Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-20
HIRAM POWERS.

HIRAM POWERS.
A Cosby Letter about the Great
American sculptor and His
A correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial writes from Florence, Italy,
March 90, as follows:
We enter the fine garden, pass to the
rear of the grounds, and are ushered into
the central room, where we are invited to
register our names-Mr. Powers being en-
gagged with a party of Americans Just
ahead of US. In few minutes we are
cordially greeted by kind-faced grand
fatherly looking man of about sixty-five,
in white linen apron and artists cap,
who expresses himself as always happy
to receive visitors, and especially those
from bis old home-Cincinnati. We re-
cognized a resemblance to his brother
(Enoch Powers the well known flour in
spector of our city, concerning whom he
asked number of questions.
Mr.. Powers came TO Florence about the
year 1887, and it is almost work of su-
pererogation to enumerate or attempt TO
describe the numerous works of his hand
and genius. Altogether this artist has eX-
ccuted about five hundred pieces, COM
prising statues, busts and ideal subjects.
His statue of Webster, in front of the
State House, Boston, although badly To-
Gated, is well and favorably known. His
model was chosen by the committee, not
withstanding the opposition by certain
clique, who, from local feeling, were in
favor of another artist, who, to his honor
be it said, discOuntenanced this prejudice,
which would have been successful but for
Edward Everett, who was determined that
justice should be shown Mr.. Powers.
The ideal busts of Faith, Hope and
Charity, (the latter being executed for Mr..
Probasco) are among his most pleasing
subjects, while 'Genevra" and America
claim admiration from their classic beauty
as well as from the interesting story of
the one and national character of the
other.
His portrait busts of DR.. Bellows, Geo.
Peabody, and Longfellow, are no doubt
excellent if one can judge from that of
Judge Taft, of our city, which was re-
cOgnized instantly.
The ''GTeek Slave" and California"
of which copies are on hand, are so well
known it would be useless for us to add
our feeble effort at praise; but his last
work, Paradise Lost ," must receive a
word or two. This is a statue (heroic
size of Eve after the fall, and illustrates
the passage of Scripture; :'The serpent
tempted me and / did,eat." The express
sion of the face is that of sorrow and
repentance, mingled with bewilderment;
one hand pointing to the serpent with
raised head, at her feet, and the other to
herself, in self accusation. The "pose"
is well taken, and every line one of ex-
cceding loneliness. This creation of Pow
ers will no doubt become as renowned as
he ''Greek Slave"
He is now engaged on the plaster mode
of "The last of the tribes" being the
life-size figure of an Indian maiden, in
kirtle and moccasin, the last of her race,
being driven in despair from her forest
home, and fleeing from her pursuer Civ
ilizatiOn, with head turned slightly, as if
watching the movements of the foe, one
hand as if repelling, the other raised as if
for succor; despair and solicitude being
the ruling expression of the countenance.
Of course, when finished IN marble it will
be another success.
His life-size statue of Edward Everett,
at fifty, is fine production, and repre-
sents the orator in position of ease, as
if about to address his audience. He is
also at work on the franklin about
which there has been between the editor
of the New Orleans Times and himself,
so much controversy, he having accepted
the recently-made proposition of the edi-
tor, who assumes the payment in the
name of the surviving subscribers. Mr..
Powers, taking him at his word, has re-
sumed the work, although at less price
than at first agreed upon.
Mr.. Powers hopes to visit Cincinnati
soon, in company with his son Long
worth Powers, (named after his Old
friend and patron Nicholas Longworth)
and it would not be e bad idea for the
Longworth heirs or the city to order a
statue of the millionaire for one of the
market squares now that the death kuell
of the old MaTkethouse has been sounded.
In bidding good bye, we fingered few
moments al the fine fountain in the gar
den, when Mr.. Powers related the circum-
stances of having gotten up among his
earlier works a fountain for the Capitol
grounds at Washington, the bill for which
was five hundred dollars. The payment
was strenuously resisted by a certain
Western member, who delivered himself
thus: "Mr. Speaker, feel it my duty,
sir, to solemnly protest against this most
wanton and prohigate use of the peoples
money. The hard earnings of the peO
pie, sir, are thus being squandered in an
act of extravaganza not to be tolerated,
sir. Aud what, Mr.. Speaker, is this money
to be spent for what piece of eXtrava-
giant nonsense, sir, is it to pay forl Why,
sir, nothing more nor less than a great
squirt, sir" 1t is a wonder the ghost of
that member does not haunt the halls of
Congress in these blessed days and stir up
few of his successors.
Bidding our kind-hearted friend hasty
and hearty goodbye, we return TO our
lodgings fully impressed with the idea
shat America has no need to be ashamed
of her representatives in art in the per
CONC Of American Seulptprs in France