New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-21
THOMAS CRAWFORD AND ART IN AMERICA. By
SAMUEL OsGooD, D. j., Ii. d. SvO pr. 40. Trow q Co.

sAMrEL osCooD, d. j., Ii. d. syo pr. 40 Trow q CO.
The reception of Mr.. Frederic dc Pcystcrs
generous gift of Crawfords Statue of the Indian to the
NewYork Historical Society has been made the occasion
for this suggestive discourse the condition anu pros
poets of American Art. Dr. Osgood makes no claim TO
being an artist critic cOnnoisseur, in any way
qualified 10 interpret the principles and Examples Of Art
but he treats the subject branch Of ideal culture and
an element the higher education OF the American
pie character and achievements OF Mr. Crawford
sketched with warm appreciation but without undue culo
~ loyal member of that noble brotherhoodof sculp
tors among whom Thorwadscn father, and Rauch
and Drake and Schwanaler and Danneckcr were broth
ers" Compared with his peers in art, his life, which
ended at the age of fortythree was short. Thor
waldsen died at seventythree, Canoya at sixty
five Bartolin at seventytwo, Ranch at eighty.
Dannecker eight three FlaXman at seveny-one, and
Tcnerani at over seventy But his years crowned
with the triumphs Of genius and the variety no less
than the excellence of his productions attested the fruit
fitness OF his brief life In the pOrtrtLie OF Dr. Osgood
Crawford represented combining in himself the two
essential qualities OF the mind intense personality
and comprehensive universally. He was always a
marked and original character but extending In all
directions towards nature, humanity and the Divine
Providence. Though not scholar in the peculiar sense
OF that word he gifted interpreter OF the ages OF
history and the phases human culture and genius from
the dayi Of Homer those Of Bet thoycn He embodied
the soul OF history in the characters which he modelled
presenting spirit OF the In the speaking vitality
OF his creations Under the touch Ct his chisel the shea
of California wheat became personal. and its full blades
seemed 10 with the gold OF the mines whose hidden
splendors Trey sgnaed to the world. Crawford
Wa one of the OF peace who strive 10 bring to-
gether the great schools OF civztonthe classic
school that FORM and the romantic school
that seeks penetrate the essence OF things, or the
Greek and Goa hc without distinctly taking part In
e dispute did much towards reconciliation Ills chief
productions unite assic strength with romantic sprtu
ay He 10 Greek ald Gothic or German too He gives
the body and the soul OF and nature His Orpheus
10 beth Greek and a Christian, facing the shades OF
Erebos, with limbs traiIed in the pa8stra, and with
soul iigminated by the light that not OF this world
This work may be deemed a prophecy OF our coming
literature well art We not to have muscle and
mSteralism on the hand and efiemnate piey on
the other, bu; body AID soul 10 together Arch
lecture and sculpture are to consre In the great recon
Citation Sculpture especially "a TO rebuk~ alike the
spectral shadow and the 6eshly materiasm that
confront each other. and 10 show that
there Is q mysterious indwelling spirit In Nature
which il il the function Of Art 10 reveal In ntling
forms THIS thought IL set forth by DIR. Osgood rs
tie keynote 10 Oar most hopeful culture II 10