grand columns, scuiptured
BY Gods own hand, TINS child grew apace,
giving indicatioos--as his frame began to
deveiope lDto active boyhood, and reason to
take shape on bic joyous tonguc--ot 4 soul
raised far above the level Of those who NOV
ed around him, and Of keen and glad ap-
probation of the everlasting monuments
which bOunteous mother Nature bad spread
ou; 10 such glory beneath bis eye.
His school days came. They f1uod him
eager to learn such things as were taught
him, but there was within bin strong yearn-
ings for toe cultivation Of faculty which
Nature had suwn in his soul, bat OF wuich
nor professor nor Instructor was near.
Nigh unto his fathers dwelling place was
q quarry OF soft stone. Here used this boy
to spend many al hour, carving out with his
knife the varied suggestions Of his own
bright ina ginings. Yet that father saw not
into the bent of bis coilds genius; ard when
tbs time came in which 1t seemed unto hin
fit that the boy should begin to acquire a
knowledge Of the world, ways, be seat him
from hone, tn thu store Of relative N Lu-
ray, to learn the business OF GepdiGg wares.
Soon did il become evident that the boy
Was not fitted 70 travel on the psth mark d
out for blu; whereupcn bis father took him
int Il tanIery owned ty hlmseil; but Tor
this the boy showed no liking either, AMI at
length it was determined 10 give him an op-
pJrtunty Of becoming member Of the bar.
Accordingly, be was seat to the Jefferson
toD Academy, whence he entered the law
class OF q College, where in due season
be got his diploma. Returning home, with
tie inborn passion still brightly burning, he
tesOught his father To send nlm 10 liaiy; but
the father Needed him not in this, but r5ed
him to the prosecution OF Che practice OF the
profession be bad studied. The boy, now
become man, commenced, III obedience u
his fathers will, in Rappahaarock, the prac-
tIco OF tn law, and 5000 gave promise Of a
successful career; but each day verlf d IN
hin the saying, HdtUrdEt ,tUrcl cLI'esteS US4ne
recirrct, aud law became utterly d!7taste,ul.
n bout this period, he executed IN plaster a
tioe bust of Henry Clay, AID about tots time,
also, be took unto himself ono OF Nirgiula's
daughters Ito his own hearts homa."
Shortly after this be entered eagerly on
the study OF AnstOmy with his brother, a.
an amateur, and the first product OF his
chsel in which the knowledge thus gained
vas displayed, was statuertc OF Venus
His next effort was Psyche, from q block
OF Carara marble, which be obtained from a
stone-cut'er in tue town Of Luray. This
was in 1852, and il decided his Career; for
-, lrio A.
longer withheld, anu, in his 2jtb year, tie
Young man sailed for the land to which his
heart bad 40 long and So eagerly turned.
Through Rome and Fiorence he hurliedly
bent bis steps, entering no studio 40 student,
aud replying to the question why he did nos
do Sc, that he had DOT tiDG nor money, and
tha, be ielt that by observation and self.
teaching be could earn scu!ptIr's fame
Aud now the beauties that be drank IN 50
eagerly from the giOries OF the galleries
which he was 50 enthusiastically traversI"g,
began u take shape and form. and alter
many months Of intense though: aud appIl-
cation, DE produced the model OF the Co.
quette, work OF art which at once secured
him the highest encomiums. from the great
est critics Of the day.
While making preparations to fashion 10
marble this beautiful conception, the yonrg
artist became i'll, and be had 70 return u
ns Virginia home II recruit his shattered
frame. Again did te return 10 Florence,
where be conceived the idea Ct the statue OF
the Fisher Girl. Again was he taken sick,
aud again did be seek the land OF his 6lFth.
While on bis second visit to Italy, the Go
quctte vac worked 10 marble. a"u eiuce b!a
return home, 10 1856. the Fisher Girl ha,
been finished; ana thus ol the genius which
had us birth in the blue mountains, was
born that lovely Fisher GIRL dwelling hear
the waves OF the dep blue aea. And thus
has Wm Randolph Barbee, son OF the Old
Dominion, WOO for himself rs sculptor
name which will live for ayo.-Rich South.