Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-08
WAsH1raror. April 2. 1ss4.

"-NAOHi APEA q AOO1s
Yesterday stopped into the studio Of
Clark Mills, Esq, tine artist from whose
creative hand have come several euuest-
rian statues throughout the country, and
who executed in bronze, from the plaster
Of Crawford, the famous Goddess Of Lib
erty that crowns the dome Of the Capitol.
A room has been assigned to him in the
Capitol, where, assisted by his son, cleV-
er young artist recently returned from
Florence, he is employed constantly in the
execution of busts in clay, plaster and
marble.
Very few people have any definite idea
Of the art Of sculpture, and think some
description Of it may prove interesting to
the general reader.
promise, then, by saying that it is dif-
icult, and almost impossible to find pub
lie man-s man sufficiently distinguished
to be put into msrble-Who can command
time and patience enough to setssfor his
likeness to be cut in the imperishsble
stone To remedy this difficulty, it has
been found indispensable to obtain an sp-
proximstc likeness by some speedy pro-
cess, to take the place Of the sitter, and
from which to model the more perfect fes-
lures and expression. This approximate
face has been obtained by different meth
DDS.
Washington Custis, the Well-known
nephew of Washington, is my authority
for tho following account Of the manner in
which Wsshington's cast was taken; and
repeat it at the risk Of detrscting some
what from the stateliness and dignity Of
our ideal Of 'the Father Of his Country"
The operstion-for it may vel be called
an operstion-Was performed at Mt. Yer
non, during the last year Of Washington's
life.
Mr.. Custis relates that the Pdter PatriB
was laid out at full length upon long ia
BILE, on his back, and his head put into a
box, in the end Of which cironlar hole
was made to admit his neck, and which
was otherwise made tight. Two qnills
were adjusted in his nostrils, and passed
through the upper side Of the box, to sd-
nit fresh air. Then plaster, in soluble
state, was poured in, filling up the box
This, on acquiring some degree Of consis-
tency, became the mould, or mstrix, into
which other quantities Of plaster were
poured, and the first rough resemblance OBJ
tanned in cast from which the artist pro.
eeeded to model the trEe bust.
But this process, which Washington en-
dured, was very tedious and dissgreesble,
besides which it was found that the resem-
blsnoe was almost lost by the compression
Of the weight Of the plaster on the softer
portions Of the face.
So Mr.. Mills has invented q simple and
easy process, removing both the objections
Of the other-consisting in spreading over
the face, with 8 brush, q composition, |
which crystsllizes in three minutes, form |
ing firm artificial cuticle, which a slight |
working Of the muscles removes from the |
face, to become the matrix for the first |
cast.
When this first cast is obtsined, it is set
up in place Of the subject, and has the
merit Of never smiling, and never chang
ing its expression. Thus fer the work has
been mainly mechanical; but here comes
! demand for the artist. Moist and plas-
-ic clay is brought and piled upon re-
7olving pedestal, and from the crude plss-
.er cast, model in clay is wrought by
hand and eye, after ten thousand delicate
.ouches and such csressing as only an az
list ever learns, and the brown bust comes
'orth from the elaborate manipulation Of
weeks, with more nnrnslinAss Of form;
uUrs symat-y Vf figure; the hair that was
rowsy or was not at all, now flows in
lassic curves; the eye, whose lids were
,ressed together, are now wide awake and
ull Of fire; the cheeks that were 6sccid
re firm and full the corners of the
Mouth are lifted trife; Momus has
Duched the muscles of risibility;-in
hort this the real man, while the pallid
lsster is the spurious. Now the subject
lust spare an hour, while the artist goes
var the bust in clay, and from his more
minated expression catches the finishing
,uches Of the work. When this model in I
lay is complete and perfect, plaster !
iodel is built around it and left to harden, |
,om which, in time, the final plaster bust )
cast. This is then permitted to harden, ..
hen the mould is cut away from around
, and the work is done.
If the piece is to be executed in marble,
/ the place Of the two last processes, are
eeks or months Of weary labor with NAL !
t and chisel before the sculptor can wit. Z
sss his work completed.