The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-10-07

Wn6r0
is backed by industry and perseverance,. the
aspiration of one period will meet its realiza
ton in another.
To go to Rome, to make herself acquainted
with all the treasures of art, ancient and mod.
ern, to study and work as the masters of both
periods had studied and worked before ber-
this was now our youthful artists ambition ::
and all the while she labored, heart and sonl
at Hesper, the first creation of her penius
watching its growth beneath her hand, as
young mother watches, step by step, the progress
of her first born /; kneadiDg in with the plastic
clay all those thousand hopes and fears which
turn by turn charm and sgitate all who aspire
At length, the clay model finished, block of
marble was sought and found, and brought
home to the shed in the garden, hitherto appro.
priated to dissecting purposes, but now fitted
up as studio. Here, with her own small
hands, the youthful maiden, short of stature,
and delicate in make, anything but robust in
health, with cbisel and mallet blocked out the
bust, and subsequently, with rasp and file, fin.
lshed 1t to the last degree of manipulative per-
fiction. Months and months it took, and hours
and days of quiet toll and patience but those
wings OF genius, perseverance and industry,
were hers, and love lent zest to the work. II
was late summer in 1852 before Hesper was
fully completed.
Now" said its author to her father, " am
ready to 60 to Rome"
"And go you shall, my child, this very an.
tumn," was the reply.
Anxious as DR.. Hosmer was to facilitate in
every way the career his daughter had chosen.
mere was yet another reason for going to Italy
before winter set in. Study and nervous anxi.
ETY. mad made their impression upon a natural
iy delicate constitution, and short dry coupb
ed ha fhv do e.. a.
October of 1852 saw father and daughter ON
their way to Europe, the St. Louis diploma and
dsguerreotype of Hesper being carefully slowed
away in the safest corner of the portmauteau,
as evidences of what the young artist had al.
ready achieved, when, arrived at Rome, she
should seek the instruction of one of two mas
ters, whose fame, world. wide, could alone salts
fy our aspirant's ambition. So eager was her
desire to reach Rome, that q week only was
given to England, when, joining some friends
in Paris, the whole party proceeded to Rome,
arriving in the Eternal City on the evening of
November IL, 1852.
Within two days the daguerreotypes were
placed in the hands of Mr.. Gibson, as he sat
at breakfast in the Cafe Greco, famous place
OF resort for artists.
Now, be 1t known, as o caution to women not
to enter lightly upon any career, to throw it up
as lightly upon the first difficulty which arises,
that prejudice existed in Rome against LADY
artists, from the pretensions with which some
had repaired thither, and upon which they had
succeeded in gaining access to some of the beat
studios, and instruction from their masters, to
throw these valuable opportunities aside at the
hrst obstacle that arose. Mr.. Gibson had him.
self, 1t was said, been thus victimized and an
noyed, and it was represented to Miss Hosmer
as doubtful in the extreme if he would either
lock at the daguerreotype or listen to the pro
posal of her becoming his pupil. However,
the daguerreotypes were placed before him.
and, taking them into his hands, one present.
ing full and the other q profile view of the
bust, he sat some moments in silence, looking
intently at them. Encouraged by this, the
young sculptor who had undertaken to present
them proceeded to explain Miss Hosmers in.
tentions and wishes, what she had already done,
and what she hoped to do. Still Mr.. Gibson
remained silent. Finally, closing the cases,
learn" cau t.aoh r. ~ Iii
IN less than q week, Harriet H6smer was
fairly installed in Mr.. Gibson's studio, in the
upstairs room we have already described, and
where she still is, though rapidly outgrowing
the space allotted to her. 1t ia difficult how
ever, for master and pupil, or, we should rather
say, for the two friends, to part for, spite of
the difference of years, or perhaps in conse-
quence of it, truly paternal and flial sffsc
ton has sprung up between the two-a source
of great happiness to themselves, and of pleas
ure and amusement to all who know and value
them, from the curious likeness, yet unlikeness
which existed from the first in Miss Hosmer to
Mr.. Gibson, and which daily intercourse has
not tended to lessen.
The first winter in Rome was passed in mod.
cling from the antique, Mr.. Gibson desiring to
assure himself of the correctness of Miss Hos.
mer's eye, and the soundness of her knowL
edge, Hesper eyincing the possession of the
imaginative and creative power. From the
first, Mr.. Gibson expressed himself more than
satisfied with her power of initiating the round.
ness and softness of flesh, saying, upon one
occasion, that he had never seen it surpassed,
and not often equalled.
Her first attempt at original design in Rome
was bust of Daphne, quickly succeeded by
another of the Medusa-the beautiful Medusa-
and a lovely thing it is, fautless in form, and
intense in its expression of horror and agony,
without trenching on the physically painful.
We have already spoken of the warm friend
Miss Hosmer made for herself, during her win.
ter at st. Louis, in the head of family, at
whose house she was guest. This gentle man,
as God speed to the young artist on her jour
ney to Rome, sent her, on the eve of departure,
| an order to large amount for the frat figure
| she should model, leaving her entirely free to
| select her own time and subject. A statue OF
Gnone was the result, which is now in the house
| of Mr.. Grow, at st. Louis, and which gave such
| satisfaction to its possessor and his fellow.
| townsmen, that an order was forwarded to Miss
Hoemer for a statue for the Public Library at
| st. Locis, on the same liberal and considerate
terms. Beatrice Ceuci, exhibited at the Royal
Academy last year, and which won 30 many
| golden opinions from critics and connoisseurs,
was on its way to ut. Louis, in fulflment Of
| this order. p
The summers in Rome are, as every one
knows, trying to the natives, and full of danger
to foreigners. DIR. Hosmer, having seen his
daughter finally settled, returned to America,
leaving her with strict njunctions TO seek some
salubrious spot in the neighboring mountains
| for the summer, if indeed she did not go into
Switzerland or England. Rome, however, was
the centre of attraction and, after the first
season, which was spent at Sorrento, on the
| bay of Naples, Miss Hosmer could not be pre-.
vailed upon to 20 out of sight and reach Of its
| lordy dome and noble treasures Of art. The
| third SUNNI, came, and, listening to the advice
| of her friends, and in obedience to the express
wish of her father, she made arrangements for
a visit to England. The day was settled
trunks were packed, she was on the eve of de-
parture, when letter from America arrived
informing her Of heavy losses sustained by bel
fsthor, which must necessitate retrenchment il
every possible way, surrender of her career
in Rome, and an immediate return home. Tn,
news came upon her like thunderbolt. Stun
ned and bewildered, she knew not at the mo
mont what to do. An only child, and hithert.
INDUCED in every within and caprice, the posi-
ton was indeed startling and pefplsxing. Tn
surrender of her art career Wa the only thin,
which she felt to be impossible: whatever els