The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-22
THE FINE ARTS.
Fapnsu.,s fIuscs.

eat entirely apart from their artistic merit, or I
The title by which che artist has designated them
Indeed, the idea of naming these nine handsome /
ladies the MUyes, with the exception that 1t
serves usefbl purpose of grouping them in n
graceful sisttvhood cannot be calleda a very happy
one, as it raises expectations that the paint
ings themselves do not crafty. The artist,
Joseph Fsgnani it is said undertook the series
for purpose of demonstrating his theory that the
American types of beauty were rs high
as those of the antique. That he
has succeeded in doing this we
are by no means disposed to admit, but he has
produced nine very interesting paintings that
will readily be recognized as essentially Ameri-
can and as representing style OF beauty that, IL
it lacks the regular outlines of the Greek, is dis
tinguished by marked characteristics of its owa
that are certainly worthy Of attentive study. II Is
evident, on the most superficial inspection, that
these pictures have been painted from life, and
il is well known that they are portraits Of cele-.
brated New York and Boston bellies. This has
contributed in a very great measure towards eX-
citing public interest in them, as society is on
the qut oiUe to know who the ladies are, and
one-half Of the members of the sex femi-
nine who inspect the happy nine, do so with
a lingering regret that the artist did not select
them for his models. AS literal portraits the
pictures have decided value, and they are inn
world what the characteristics of American
female beauty really are. AS works of art they
will not rank very high, the style of painting
being by no means good; and if we are to accept
them as representatives of the Muses., we have
right to complain that the artist has not suf-
hceuty idealized his subjects. Each of the
ladies is enveloped in classic drapcry, and bears
in her hands the emblems of the Muse she is
supposed to represent; but beyond this the artist
has not ventured to CO. and the faces and
figures are reduced to level of placidity that
expresses nothing of the attributes of the god
desses. As we before remarked, however, the
value and interest of the series are independent
of its classic suggestion and the originals of the
portraits will doubtless feel highly battered by
the attention that they have received in Boston,
New York. and this city. Indeed, these Ame-
rican Muses. have excited considerable enthusiasm
in some quarters, as will be seen by this poetica
tribute to their attractions, which has been
handed to us for publication
THE MUSES..
The star-bespangled banner, well may'st thou,
OH naughty youthful land, condignly boast
When Genius sits upon the vessels prow
Initiates its sails, and, in itself a host,
Breaks down all barriers Follow it, and SHOW
To the Old World the novel Pentecost
Which leads thee on with spiritual might.
And say that FrecdOnt is thy beacon light
And not less lustrous than the stars which CLEAN
On thy proud flag, America! behold
Thy pPerlpsS daughters on the canvas beam,
BY the rare power of far1amed art eXtolled:
And OF the Nine, II some rude critic deem
One OF the Peiad worthy to uphold
Above her rival say tnat none outshne
A constcllatiOn which is all divine
ITALIA.
Fair girl, what bliss the chosen spirits feel
Whom fate permits in thy bright glance to b2sk;
But shoud'st thou raise thy hand, and thus conceal
Thy gladdenng smiles beneath the cnvous mask,
Ard with their mocking malice love provoke,
TIL Hellenic myth thoult force US to invoke
ERATo.
IkneeI, oh artist! TO the form divine
Thy hand thus TO the canvas can transluse;
Bui, say, is this the Queen thou would st assign
TO rule the cythera? or sapphos ardent muse?
Or some bright angel who, in heav'n above,
Attunes seraphic harps to hymns OF love?
URANIA.
Sweet, blue-eyed virgin, who thy golden tresses
Dost careless fling unto the twilight air,
the stars, since Heavn' thy name expresses,
Though at thy side all men the stars forswear;
For who, beneath the radiance OF thine eyes
Would turn from them to contemplate the skies?
NELPoMENE.
Not raging Phedra imprecates and storms,
Nor faithess guilty Clytemnestra here:
Nor the dread Sorceress with Stygian charms,t
And drugs and daggers thrills our veins with fear
More fatally than steel or poisoned bowl
Nathless those glances subjugate the soul
PoLYMNIA.
Fain would crown thee with immortal bays
Proud heroine! and give the harp OF gold
TO the fair Sybil OF the ancient days,
Sung by the bard and paadins or old,
Yet without bays or pectrumt still see
Naloina, Caledonia's Muse in thee.s
TERPsICHoRE.
Art thou a syphide OF the golden wing?
A wayward daughter of the summer breeze
WakyrieI of the skies? or didst thou spring
second Aphrodite from the seas?
Fly not away! Bereave us not the while
In far Wahalla OF thy roseate smile.
CLIO.
Absorbed by thought In tranquil solitude,
Thy glance is fixed, Clio, on the past!
And 10! that pure, serene, celestial mood
CLOVIS like heavenly halo round thee cast
Or, should thy soul record soGae hidden woe,
sIis one which History need not blush to know.
CALIIoPE.
An Had of strange loveliness dream!
THAT earthly fancy scarce may realize.
o thou Columbian Goddess! couldst thou beam
Upon the swan OF Arquas ardent eyes,
Tn enraptured poet would eXclaim, "BehOld
What matchess wonders nature can unfold"
EUTERPE
If 'to deght"' Euterpe mean, in sooth
The potent syren who to earth could bring,
Revealed in mortal mould, with greater TRUTH
Speaking or sient-doth she smile or sing?
Sweet union of the nightingale and dove,
All breathes in her OF harmony and love.
In their lower gallery the Messrs. Earle hay
a very fine collection of modern paintings, whic
on their merits as,works of art better entitle
to the regards of the public than the MUSES.
Prominent among them is large picture {
''Catskin Mountain Scenery" by Paul Weber
that has just been placed on exhibition. This
the most important new work that Mr.. WebC
has sent over from his studio in Darmstadt fc
n long time. 1t is in his best manner, and show
that his long residence in Germany has not ol
liberated his love for or his power of renderin
some of the most pleasing phases of America
forest scenery.
Another excellent picture is ''A View on IL