National Republican., 1876-01-26
Tie Humble Artist of the Capitsl.

To the EdltOT OF tie AUtt0ndt ReDuJtlcdn:
SIR: We are told that We may "entertain angels
unawares." Suns may be obscured to our vision
by moons, ard genius may burn with her pursst
fires in our very midst and we know 1t not, 1t
SCENE. Such are the complications, peryersitleS,
mournful delinqencies and positive outrages Of
cur civilization that the most deserving may live
and toll on, not only unappreciated but undis-
covered, unTewarded and in iced. But why this
lugubrious homlly, you ask. will tell you.
During my present few days tarry in your city
! have seen many things and become conyersant
with many facts which IL surprised me to ind ex-
isting here; but among them the history and cir
cumstances Of an artist ofgreat genius appeal the
most elcquently to my sympathies. 1 found this
man in the rear of No. S25 Pennsylvania avenue
after traversing
LONG, MARROW AND RICKErY HALLWAY
on the second floor. He was standing in the pres.
of his recent half covered creations in small
extemporiZed studio, the poverty of which
touched my heart in pity as its forornness cast its
o upon sse lace Of my mere s az our re-
whose keen art sense and great heart had found
out and given its affections TO the man OF genius)
clay and both post-mortem works-the one that Of
Chief Justice fancy and the other Of Vice Presi-
to atemps here sSTSpS ke u i Sns
description OF these. But of the former may say
that have seen the most noted works Of sculp-
served in several OF the great capitals and pri-
vate palaces OF Europe, and / cannot now cali TO
mind one more striking than this-in pose Of head,
mastery
DETAIL OF LINEAMENT AND DRAPERY;
and the Likeness is vouched for by the most inti-
mate friends Of the late Chief Justice. The old
lurist at seventy or more years Of age is there in
have deserted himSthe erudite, gentlemanIy,
profound lawyer. This bust will bear the closest
study and though imposing At first attracts the
That Of Mr.. Wilson is surely most excellent
likeness, as viewed from certain points, and is
ances Of the late Vice President, who have seen
him more frequently than j. This bust repre-
sents the subject as in standing posture, with the
chin thrown up q little and eyes cast upon some
object at his side. While the brow, like the rest
Of the face, is made to conform to actual life
measurements, there is something IN it which
strikes me as more peculiarly resembling Wen.
dell Phillips than / remember ever having seen
Mr.. Wilson look. Nevertheless, the likeness is
and the bust is masterpiece. But who is this
STINT, UNsUNG, HALF-BuRIED ARTIST
this man, whose eye tells the story of his power
and whose magic fingers evoke from the clay in q
average modeler weeks to accomplish, but only
hall IS we'll? The mans name is John O'Bren-
an lrshman by birth, an American by naturaliza-
Angelo aud CsnOVa. Mr. O'ISrien is what the
world would call q simple man, honest hearted.
modest, unskilled IN the worlds great ttriles,
with no pretensions to the gifts Of the attractive
colloquist indeed with a slender vocabulary,
which he uses unlike master. But there Is more
10 him than in the heroes Of the tisld the gladI-
atoTs of the political arena OF to-day. These will
live on for an age or so in the pages Of sensational
history. while he will
GO DOWN The LONG CENTURIES
with the other great sculptOrs If he but have half
a chance to put himself in MARBLE for he is not
modeler only. The cunning of his hand is mar.
ried to the enduring muscle of an arm which can
chisel marble as we'll as 1t was ever carved by
disciple Of Praxiteles.
1t was he who carved, after the model OF Jones,
that srandest bust of the Capitol the counterfeit
of Chief Justice Chase. The greatly admired bust
OF VIM. Pitt Fessenden, OF Portland, Me-, is one
of Mr.. O'Brien' s works. But here he Is now In
your city, which treasures, TO ny surprise, many
works in marble, as we'll as pictures of very In.
ierior Character as If they were jewels Of srt. Is
there Lot some man Of wealth here to be found
who could appreciate such . genius as Mr..
O'Brien, So severely struggling now, and give
him work TO do: In civilization the chief demon,
poverty, seems ever to choose struggling genius
as the most coveted victim to whist It's teeth upon
Iours for all the struggling ones,
KATE STANTON.