The New York herald., 1869-01-12
HIRAM POWERS.

Lecture by Rev. DR.. Bellows, I'm Brooklyn.
The announcement that the Rev. Dir. Bellows was
to give account Of an interview at Florence with
the sculptor Powers proved OF sufficient interest," In
spite OF the storm last night to bring together at the
Church Of the Saviour in Brooklyn not the LARGEST
but one OF the most cultivated audiences ever
greeted by speaker In that goodly city.
The speaker commenced by saying that the inter.
views Of which he was to speak were had while he
was sitting for bust to gratfy the wish OF one Of
his parishloners; that each day, retiring TO his
room ct the close Of the sitting, he wrote ont the
conversation or 30 much OF 1t the sculptor was
responsible for, as nearly as possible In his own
words. The rst subject Of conversation grew out Of
the taking Of the measurement OF the stter's head.
preparatory to the artists work. Powers said that
one OF the first busts he ever made was that OF u
Frenchman who was to paint his portrait in return
for the bust. The stipulation was that neither artist
should use any artificial measurements Powers
finished his work and the dlviders were applied and
It was found that there was scarcey anv variation.
but when the dividers were applied to the portrait
the Frenchman had painted It was found that the
eyes in the picture were farther apart BY half an
surement as the mere preparation for the artists
true work. Though the eye can b trusted the
that would otherwise require weeks. expression g6t
ne next topic upon which the conversation at
ne r sa M Powers ssd that he ns had
color 10 bringing out the expression and the painter
gited the poverty Of the resources Of the sculptor.
any expression Independent q form. Form . me
very essence OF expression; 30 Independents
moods is even anas unTpsS c colo9 M
speaking q Rome Powers sald that eli his thirty
but twice. and then only week Mt time. Rome,
ne said, oppressed him with It's wcndrous artistic
pieces Of art to serve helps in hs studies and not So
much ~ 70 overwhem him. Want Of time, however,
nad Deen his chief reason for not visiting Rome az
sss ' q ss .ns nS Ss Sss ss: q.
asked the artist TO- what It that he attributed te
pied, to their superior powers OF analysis they
analysed everything TO which they applied them
they did. At the third sitting the conveisation
sarasd upon the ife q an artist who gave an lnte.
lie was IN m ne wen % LAD
wa; naii blacksmith and half OK yoke maker.
ne lost aii the properly he had BY becoming surety
potatoes Finally one o. his sons picked M edacation o
Ss @srs . bc
newspaper Not long after he was followed by his
and II fhs sss q Che family settled IL the
in Gea cnc,nns.s on malaria Hiram found smplcymsn.
wagons from the adjoining towns But this did not
asss vtaks 1uu uss uext eQG04enent was with clock
maker 70 collect debts from the settlers In the wilder.
ness Tor miles around. Afterwards he was EMPLOYED
IN the clock factory. where he distinguished
himself by his inventive genius. While thus
emPloyed ne saw for the nrst time Q bust
aud determined 10 see what he could do I'm that
way. he found sitter In q little Glrl Of his ac-
qualntance, and, with wax for material produced 4
bust, which was exhibited to the doctor and which
- portrait, the artist claims that he has never
SURPASSED though In many OF the details 1t was I'M
perfect Not long after this q museum
was established there which had q collection
OF wax figures. In transpor. ing them they
had become sadly mutilated and Powers was
employed TO repair the damage. with one, that OF
Lorenzo Dow, he took many liberties. He bulged
out the cheeks, put IN the mouth couple OF ALI.
gators tusks and soon after flaming posters an.
nounced as on exhibition at the museum an EN-.
bamed specimen OF q South Sea man-eaier About
TINS time he made the acquaintance OF
Nlcholas Longwortn, who had become much
Interested In him. and proposed TO MIN up In the
museum business, or to send him abroad 10 learn
the art OF sculpture. Though both OF these oners
were declined, Powers did consent 10 avail himself
Of Lonaworths assistance TO 90 TO Washington with
the hope that ne would there be able turn mis- art
lstic ability TO some account. Here he made btsts
Of several OF the most distinguished sta tesmen OF
that day. Not long after he to Italy and since
tnen his history has been known 70 ali the world
Many interesting anecdotes weIe related OF him. ana
ms opinions on various topics connected with his art
were especially interesting.
The speaker listened TO with the deepest atten
non Tor nearly two hours and then mad 10 leave
good part VI his sayings unsad.