, 1866-01-21
American Artists in Florence.

dishonorable, but have shown the highest
business capa city and enterprise, Tie CON-
ments Of the Gozstte nre impertIncnt
American Artists in Florence.
A recent foreign letter writer gives very
readable sketch Of the artist homes and sur
roundngs Of class Of our countrymen
abroad, who have been foremost In creatlne
respect for Us In Europc-our American
aculptors resident In Italy. Nothing is more
certain to stir national pride In the heart OF
American tourists in the Old World, than to
notice the esteem In which our native-born
artists are held BY NIL patrons Of art, crowned
beads as well-as those Of wealthy plcbeans
bending IN the tribute. This is no short
lfvcdi triumph, soon won and soon to fade.
1t is thirty years since
HIRAM POWERS
established his studio In Florence. Such
success as his could only be Of slow growth,
from the tlrst start of the young adyenturer
to tie time when his atcliors OCCUPY suite
after suite Of rooms In the old convent In the
Via di SerragE, and q large operative force
OF the best skilled work1uen In tho world arc
busy at an times In rendering In enduring
marble the ideas Of the great master. Abund-
ant commissions at the highest prices, with
highest bidders from all parts OF Europe
competing Tor his works as soon Us finished,
have established Powers on the sunny side of
arts high places. The great artist Is
thoroughly American, and has given some of
his best efforts to the perpetuation Of subjects
drawn from his native land, in portraiturc or
ideal. The great n,odea Of A1nerica-whIch
wns rejected as q national work by Poor
Pierce, because 1t was onlr abolition pro-
phecy, and not the realized history for the
genius Of America to tranple on broken
chain-should noW be adopted as national
work, for In enduring marble it would tell Of
the two struggles Of our country, revolution
and rebellion, from which indeed our freedom
has come forth In shining esultatlon, with
the fetters cast beneath her feet.
Recent visitors to Powers' studio, the
writer referred to among them, declare him
engaged en- his most perfect work Of its class,
the sweetest female face he has ever moulded,
new ideal Of the transformation of ClytIe,
changed to a sunflower on her desertion by
Apollo. Powers has son, Longwor:h Pow
crs, one Of the first photographers OF Italy,
who Is doing for his father's immortal works
what has been dono with the Palmer marbles
IN this country, and these Powers photographs
OF art nre attracting great attention, and Gag
erly brought away by american visitors In
Florence.
TIRE sTrp1o OF Fart
Is also prominent among American artist
homes In the same city. Much Of his time
has been given to portrait statuary. Ills
Henry Clay, jackson. Chief Justice Marsl,nll,
and many other busts and statues OF eminent
Americans, have filed his time, and Giren
him something moro substantial than fame
On this basis Of thirty years. success, Hart Il
turning his attention to ideal subjects, and
promises the best results from his ripcncd
genius. A group now in the clay, under Ills
hands, Is already attracting great attention.
1t is composition OF chubby figure, thc &C.
cepted Cupid, and one of the Ioveliest female
forms ever given in statuary- The Ideal ez-
pressed Is that virtue to be won mast be ad-
dressed through mind and soul, and not as
sailed by force. American sculptors nnd art
lovers OF high authority pronounce this group
the best Of its class now in progress in all the
a.eliers Of Europe, and It will make sensa-
tion in the art world. 1t Is to be put iato
marble and sent to this country
A MASSACHUSETTS ARTIST.
Thomas Ball, OF Boston, is also among the
American Florcntines. Ills statncttc Of Lin
coin freeing the slave is nearly completed.
At the foot of the martyr President kncels
the freedman with the symbolic liberty cap
on his head, while the outstrctshcd arm and
benisnant expression Of the Aberator speak
benediction and God.speed. The work will
bc put Into bronze on completion. The Bos.
Ion friends OF Edwin Forrest have commits
stoned Bali for a statuc in heroic size Of the
great American actor. It Is to be in classic,
Corolanus style, This statue and that Of
Everett, with the memorial gruup OF Ilucoan,
Mr. Ball will bring to the United States next
year.
