The New York herald., 1869-06-23
MICHAEL ANGELO.
Grafton ut Cooper Institute by MIR. VIM.
Parsons.

Grafton ut Cooper Institute by MIR. VIM.
Parsons.
An Grafton on Michael Angelo, the Architect of
st. Peters" delivered last evening the Cooper
Institute, by Mr.. william Parsons, before quite q
numerous and discriminating audience The pro-
ceeds were devoted to the benefit of st. Stephens
Orphans Home. Among those seated on the plat
form were HORACE Greeley, Alderman Tiernan, Chas.
A. Lane, Rev. DR.. Gynn, Of st. Stephens, Rev. Syl.
vester Malone, Rev. John Crimmins and other cler-
gymen. The speaker, who Is one Of the few dstin-
guished lecturers the Old Country has favored us
with OF late years, spoke without notes manu-
script and with vigor, nuency and beauty Of Ian
guage that evoked repeated rounds Of applause.
His perOration might very well answer for classic
model of scholastic defamation.
He began with a dissertation on the grand princi.
pies Of art It's manifestations in the artist
mind, and then drew a romantic picture OF the
youthful Angelo imbibing from the genius OF Dante
perpetaate for ali Iine new realms beauty glory
greatness OF terror. Angelo began life as the ap-
prentice oi stonecqtter. His father the Count du
thing which he mistOOk for lower grade OF art
than that of sculpture. such as breathes into the
dull cold marble the wonderful presentiment OF life;
but Angelo felt that he was dedicatDg himself TO
what should illustrate the power and genius OF his
render himself an artist, the world has ever
since agreed to pronounce she most perfect
that ever lived. lie spent. ten years OF un
remittng toll rs student, rising step by step TO
better and greater efforts, until his native town OF
Florence was flied with his growing fame. But An
gelO was painter as well sculptor. HIS breadth
OF mind and imagination seized upon all forms OF
beauty, and what he could not Illustrate rs he de-
sired In marble he transferred with wonderful iOrce
and effectiveness 10 canvas. In the budding great
OF hls ialne he met with Leonardo da NlnCi. one
OF the few supreme masters the world has produced
in the realms OF true art. Between da Vinci and An
gelo contest occurred OF that extraordinary char
acter that brings all the grand and ennoblng pas
sions and faculties Of the human soul and mind into
active play. They painted each colossal picture Of
battle, TO OF which the art critics OF Florence
to award the palm OF excellence. Great was the
rivalry of the two distinguished artists but 1t OF
that high, chvalric nature that scorns an unworthy
advantage. The world knows story OF how pupil
OF da Vincis, unknown to his master, cut Angeles
and unrevengefu the spirit OF the sublime artist
he simply exclaimed, "rhat Is all need to convince
me whose picture excited the greatest envy" The
tale OF how Angelo painted for Pope Julius tie con-
cave dome OF the Sisne chapel ~ OF the thrilling
pages that mark the life OF this great man;
how for years, by nght and by day,
he worked upon the ceiling, suspended hundred
ieet from the noor how he Oyercame the apparently
insuperable difficulties OF giving 10 concave the
seven subjects he took to illustrate by finally prOduc
ing .The Last Judgment the most wondrous,
weird and terrible production of the human pencil
that the world has ever seen. All these are themes
that onl ly genius can clam to offer, and then last
but not least his final work at the age OF eighty
years the dome, the vast and wondrous OF St. Pc
ters at Rome, OF which the world has not The equal
quence seldom heard In the Cooper Institute ytvidy
dc tod.