Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-02
Hiram Powers.

Hiram Powers.
This artist who had achieved world-wid
reputa ton died at his home in Florence Italy
on the morning of the 9th. He had beel
for some time aft icted with bronchial diff
Guilty, but his death was entirely unlooke
for. Though Mr.. Powers has been residen
of Florence for thirty-six years he never los
his ardent love for his own country, an
especially for that corner of it which was hi
native State. During the war he was intense
ly interested in the success of the Union army
and his firm loyalty after SO many years o
absence endeared him to the American PEG
pie who were already proud of him as an ar
tist
The father of Hiram Powers was Yer
mont farmer with large family and small
resources. Hiram, the eighth of nine chill
dren, was born on his fathers farm, neal
Woodstock, on the 29th of July, 1905. He
only secured those rudiments of an education
which could be acquired at district school
but among the advantages which he then de-
rived was knowledge of the general prin-
ciples of drawing and some skill in various
kinds of handicraft. The death of the faith er
left him in a destitute condition, and he was
obliged to seek employment at Cincinnati in
the reading room of one of the hotels.
Young Hiram afterward found situation in
produce store. He was then employed By
a clockmaker to colleet bills and give some
assistance in repairing and cleaning clocks.
He displayed some mechanical aptitude. and
when the opportunity offered itself which
was to turn the course of his life into an
other channel and render him famous, he
awaited himself of it with readiness. Hav-
ing become acquainted with Prussian sculp-
tor, who was engaged at Cincinnati on a
bust of Gen. Jackson, he acquired from this
man taste and knowledge of modelling IN
clay, and executed several busts and medal
lions which were not without merit.
He was for seven years in charge of the wax
work department Of the Western Museum,
Patronized at length by Nicholas Longworth
he went in 1885 to Washing ton where he
modelled the busts of several prominent men
Ia 1887 he visited Italy, in 1888 he pro-
duced his Eve, which Thorwaldsen praised
and in 1889 his Greek slave
This is the most popular of bis works
At least six repetitions of it have been exc
euted in marble, and there are innumerab.e
plaster casts and copies in Parian. This cele-
brated work placed him in the first rank of
living sculptors He has produced numer-
GUS other well-known works, among which
are the Fisher Boy, of which there have been
three repetitions in marble II Pen seroso
Proserpine, a bust California America,
modelled for the crystal palace at Sydenham,
Eogland statues of Washington and Cal
houn, AMI the Indian Girl. Among the vast
number of busts which he has produced are
Adams, Jackson, Chief Justice Marshall,
Edward Everett and Martin Van Buren,.
The bronze statue of Webster, which now
adorns the State house grounds at Boston is
one of his latest works. Shortly before his
death he was visited at Florence by Mr.. Bay
ard Taylor, who, in letter to the Tribune,
on the l0.h of April, gave the following &C.
count of the way in which the now deceased
sculptor was employing his time, and OF the
poor condition Of his health: '' Powers has
made no new ideal figures since the Indian
Last of the Race-which describ-
ed in a letter to the Tribune five years a %
but many admirable busts testify that his eye
has not lost its clear perception of character
nor his hand its former cunning. His head
of Longfellow, especially. is work which
the coming generations will prize both tor
the poets and the artists sake. Longfellow's
head, thoughso simple and grand in its out.
lines-in fact, sort of milder Jove- is
full of subtle and delicate minor traits. in
the seiziDg of which Powers ha. again ex-
hibited his mastership as portrait-sculptor.
Take this head, and Launt Thompson's Bry-
mt, and set them side by side, and you will
zee that ancient Homer and SophocIes have
10 more grandeur and less of fine individual
For eighteen months past,
regret to say, Powers has been an invalid.
His trouble is bronchial, and not pulmonary,
tut it obliges him almost entirely to suspend
lis artistic activity. l trust his naturally
.igorous and elastic constitution will soon
estore to him his powers and to US our
lowers.
The Spring6eld Republican says that young
lowers, before he;left Woodstock, used to see
q dreams the future" Greek Slave" rising
rom stone in the midst of the river. and
hat his cousin, Dr.. Thos. Powers of Wood
tosk, has the letter containing thislreminis-
ence, with many Others of the boyhood of
be young artist.