, 1875-10-03
A Visit to Thomas Balls Studio at
Florence,
President Lincoln and Cor. AndreW-Tbe
Chickering Monument Statue
Of Eve.
Unexpected Wealth, Of American
Museums and Collections.


AN AMERICAN ARTIST AT FLORENCE
Special Correspondence Of The Chicago Tribune
Passing beyond the city walls by the Port
Romana Americans Visiting Florence are alway
struck by the honelike appearance Of the seen
| before them. Indeed, were it DOT for the gran
old avenue, the Poggio Imperiale, with it's mil
OF sttaightness and uphill, and it's double row
OF tall, grim, sentinel-like cypressee, one nigh
almost think oneself in suburb Of one OF on
New England cities, 30 new md green and pros
porous does everything appear, and so modern
And this appearance is not without reason. TO
! here names Of Which America is proud, mari
the villas and studios Of the noted sculptor.
| whose works arc familiar at home and abroad
! The equestrian statue OF Washington, OF which
Boston is Justly proud is it ia almost needless t.
say, the work OF Thomas Ball. who lives here ant
whose studio is always open to visitors. Ring.
inE then at the ircn gate, the mysterious opening
Of which reminds Us OF the enchanted castles O.
childhood, ne enter the beautiful ground1
which surround tho house and studio and which
would testify, il such testimony were needed, t.
the taste and lore OF beauty OF their owner
Through door. before which fountain is play,
ing, we pass into the presence OF the works o1
the sculptor
The etudio is one Of the largest and hand,
hah dozen rooms, OF various s1zes and devoted
to various uses, from the modelling OF the work
OF ar3 in clay to the final finishing in the marble
Tint wa may see the rooms in order, let us turn
directly to the right, where We find ourselves in
an apartment containing several finished works
in marble tno children's heads ''Penserosa VI
and "Sunshinc," whose perfect childlkenesa
makes them general fayorites bust Of the
Eve" Of which We shall presently see tho full
figure in another part Of the studio: bust Of
Tff. ca VI.
group commamorating the emancipation Of the
slaves By
psEsIpENT LINCOLN.
The last is copy Of the colossal group, the
money for the execution Of which was raised by
the subscription OF the colored people OF the
United States, and the commission given to Mr.
Ball two years ago. It represents the President
ttanding erect, holding in his right hand, which
rests upon column the immortal proclamation,
while the left ia held in an attitude OF benedic-
ton aboVo the kneeling figure OF the typical me-
gro. who with broken chains seems to rise in bis
great strength from his fallen state, and looks
calmly aud hopefully into the future. The fig
use of President Lincoln ia true to the life, the
difficulties Of modern costume being met boldly
and without the adoption OF the Roman drapery
that comes so often to the rescue OF the sculptor
Of the man Of the present day. while the mus
cular and almost nude figure OF the begro At his
feet takes away the effect Of disproportionate
height, which in most Of the statues Of the mar
tyr President has been fatal to all grace and
comeliuess. The group is still at the foundry at
Munich, where It has recently been finished IN
bronze, and Will De dedicated IN Apr1l OF next
year On the anniversary Of the ASSASSINATION Of
tue PRESIDENT. 1t ls OF interest that the idea Of
the Fre9dInen's erecting monument to their
emancipation OF subscription WAS duo to an old
co1ored woman who gave - to an officer OF our
army 70 pc QeSoted 70 ILLS purpose; ana the re-
sult Of this small beginning is the noble group,
which 1s worthy OF the sculptor, OF the subject:
and OF its destination, the Capital OF the United
States
hoturnlng 70 the large hsu Th1cn 70 hrss sn-
tered' ne IND the original plaster OF the
STATUE or GOV ANDREW
OF Massachasests. no" IN tne state-Hoose IN
Boston; cast OF tne statue OF foE1est me
Statue OF st. John the EVangel'st, IN marble
me group 1or tne tnlcRerang monument at mount
Auonrn ano several gmaAet VOTES, esl1 1n-
nnlsneo, IN marble. Inc stasute at o! -. !ohn
nfse 4 atl1acIs cur assent1on. 1ne "elRnt OF tne
hgure. which Is dFaped IN = large loose robe
feacmng neatiY 70 tne Rronna- Iosta upon tne
lett 1901 IN tne lelt nanu Is nslo an open DooK,
10 tne Eaeht Pen the heao Is fa'seo; NE Whole
Rttltude, as well as the pure aud beautiful lace,
EXPRESSING calm put earnest expectation as be
appears to m be lsten1ng to voice from
heaven. 1he marble OF me hgure Il as I'M,
maeulate as the expression nnt 1ts purity cannot
endure IN 1ts intended position N Forest Blu
Jonese&5 were we're w! os o1pesen TO the severe
,'er. tne cnma.e cannot fon II (as ls TOO o1ten
Tue case with LIE atatuarY that 10 supposed to
adorn our cemetenes) OF lts chief VALUE IN
AKIN aking n"ay lts wLltenese.
}.those VINO are tamlfar with Mount Apourn-
mat once lovely spos' Whlch ID nov 30 hlled WITH
meaningless and unslehtly masonry as to pre-
'ens the appearance OF q monumental MARBLE |
Iard-aro doubtless familiar with
~ THE cHIcKER1SG MONUMENT.
Inc caets OF the figure and bass-Iclief are still
o De seen IN atr, bau,s studio. Ihe group rep.
Ssents =: the - heaiazatlon OF faath IN Death.
no kneel1ng hgure Of FAITH holds to her breas:
..e cross while the Ange! Of Death, who !s here
leured IN lar from fearful character, Lifts the
'en from her eyes, aud all Is revealed as PROM
seq III lie Mords inscribed upon the base:
Now we see through glass dark1y, bu. then
80 " tnIe- t9e .nsoaaou puicu auolns lne
~ .ons ~ eo9 ha5o y sliu4te ~ t1o msnoty o1
~. a.,-osntn ooua; nf; ss.a aeIae aeut9'
~ es 1sle Mou1 1n1us loI ne1 losk 1saeua'
ne "as' nne loans upon lEre, :,7 one o. Tue
telnss " Hn'ch 10 nfoken. Inc SUI ocean
s.la :ne ot luz eonapoelslon' M1tn
'sei .t1 no.azuu nne' iua5 t9ptesens eternity. 1ae
'no!e % contiaDoses 70 sns 1oea OF fepose ID
sui ~ 1otln',
one passaoe renection. mnas p1tytit Is tnat
.u.e Peopie cannot oe induced 70 1oitom Inc
aanple u tae cmckerlns c ia1ily' ano o. ne
use@SSo1 VI tAe bkatue ol soI JOIN \A4l. q. -. |