New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-11
BRAcKETTS BUST OF JOHN BROWN

DhdOhE - ODOA OF SO1llF QnNVNe
The best things of this world Esver obtrudo thOr-
selves on public notice. Walking through Waabingtco
treet one may plenty of rch ewery sparklingi n
the windows, graceful ststuettes and vases moulded
into every form of beauty. But the gem Of gems ne
thing most worth seeing In all the ety. Is Ia an artists
studio, up two flights Of stairs, No. "a TfencHtFcw.
There those who visit Boston Brackets won
derul bust Of John Brown. That the whole pres has
not lauded it. with one universal chorus Of praise,
merely because the name Of John Brown Is, at this
time, an apple Of dieOrd.
Those who knew the martyred hero well pronounce
il an admirable likeness. Such il the wEifsentesuony
of Sennott, the lawyer who was with him during bis
trial The artist lsbored under the disadvantage ONO
being allowed to enter the prison when n wsnt to VIZ
GINA for the purpose Of making this bust Bats friend
took accurate measurements for him, and ne had en-
arged photographs guide him. Il is also fortunate
circumstance that he chsneed 10 meet john Brown n
the streets of Boston several months before his brave
bearing at HarpeTs Ferry had made him wosldfamous.
The expression Of the face and the carriage Of the
head attracted his artistic eye. He said 70 himself,
TheIe's head for sculptor" he looked after him
earnestly and went back in order 10 pass him again.
Upon inquiring who it waa, he was told, "That Is old
John Brown Of Kansas The strong impression thea
made on bis mind had much 10 do with his Subsequent
desire of going Virginia for the purpose Of modelling
his head. The Virgnians refused 70 grsns oppertun
ties for this work. partly because they snspssted be
was eecretly employed 70 make plan Of the JAN with
view TO rescue and partly because they wanted John
Brown 10 die and there be an end Of him. some
of them expressed il; wsh which does not seem be
in q very fair way Of fulhRment
When the artist returned bis soul wac 90 completely
absorbed in bis work that John Brown was eontnnany
before him. IN the dreams Of the night and the mental
visions of the day. He read attsntivey all hiS writ
ngs and sayings in order to become thoroughly mbued
with his character With such concentration Of thOaght
perhaps it is not extraordinary that he should have
produced an excellent likeness But 1t required genius
make it 90 alive. It is this that makss impress me
more deeply than anything have seen Of modern
sculpture. There are many statues with graceful out
me- and exquistely cut; but the sOn that made the
marble reem to breathe in ancient sculpture s almost
always wanting. In Brackets Bust Of Brown, the
character of the looks through the features Won
derfully. ANY good judge that examined IL without
knowing whom il was intended to portray, would say,
" That Is q man of strong WILL and lofty courage;
kindly of heart and religious 70 the very core Of his
being"
A Boston gentleman, who bad lived much in Europe,
exclaimed, at s singulary Ike Michel AngelO'S
Mosesl" Other visitors have alsO observed this re-
stmbance. But Mr.. Bracket had never seen Michael
Angeles Moses any representation Of It. In fact,
the similarity merely in character IL Is the sublime
expression the air Of moral grandeur which connects
the two in the imagination Of the spectatss This
not surprising, when We reflect that MihAA Angelo
bad for his ideal the ancient hero who led bic brethren
out of bondage at the command Of Jehovah, and
Bracket sought to emboay the modsm, hero, whoes
soul was filed with the same great idea.
That the effect produced nay miAd Is net peculiar,
win prove BY two witnesses, whose prejadices would
have predisposed them to be unavorablA critcs The
sculptors conservative friends were, Of cOurse. nos
pleased with the object Of bis vsit 10 Virginia. Ono
ofthem, meeting him in State street. sskort time ago.
ssid, "What are You doing now Brseketsr 81 have
just finished my bust Of John Brown . was She reply
All, was sorry to hear Of your going to VrgisiA-
1t win be great injury to you" EOid the COnssrva-
tive. The sculptor replied, "Anartist must seek ms
terisls wherever he find them and rarely can sse~
material be found as the head Of John Brown, tou
bad better come and see IT," "NOt Il Tie oio muir
derer was tho abrupt answer "Uhsa come ana
look at the bust of Choate for hhaEe competed 'nas
also," said Mr. Bracket. a. few days sHerWaro, the
Hunker gentleman called TO see the 9Sst OF Choase'
As he stood before II, ne BiAn00uiut0y, H"na euao
70 time at the head Of John Brown which stood near
bv. Il seemed to attract him powerfully for he soon
tnrped and gazed uponit Al last he asked IA that
a GOOD Hkenessf" Those who knew John Brown
well agree in telling sO,' replied the Sculptor The
Hunker looked at it shOughtfully, and said, would
Give good deal to think il was fancy sketch In
the presence Of that ealm srOng Severental head 10
could not repeat the words, An ed murderer"
Anartist who was extremely hostile to John Brown,
after looking at this magnificent head, exclaimed,
The old curse He ought to be ashamed Of himself,
for making all the rest of Us look 30 meaD.''
This remarkable bust is ordered IN marble There
are also many orders for copies in plaster. Admirable
photographs Of it SOr sale but of coarse the bes
Of photographs never do entire justice 10 satues
Should this head be dug up after lying barred for
centuries, and there should be clue TO its history
woud at once take conspicuous raAk in galleries Of
Art, and men wSuh say to each other, " n might b
head of Jupiter, there not something Chrs-
tian In its character" 3. MANIA CHTLp.
The Metropolitan Company has two Of De strong
eat Of Roakon IN ia anrnlow 0na AZ than