New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE SCULPTOR HART.


MS LAST WORK-MURITS OF 1.-THE MAN-iiS
FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
SIN. Joel Tanner Hart was man VINO all
his life long endured hardship and what Is WORSE Sa
urehension But he worked steadily on, paSsionatey'
patiently; and 1t is perhaps only in years YET 10 come
that the crown which lie fully earned will he placed on
Lis brow He has left behind him statue of une1uaied
,ooutv This statue the eptome OF lifo and the result
~ Is wears of uninterrupted, ardent labor was TO nave
been brought America this coming Spring by MI mart
himself His letters full OF hope in regard TO inc
anticipated visit to his native land. Thirteen years had
elapsed since his last trip 10 America ana now dc was
10 come and bring this lifc-work
10 coiled IL sometimes the "Trumph Of Purity the
Thought embodied 1t being that the truest Womahhoou
Is superior the lower arts OF love- she stahuS ho
female figure of exquisite proportions, FIRMLY balance"
upon one foot and in the act Of stepping forward INC
whole form brcahcs Of buoyant life and latent energy
for action bat is at time full of repose In her
irr hand end gin in her forehead size hods the
orroy of little Cupid who by her side, win bOth
ARMS reached mp and standing on his very toes III Ills
earnest begging for his weapon His quiVc hes on Ie
ground the fallen out and his whoie lh'scaoe
little soul filed with the fact that he is vanquishod by
woman who has need Of his arts TO conquer true oVe
II couIl not have filter name than Woman'-taEing
ihe word in its fullest broades deepest sense FROM
whatever point view this work is regarded thc OuS
demands of high art are met and satisfied iuIn II
around and about, and from all sides the pure lines OF
grace and beauty are unbrokcn. They sweep III great
baonios waves from the crown of her pure forehead
IN the Tins of her lovely feet Look at il in front behind
from the side ard fills the eye with harmonious com
petion And furthermore, the thought embodied Is as
lofty intelligence az tne manner IN Wmch II Is
carrrd ont gentleman or learning in many ulIcciIos
an ant critic alsowas in his studio one day ana ccScu
the knee of the figure.
$50 TO nature Mr. Hart" ne said; "that Is
where you artists must learn your lessons St"ay ma
tnrc and Won can't 90 wrong" True, true s'lu MI
Hart as though the observation were an original one
that had never occurred to him before Meantime h' was
,iey arranging something and suddenly turning rouhd
upon his visitor with gesture directed his attention 10
row of casts Fourteen beautiful knees-a casts rom
nature taken as studies fer his hgure-siood thcIe.
"Wb ich nature. Mr.. - he quietly asked II need
not he added that the w0ulGbe clic had no more 10 s
So little had he cCnprchruded the task OF lgh arr III
ideazing from the real: ,rawing the many INTO one
evolving the harmonious unit from me mas OF crsu
material II cannot fail 10 be subject OF YCepS' teiGt
TO all who knew and aELG,a'SG i w ia' his III. e Was
finished Ii h could only have lvcd to see some lH[o
az his aboTs And yet there Is pathetic Illness ~ 'no
bard,s 6rouuo RON il, finished work into eternal rest
In al the notices oi Mr. Hart that have appeared TIC
fact Is mentioned that lis education begun rtr dtc ~
lite was due entirely to his energies THIS Is true
Iu it shoud not he inferred from this tact that ne
lis grandmother, "Lady Tanner" as She used To oe
called through the surrounding country was hVbou &
lldy ~ great ABILITY wei as some wealth IFS holnc
INC "s flI rs sweetness Of character. Her scrurlca
.einst slavery were such that when her share oi hcl
mothers estate To her she Hted an tte saws
thereby reducing herself 10 comparative poverty III,
father was Kentuckian of the prest type OF brain an9
bI'Wn y cvii engineer by profession, and friend ana
companion Of Daniel Boone. All OF Mr. Harts eiitl
brothers and ssters received good edrcaoN' 3i men
D. cane the o. "a large family OF children, INC SiIut
rg 81 living had become hard one fOI tlc Gehcdty
mother and the DISCOURAGED fater Little joe nae 10
mn over with bare feet ana learn MS tteS
from his elG,r sister, If be learned them AT al g.,
Sepnt Justice can be done noble character III Jew
hast, lines ike these. HE friends ana peers were OF
GENERATION now passed away GTeenou2h. Gib.on
Towers Kcid the pOetpantcT, ReInhalut Lis pdpl az
well a. fthd. -
(iica y. h., March 3. 1871