, 1865-06-13

No pessooagc stands out in clearer relief on tn.
tablets OF history than Zenobia- She Ii repte-
eented az Won1n Of Bu1paaslng beauty, wl'h
la.se dark and hery eyes, and rare perfection OF
form. Accomplished In all The culture and learn
inr Of her time, she was early called to the throne.
and ehowcd thorough mastery Of state adtiss,
and great v1go1 and wisdom Of administration
Aftes h.v1ng defeated the Roman power and
driven IT. armies from her borders. che WAS finally
overcome By Its repeated attacks, Carried pris-
oner 10 Rome, and made TO walk In chains IN the
triuuphal procession Of her corqueror- Itis this
particutar incident In her career that Miss Hos.
mer has selected a the subject Of her statue, and
ail will admit the felicity Of her choice, both In
he superiority and grandeur OF the character TO
he portrayed, and In the strange and pathetic cir
cumstsnces in which It is placed. is woman
Of ofsurpaseing beauty, and queen Of lofty bearing
and unchallenEed greatness, in the hour Of her
bi,terest humiliation. Difficult as the task must
be 10 represent ihts In marble, few will dispute
that the artists effort has been crowned with ad-
mTlhle Huccees.
Coming before uB In her 1ueenly robes, With
the disdem upon her brow, and the golden fetters
upon her arms, she moves Along with all the dig
NIFTY ald rsjesty Of the queen, yielding In sorrow
10 the bitterness of her condition, but with
proud superiority to its desr4danou. There is q
queenly pr1de IN her lofty bearing, while the
teac le slightly bowed beneath tue heaVy burden
Of her lot; and though the eye Is 6ied with Bor-
row, The lip Is sil cuElsd with scorn and dlsdaln
While one hand clenches the fetters as with H.
d1snation, the other rests quietly BY her side as
though moved by no disturbing passion. These
conflicting feelings are blended and balanced
with wonderful subt1ety and sld1l, and ii from
tcme points OF view the Imposing majesty OF the
queen thuts ont every feeling but those OF won
der and awe. ut obers We forget all royal dignity
and greatness In the srfT.ring Reuneneas and
lovelinete Of the woman. Qusenly dignity and
trce womAnhood are 20 ski11fully nodded to2s,htr
by the snbtle fkill Of genius that We can ntfther
lose sight Of The one, nor forget the other. 1t is
| impoesihle3 70 come within view Of this work Of
art ,hout feeling Its power. It ftls the alr with
the majesty Of its Look and bearing, and you a1c
Impressed as II In the IoJa. presence And yet,
strongly mud wonderfully rs this lroya E1arde7r
snd elevation Of soul arc brought our thero Is 4
| no less clear and powerful Impression Of her
EenEe Of the indignity which she is subjected,
md Of the detp humiliation that wiring. her heart
but cannot conquer her spirit.
The forehead and brow are full Of thought and
intt.lcctual power; there IL also fine expression
Of purity and moral elevation in the fsce, and a
powerful revelation Of calm resolution, with frm
mesa Of determination and great strength Of will
in The noble bearing and grand proportions Of tic
| whole figure. 1t Is seldom that one ~ privileged
| to behold such grand and right royal presence
OF queen, and no less rare to gaze on 10 love:y
| and per'ec, figure Of a woman.
tits not possible for u 10 iraglne more per-
feet representation OF Zenobia ~ she lives In his.
tory Than that which Mise Hosner has carved Tor
NJ In this marble Not to 90 TO see such tri-
umph Of taste and akill, would be to tnrn away
| from vision Of power and beauty not oiten
brought 80 near III; and to refuse that grateful
| appreciation Of the edorA OF ou1 own native
Ecnius md art which ought to arouse within al
Of us deep feelings Of admiration and pride.