New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-19
POWERS'S GREEK SLAVE.
AN ENGLISH ESTIMATE OF ITS MERIT.
From re london D0fV Nscs, JuT 1.


The name of Hiram Powers, the American
sculptor, whose death We announced yesterday, VIII
probably recall 10 many minds, in the first instance
Great Exhibition the work Of Hiram Poye5s was one Of
nection with the Crystal Palace In hyde Park. as we
do the Koh-inoOr aud KISS Amazon, aud even the
success of the yacht America. The " Greek Slave" had
wonderful popularity. which indeed, 1t cannot be said
lost since that time. IL may still be seen re-
produced in countless Paran copies and engraving5'
and photographs Tor stereOscOpes III became tue OO
feet OF sort OF sentiment mOdulatng the moro prac-
teal reeOlectiors OF the Exhibition Of 1851, Magnts
Girl Reading" did In connection with the EA-
hibtiOn or 1862 Assarodly the Greek Slave" "a
not great work OF art. Tho figure Is by no
means a noble representation OF female beauty.
The success OF the. statue was OF that hnd which
Richter OF Rchers heroes, declares 10 be rather
evidence OF artistic failure IL was success won py
drawing upon emotions aud associations outside the
work itself. The Greek Slave" happily hit graceful
easy, and readily efuslVe sentiment. Vpi1ed YOUTH
innocence, and beauty exposed 20 humiliation and ~
chains. There spectator OF the average mental
and moral caber who could refuse TO be s0ftened BY S
suggestions The ordinary admirer the refore was salts
fed with the sensations called up within himself, and
tbe seulptnre Certainly the Greek slave' was not
without beauty and merit but Its wonderful popularity
was success OF sentiment rather than OF art Many Of
Mr.. POwerss works which may almost be described as
In this country we're superior 70 the Greek
Slave :" but the sculptor OF the "Greek slave" and
of that hapiess maiden alone. will he be known remem
bered and regretted IN England.
TIE sCULPToRs DREAM.
from TA< WoodsEoak (Vt) S0naara
The familiar story that the great sculptor,
Hiram Howers. In his youthful days had dream mat
and authenticity questioned. In his CORES
'pondence with his cousin, the Hon. Thomas T. Powers
OF this town, al different times he Incidentally made
reference 10 this dream We are permitted by DR..
Powers copy from the letters OF Hiram Powers tho
originals OF which we have seen, rs follows:
from Litter Of Dee 81. lS49.
Little did then dream that the day would come
when should 20 here In Italy SCULPTOR but I used
then 20 dream OF white figure standing upon pillar
the river fathers house. which longed
10 get but could not for the water-it too
deep 70 wade through. This dream haunted me for
years afterward In Ohio and ceased when nrst be-
gan TO model in clay IL female figure and naked,
but itid not alive. At that time had seen
or heard Of anything In the way OF sculpture"
from Litter Of January 3, 1881.
"I had not heard until Mr.. Reed told me that mg
Slave had been In Woodstock THIS almost verihes an
often repeated dream OF MINIS in all respects but one
IL this-I used 10 see In my sleep, when child,
white female figure across the river Jnst Debw your
fathers honse; II stood npOn pillar Or pedestal, was
naked and ~ my eyes very beautifully but the water
was me and IT, too deep 10 fo had strong
desire 10 II nearer but always prevented by the
river which always hgh THIS dream ceased years
after wien began 70 model Altogether, one may con-
elnde that thsthe dreat not entirely phantom
Al that time lad no WaReiN thoughts uf sculpture,
nor had ever seen anything likely " excite such
dream