JAcEsoN's STUDIO.
The New York n1ttst, Jackson, IS q Florence
neichbor Of the last named. Els "Culprit
Fay," "Dawn, J" 4Eve and Abel" belong to
q class Of ideal works, in which he shows
great genius, and will be likely to win endnr-
Ing fame He has quite run in the por-
traiture line, though nothing IL more venture
some than for humanity In the common walk
to find no better reason for rushing INTO
marble than the possession Of means 10 buy
bust. II Is tic poorest form of encourage
| ment to art for unknown men an women, who
will be forgotten years before their melan-
| choly and namcless bnsts cease 10 wander In
| attics and out Of the way places OF homes and
auction rooms
| TIE GREEN MOUNTAIN SCULPTOR.
| The Vermont sculptor L. C. Meade, the
Green Mountain boy, who one day set hts
genius nNoat before the people Of Brattle.
boro in SNOW image built overnight at
the crossroads, has made great progress,
md achieved high place in the world oi
art since that time. Some Of his best recent
ideals have been drawn from the war for
the Union. His "Returned Soldier :" Is q
group marvellous In cxprcssireness and
beauty, while his " Dancing Contraband'' Is
wonderful perpetuation of u feature OF
Southern home life. Mr.. Mcade's most pres
tenuous work is his design for Lincoln
Monument. All these works are On their
way to New York, where Mr. Meadc's last
named dcsfgn will be very likely soon to
| 1nd commission. It is thus described:
.4Ile p1uposes to place the monument on circular
Is to be Of IN octasoual form. twelve feet In height
| re1chcd by teren steps ca1chns cnttrely rouud.
Prom four alternate corners Of the octaeo1 base
| project pedestals, upon which are placed four
groups, representing four artns OF the setvtee-n-
antry catairy, artillery and eaitors-tn yaiion* nat
nfnl positions Of acttnn IN Tue Top OF tne Steps
lG hoy, bngle boy, sailor boy and the fag boy Of
The Engineer corps. In the four alternate
iss e. ra ss aesSsR H. ise
early career Of Nj. Lincoln, and ito portray.
ins hs c1rateet achievements asIp1cs1dent.9 These
been completed. From ont the octayon base rises
beautiful Corinthian column, pu1r and afunple.
supporting upon it, capital the coloEeA ng9fe q
| nv and N0Yy OF The United States. He etAnds a.
the President clad in his simple costume. as In tht
Of signing h,s historic @ aaqs1
SHIELD and banner. The entire detign IL harmonious
nnd well cupeiyed. The entire monument is to b.
tSs Ths stauea ant
6a.s reilefs are to be Of marbfe or granite"
The last, and not under the circumstance.
the least worthy to be named In this .Ea1axl
of American names who are representing AMI
adding 10 American art fu Florence, Is
TEE soLDIER SCULPTOR,
Col. Henry, Of Kentucky, for three years
the army Of the Union, and still sutlere
from exposure In camp, and field and prison
Although young In years aud sculpture
has been highly successful IN several idea
works at once historic, and memorial, draw
from his own adventures. President lincol
kindly care the pale young soldier several 81
tinrs and the result Is N excellent bust mo-
bei1c nut into MARBLE One OF his mo!
striking Ideal works is his " Li56y Prise"<
Litteaing TO Kapatrek's Guns" The seulptt
was himself in libby and heard the guns, 9
there is no question where he found the ori'
lnal Of The grim and rugged soldier OF his u
. sire figure, who with an excited play Of \
: thin features, listens to the guns thai spea
, | 10 him Of victory and release. Of = slnih
class Is the It soldier's Dream IN Libby"
These are only few Of the names
J | those Of our countrymcn abroad who are no
, oripg their nationality in the highest sens
, Florence divides with Rome thcir alee1anc
. | uivinr to the Eternal City tho gTeater sha