The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-18
AMERICAN ART.
Visit to Miss vinni. se.m's s..die.

visit to Miss Winnie Ream's 6tadio.
One OF those large-souled and gifted American
ladies who have entered into the art with all the
enthusiasm OF woman's nature and conquered By
the force OF will difficulties that stopped many
man, has returned to this city from Europe, bring
ing with her an enlarged experience. Some two
years ago Miss Winnie Ream left Washington, wher0
she was already favoraby known, to proceed
to Italy Tor the purpose OF executing the
order given by the Senate FOR q statue
or the late President Lincoln. Having
satisfactorily discharged her trust she returns with
increased knowledge to ask the patronage ana sup
port OF her fellow citizens. For the moment her
studio Is at No. 7O4 Broadway, where some Of her
later works In marble are on view. The arrange
ment OF ~NA-
THE IIrTLE GALLERY
displays at once the taste Of the woman and tue
artists knowledge OF effect. Br0wn-red tapestry
hangs round the roonl,' forming On excellent back
ground, from which the pure, cold marble stands
out in bold relief. Unfortunately the light IN the
room Is most unsatisfactory, aud interferes not y
little with the effect Of the works.
During her residence In Italy Miss Winnie Ream
evidently turned her opportunities OF Improvement
to the best account; for marked difference Is vls
BILE between the works which she executed before
her departure ana those that she brings back. Two
little busts OF children, both portraits, which she
nish ample evidence OF crude execution In hcE
earlier works, for pretty names cannot hide the half
taught hand In these busts the esh modelling
weak and poor, the features being annaturally hard
and wanting in expression, and that peculiar sofs
chubbiness that Is always found IN healthy child
hood. Famingoe was most happy in his treatment
OF this class OF subjects, ana his
LITTLE CHERUB HEADS,
with their round, chubby faces breaking into tha
prcttiest OF dmples as te> urchlns laugh, look In.
stlnct with life and form pictures Of
happiness while from the faces OF those who weep
tho most intense misery starts from every
feature aud presents US with the absolute
expression Of childish desoaton. An ideal
bust OF America and replica Of the
bust OF the Lincoln statue afford evidence Of the
artists great Improvements In the treatment OF this
class OF subjects An expression 1T once mild and
noble has been thrown into the massive features or
the ideal lady who typifes America, though no re-
marKable force Is exhibited The drapery formed
by the Stars and Stripes falls from the rights boulder,
leaving the left breast uncovered. Tho folds OF tho
drapery are broken and display want Of force In the
treatment, while the angular cutting OF the hair
Is according to the Italian conventional method.
The work. which exhibits the most marked al
vance In knowledge and power Of execution Is tho
'sPIRITA DEL CARNIvALE,"
ABOUT to throw garland Of flowers on the passing
throng. The composition Of the figure Is spirited
and well conceived. though the symmetry of tho
lines broken the right side blythe position OF
the arm, which forms an acute angle with tho
body-a garland Of flowers, cut after the Italian
manner, falling from the hand In connection with
the conception OF this work Miss Ream states that
having occupied box OIL the COrs0, with some other
Americans to look and pity the fOral folly OF the
th0ughless ltalians, she was gradually carried
away ~ the 81 se ana S9on en-
ana completely into the spirit OF the Carnival. An
idea came to her II was subject hat would AFFORD
room for the exercise OF poetic imagination and
POWER OF COMPOSITION
an artist might possess. Making inquiries, she was
surprised to learn that no Italian artist had ever
treated the subject and this decided her to attempt
nas Ws rs ana oW soes IN
cold, hard marble. How well the lady has sue
ceeded IN catching The animated and joyous spirit Of
that gay week and expressing 1t through the
mc,Iinm of single figure IS visible In hcr work.
little cross hung upon the neck Of the statue Is IN
first sight might be thought little incOngruous; but
aptly expresses the idIOsyncrqsy Of the Italian ma
ton, winch even In the midst OF revcry and disSlpa
ton preserves some spark OF devotional feeling Tho
sprita del Carnlvale" Is Seated the head and body
slightly bent forward IN ner hair Is woven wreasa
mated and smiling as II the Spirtu ENJOYED thor.
oughly the fun. The left arm passes across tina
body with the hand resting on the right thigh, hold
lug one end or
THE GARLAND,
which falls from the right hand at the height OF the
shoulder; the body Is slightly turned towards the
right, posed as II about to cast the flowers,
Under the lett leg which has been slightly advanced
to support the figure the right foot Is gathered and
lost to view the whole lower part q the figure, ex.
the lines OF the limbs are allowed to appear through
mass of gracefully disposed drapery, which II
The lgh ana graceful body OF the Sprita being naked
affords scope for good flesh modelling which the
artist has the best account Nothing tries an
artists power more than the treatment Of flesh,
demands both knowledge and feeling, and Miss Roam
has been remarkably successful AVOIDING na6niness
elegant but all the parts are fun and Wen rounded,
the flesh f1rm and llfe-ke, the modelling OF the
stomach and right side being especially good and
such as many sculptors might initiate with ad-
vantage.
me treatment and character Of the composition
has moro or the French than or the English or Italian
schools about It, and though there is nothing strik-
raeter Of the style SUITS the subject admirably. but
while we consider the conception and execution ex-
cellent we venture, IN all humbleness. TO suggest
SOME DEFECTS
and shortcomings, some weak lines and some un-
pleasant ones But let the artist De cOns0led; the
merits OF the present work so lar outweigh its de-
fects that can afford little evil report The hair
which seeks TO replace natural arrangement by .
conventional treatment that III no sense Is initiative
weak and out Of drawing while there is an evident
uncertainty to the proper centre OF gravity But,
with these defects, the 'Splrltu del Carniyaie
Is essentially 4
AN ART WORK,
full OF life and appropriate expression, fairly
modelled aud combining SO many good points, thai
we venture TO say thar there are few American
sculpt0rs capable OF producing work OF equal
merit. second work, representing the immortal
sappho offers striking contrast to the Spirlta-the
one full Of life aud action, presenting ns char ming
grlhoOd just blossOming into wOmanh00d; the
other q sober and penslve woman, meditating upon
the time when only her name would remain. Miss
Ream represents the charming pOetess standing I'm
deep contemplation, her hands crossed in front.
holding stylus and manuscript; she has ceased to
write and appears IN state OF perfect repose the
body supported on the left leg, the right knee bens
in an easy graceful posture, fun OF
SIMPLE EXPRESSION.
However, the proportions Of the figure are very
family, the head being too small and the neck uli-
graceful There Is want OF rouIllness the Shout
dcrs. and the bosom Is decidedly nat and very poor
ly modelled. Want OF hrmness Is shown In the
nabby. The left upper arm is also decidedly too
long, and the hand holding the manuscript exhibits