New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-05
PAGES VENUS.

''lf lusty Love should 20 in search of Beauty ne
would not be likely extend s researches beyond the
upper chambers OF the National Academy OF Design IN
Tenth street. for there the goddess Of Love and Beauty
has taken up her abode after months so)ourn among
theGermanc paintings known us the Dusseldorf Gale-
ry in Broadway NOAmerican work Art, we belleve,
has attracted attention or excited more admiration
than this creation Of Pages; but this admiration has
not been without its agonisc feeling, for whie the
great majority of those who have thronged to gaze up
on the splendid vision have been ouda earnest in the
expression of their delight there have been some who
not only failed to discover the marvellous beauty of the
picture but whose vision has been vitiaed ny their
preudices or corrupt thoughts that they could see
nothing but impurty in it. These differences OF
opinion are perfectly naturan and inevitable. The only
wonder is that any should have the bardhood to
confess that such representation OF feminine grace
and loyeIiness could not be looked upon without in
furious sensations 1t is not strange, therefore, that
the only public avowal of such feeling that has been
made here in a quarter where the pnohc nave
long been accusiomedto find all manner of rbald in
decencies. In London where picture wasexhbited
preyious TO its being sent TO NewYork it elected the
highest testimonials not only to its originality and
excellence as work of art, but TO its purity OF sent
ment and chasteness of treatment And III this re-
spect has been declaredto be exceptional work,
among the class of subjects which ii belongs. The
figure of Venus which ILLS the center Of the picture lis
perfectly nude but vet perfectly chaste and free from
an expression that either indicates suggests an iIn-
proper thoughts and in this respect it differs essentially
from all the embodments of the ideal woman whether
ON canvas or in marble, known to the work Of art
The Venus of the same artist, now in the Boston
Athens um represents the goddess just risen from the
sea- exultiDg in her conscious loveliness, and
with a vouptuous expression which this " Venus
on the Sea- wholly free FROM The artist has here
produced ali original work by adhering closely TO the
traditions of his subject, and copying the excelencies
of his antique predecessors Tie is the first artist who
has boldly represented the ideal form Of woman IN her
highest development, without a shadow or any ex-
irnsc object to veil her perfect loneliness. And III
doing this he has impaired so pure look OF uncon-
scous grace TO bis subject that none but ehur like
the base hind who attempted to violate the snctty of
the peerless Godiya could fluid anything To cayi at in
her divine charms.
In the treatment of his picture, Mr. Page has bor-
rowed nothing from hs predecessors in art, the poets
have been the of his inspiration, and srom them
he has taken the tradition which he has triumphant
ly placed upon his The golden atmosphere,
the serene transparent sea- the warm flesh tnts OF the
goddess, and the accompanying loves that guide and
yropel her rose-tined she'll the lfe motion, and inef
fable grace that pervade her entire figure, the soft
light of her blue eyes her flowing golden hair and the
exquisite symmetry and roundness OF her limbs are all
the artists creation and the result of years Of patient
devotion to his sublime art. The model which has
moved him for the form of Venus, not of the
life school, as has been supposed, for, unhapply,
there are no such perfect Developments of grace and
physical beauty 10 be found to serve the artists pur-
nose but small remnant Greek sculpture, the torso,
among the Towney collection of the British
Museum, which was some years ago dug up in the
Camparna near Rome. Italy is full of casts of this
dspdated remnant of what is supposed to have been
the original work from which most of the Venuses of
Greek art were modelled. This exquisite piece of
modelling which Mr. Page has restored and expanded
to the fsize figures his is but foot high,
and without lower limbs knees arms, or head but
+ so instinct with grace beauty, and life that il has
inspred many nh artist with conceptions Of feminine
beauty.
The moment chosen by the artist is one OF triumph
the shore of italy, toward which the goddess conducts
her earth-boru son and his Trojan followers, has just
been discovered she raises her LEFT arm as # to pom
toward it, while with her righ, hand she holds back
her golden tresses and the sway of her body and the
motion Of the wngless Cupdons that guide her esrcie
indicate that she is turning toward the promised land
The gaeys follow in the distance the harnessed doves
huiter with JOY the face of the goddess Is eS-
Pressye of triumphant pleasure, all Olympus pro-
pous Neptune is stled by her presence, and heaven
roees at the discovery of land which is to be
the home of love, OF song, and liberty, and art
The whole motive OF the work is high and noble,
and we believe it is calculated to exercise most
Wholesome eifcc, upon the community. As a work OF
the highest order OF ideslstic art finished to degrees
Of perfection which we have not before known in 80