Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-04-27
iCommunicatsd.1
RELIGIOUS IL VI.


art at the Philadelphia Centennial there
will be erected = group Of marble fig.
ures representing Religious Liberty, at
the expense of the Jewish citizens in
the United States who subscribed for
1t. The artist, M. Ezekiel, is also a
Jew, from Cincinnati, at present resid-
ing In Rome. From an interesting
criticism upon Ezekiel's chef d'Guvre
in the II Cosmopolitan, published at
Rome. we make the following extracts
from q translation in the Cincinnati
Enquirer for the more fortunate OF our
readers who will visit the Centennial
Exposition at Fair,nont Park, Phila-
delphia, as we'll as for us unfortunate
ones whose limited excheqner compels
us to stay at home. The grand mar
BILE group destined to be sent to Amer.
lea and modelled by NJ. Ezekiel, places
this gentleman, who is quite a young
artist, at once within the ranks of the
most prominent sculptors OF Rome.
The difficulties the artist had to
mount In the execution OF this work
will become apparent 10 every one
when We realize the nature Of the task
devolved on Ezekiel. and fulfilled by
him in the production Of . plaster
work Of art. The subject ex pressed is
" Religious Liberty" or q free church
in a free State, . reference to n Of the
most important provisions in the Con-
stitution of the United States. This is
delineated allegorically by q group Of
figures, colossal N size.
Most beautiful and felicitous in prin-
ciple, a. we'll as in the achievement OF
q peaceful and prosperous cancellation
Of the citizens of a vast country, il this
grand fundamental law which eman-
ates from that fountain of liberty, and
which imbues n permeates the en-
tire American commonwealth; yet, for
the artist, the idea entering into this
law, is but the abstraction-a thought,
the ever.to. be desired severance of
Church and State-how should it be-
treated by him who derives all
Of his motives and designs froD,
contemplation, and from the pic
lures afforded by fertile fancy?
The political and devotional spheres
are replete with distractions and ideal
ism; all rich with the promises of the
most h~umanizing and enobl,ng frui.
tons, and all Of which we are eve
ready to avow. Blu; these, like all alb
strac principles, are in their Interior
sense far removed from the more i'm
mediate and individual observations
Of life, as must be the glance of the
eagle, in his lofty flight, from that of
the butterfly In its intimacy with the
rare fragrance aud enchanting beauty
Of the nearest flower. The mind. in
its comprehension and in its desire to
comprehend, is fifty illustrated by the
Eastern tale in which all the wisdom
of as many voluminous books as fifty
camels could not carry away, was
gradually condensed by the philoso-
pliers until 1t was epitomised into q
sentence that could be inscribed upon
the seal of = finger ring. But snch in
tellectual methods are not the most
advantageous in the creation of works
of art, and are even inimicsl to the
aims OF artists. Productions signiti-
cant OF abstract ideas, however clear.
will always have something cold about
them, although indifferent works have
obtained recognition and fame by no
other means than this saine conspicu-
Gus and condempable parsding Of
"idsas." And yet it IL not tn be denied
that q good work Of art is enhanced in
power and dignity If, in addition to the
joy given the beholder Of its plastic
and picturesque beauty, it also aronses
his better and holier emotions and
higher convictions. Ancient and mod
| ern times furnish countless evidences
Of this very truth, which manifestly
led Ezekiel into that narrow but hope.
full path that could alone carry him
triumphantly on to q harmonious 80
luton of his mission. But a work
reaches the pinnacle of art and will
ever appear grand and convincing
to all rosterity only when sprinying
from . most exalted view and loftier
perception Of nature herself. Ezekiel
could never have dared 10 approach
his task had he not carried in his mind
the ripening germs Of that enlarged
fancy now 80 Handsomely consum-
mated In marble, destined as it Is to IL
lustrate to the future reflectant he
holder the embodied idea OF the free
dom Of conscience In glorious America.
In the central figure we see the Re.
p~ublic-ths Genius Of Liberty-ex
pressed unmistakably In the grand
female form Of grave and majestic
msin, characterized by the Phrygian
cap and brilliantly effective armor.