The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-26


his pocket, he left New York in brig bound for
Genoa. During the voyage BARTHOLOMEW suffered
severely from priYations and sea-sckness, and, at
length, became so i'll that at his own request, he
was set on shore on the coast of Frame, where he
was seized on suspicion of being smuggler and
carried first to Hyeres and subsequently to Toulon
On being set at liberty by the authorities at Tou-
Ion, he went to Marseilles, and embarking on board
the steamer at that port for Civita Vcccha reached
Rome four days afterwards. He Immediately set
resolutely to work; but poor and unknown as he
was, the first year that he spent in that city was
one of incessant labor most inadequately requited.
The few orders that he had brought with him to
execute-one of which was from Mr.. ENoCH PRATT,
of this city-were already filled, and his
scanty means were beginning to fail him. when
Mr.. WILLIAM GEORGE READ, also of this city,
then on visit to Rome, being struck with the
merit perceptible in BARTHoLoMEw's baS-reliefs of
HOMER and BELIsARIUs, became their purchaser.
A second order from Mr. PRATT speedily
followed, and cheered by these evidences of sympa-
thy and appreciation, BARTHOLOMEW, by the adj
vice of GEoRGIo FERERA, under whom he had
prosecuted the study of the antique, paid flying
visit to Greece and Syria and at the expiration of
four months returned to Rome with his portfolio
well filled with sketches of ancient art The fame
of his works was now rapidly extending Among
other commissions, he received one from this
State, for a monument to CHARLES CARROLL. of
Carrollton. Mr.. SAMUEL X. GEORGE, of this city,
sat to him for his portrait bust, and purchased
line statue of DIANA. From this period the star of
the Sculptor BARTHOLOMEW was in the ascendant
and if his foreign commissions were more hume
rous than those derived from his own countrymen,
there were yet many among them who did not
show themselves insensible to his genius. Mr..
PRATT proved to him not only liberal patron but
generous friend, and several other gentlemen re-
siding in the Eastern cities took similar pride in
advancing his interests. BARTHOLOMEW had suf-
fered many privations and disappointments while
passing through the ordeal which his friend
OsGooD had forewarned him to expect
but by dint ~of intense application to
the duties OF his profession he had bravey sur
mounted them all. Previous to his visit here
in 1857, his commissions during his seven
years residence in Rome are said to have amounted
period of his death he had the largest studio in
Rome, and employed the greatest number of as
sistants of any American sculptor in Europe with
the exception of CRAWFORD We need not here
dwell upon the number of original works he pro-
duced, or upon the enthusiastic encomiums that
were passed upon his skill by some of the ablest art
critics of Europe. Our purpose was simply to give
sketch of rlyobI
as afording noble example of self-dependence,
and OF the success that awaits persistent effort,
when united with consciousness of the capacity
to excel in any given vocation. 1t now remains
only for us to speak of the statue of WASHINGTON
which adorns our principal thoroughfare 1t
IS regarded by many excellent Judges az
superior to any statue of WASHINGTON
which has yet been wrought. OsGooD in dis
cribing the works he saw in the studio of BAR
THoLoMEw, exclaims enthusiastically, ''There stands
WASHINGTON in his majestic dignity, with calm
benign countenance-a fine representation of
being worthy to be regarded as the father of our
GLORIOUS country" 1t is indeed repete with that
calm dignity and unconscious grandeur of soul
which were the chief characteristics of our Patey-
F@'r'e The following description taken, in part,
from the zero Amico del PopoIo of Rome, will give
our distant readers tolerabIy good idea of this
noble work of art. The left foot is advanced |
with an easy unconstrant; the right sustaining the
entire weight of the body Under the right arm
which is pressed against the breast is gathered
gracefully to one side the folds of his military
cloak, so as to present a distinct view of the |
soldier beneath it; while the hand grasps the |
scroll which announces the final separation from
British rule. The left hand partially closed, rests
on volume of the Constituton-the fundamental
law of the American Union. The reasons Civ
EN- by BARTHOLOMEW, for treating his subject in |
the manner which has just been described, are full |
OF sound sense and just knowledge of the lin
its and capabilities of his art I'm a public |
''place, he writes "a portrait statue in action
cannot give continual pleasure 1t would be out |
''of harmony with everything around it, unless it |
'was connected with group" He therefore |
as best adapted to the situation in
which it was to be placed, "a statue of WASHING
TON in an attitude of repose," and to relieve the
stiffness of the costume of the times by the folds |
of his military cloak In conclusion, he SAYS: 'If
II do the work at all, it must be done in a man
''ner that will add to my reputation" That he
has succeeded in accomplishing his object, there
are few who will deny, who have critically exam
ined the statue which now constitutes one of the
of our city.