New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-23

in purely antiquarian researches, addressed himsen 10
the task OF comparing them closely with one another IN
order 10 discover what fundamental characteristics they
had in common. Not in the spirit OF n barren ecec-
ticism which picks out good point here and an
other there and then pieces them together, but with
the fidelity Of keen analyst who would extract from all
the essential qualities they had in common, the artist
endeavored do justice 10 all the portraits, to present
probable Shakespeare, TO express his idea OF the
man. and 10 meet the demand for likeness which all
beholders might acknowledge. Not that he was con
scous of having these separate aims before him az ne
worked in that his process would have been ta'
of artificial selection and combination. His aim was
TRUTH and he felt that the best to arrive at compre
hensive truth which would satisfy the largest number OF
conditions was through n method which admitted the
probability that each portrait more or less correct
likeness of the poet and that must have some essen
tia features in common with oil the rest.
Fortunately the scupors task was less arduous imam
IL would seem likely 90 be, and than he himself antlc
pated searching comparison Of the portraits inciud
ing the plaster ca Il and the Straford bust nguary
unlike TO the Impractical eye disclosed c0rrespohehces
Of the most important character The cardinal points
were almost identical The great facial planes Justiheu
themselves in every instance The bony structure was
indicated in all by the same lines The iormatlon Oh '
nose the brows the forehead, the jaws, the chh' Is
traceable in All the copies painter, obliged to solve
the problem of complexion, would have another class Oh
questions 10 consider; but form alone being considered
no audacity required for the undertaking "en ''
Ward proposed to himself. The result bears out inc
method. We have noble face, caim inteleetlai'
thoughtful which all win perceive at glance To he the
face OF Shakespeare and which the w0Shlers OF Shake
speare will accept as worthy OF the great poet
II is not such face as TO the popular poetic
ideal: the ewes are not "n fine frenzy rong there Is
the features the position OF the head
k not heroic or lofty In this respect II faithful to all the
traditions II is remarkable that none of the portraits
of Shakespeare represent him ms man inspired or
ccstitc but rather a of luminous intelligence,
solid grave competent, endowed with vast powers OF
observation and rejection, which would have
availed him, and which he might have used III
the mastery conduct OF business affairs. Tradition
hands him down to us as reast who dealt with things
and with thoughts related to things, who rarely
abandoned the domain Of fact to wander in the visionary
realms Of fancy, and whose grandes flights of imasna-
ton kept within the of human life and expert
ence.
As a work of plastic art this last production Of Mr.
Wards genius is in some respects the finest as we snail
see when the bronze casting placed in the Central Park
exposed the broad daylight. and the 1ne modelling
which the shadows Of the studio concealed comes out
distinctly. The Indian Hunter" shows equal hdehty
10 natural facts the African" affords better oppor
tunty for estimating the artists anatomical knowledge
and mower Of manipulation ii contains, too more
imagination reveals the working OF more passionate
soul The african" is creation OF genius that would
secure permanent fame to the artist who designed IT,
ut the statue of Shakespeare discoses an intellectual
quality force of dscernment, capacity for analysis
and synthcss critical perception, delicate aplrecla
ton Of subtle truths which previous works did not
make manifest of course for the reason that
they were not required Only those who have
ooked into the problem OF shakespearean pOrtrature
,Dough 10 become acquainted with its difficulties can
nd rc 10 what extent the finer intellectual faculties were
brought into actual exercise in this instance To the I'M
skilled observer the complete result looks far from mar
yelous The student who knows the processes that
ed 10 it, Will cheerly render the full measure of praise
10 the sculptor whose ability is as conspicuous as his
mOdesty.
When we last saw the cast il was undergoing the disa
reeahe process Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT before passing into
the hands OF the founders in Philadelphia. In few
months il will emerge from the mods in the form its
author meant it should Then, for the first time,
will il be fifty