The Portland daily press., 1877-03-08

indeed, it is not entirely finished:
it is standing figure, simply draped
in chsto'a and diploidon; the arms are
folded, the line Greek head, with bands about
tne mar, has slight bend or sway, which gives
IL the appearance of motion. This little turn
OF Oh the head has wonderful vitality in it,
6ue nrst view of the statue reminded me of
aacnel IN Its peculiar nervous force and slen-
ger. elegance. 1t stands as she did when she
pronounced that tremendous list of curses in
Les doraces, in pose that is at once truth
fnl, noble and eloquent The adjustment of
tne lines IN the form and drapery are very SIM
PIE, natural and forcible. Turn it as you
please, look at it in the dark shadow-aDy way
tne pronles are satisfactory to the eye; one
contour seems to envelop another, as 1t does IN
al beautiful forms in nature. 1t has not the
great, gracious lines of the 'Libyan SibyP and
'Alkestis' which expresses in those line works
serene, deep thought. 1t is more nervous, in
tense work, and this nervous intensity IS OBJ
tanned, as all true things are, without exagger-
alton. The Clytemnestra' of Story is strictly
dramatic-thst is, in the style which we find
IN the Greek drama. use style in sculptur-
esque sense, to mean that which is high, heroic
and poetic. If you are familiar with the Aga
memnon of Eschylus you will recognize in
stantiy the scene Mr. Story's statue represents.
It IS at the moment after the Staying
OF her husband. The sculptor seems to
AoNc cUccpcu cultTo tLudRludllOu III lu6 kTtdb
tragic stream of deep emotion that pours
through the famous drama Compinto Popera
says the fine Itatalian translation. The deed
is done! chants the chorus solemnly as they
hear the groans of the king of Argos. The scope
opens, and displays the Spartan princess
standing near her dead husband. We can i'm
agine her advancing slowly on the stage, with
nrm, resolute step, and yet certain air of hor-
ror about her, which is fully expressed in the
statue by the hard downward curve of the fine
lips; the rigid line between the beautiful cheeks
and mouth and imperious chin. The act, how
ever justifable, has left its stamp of tragic az
ony on that noble face never to be effaced. The
folded arms, too, have their expression of re-
colling from the deed; the left hand seems to
creep on the drapery with serpent-like move
ment. You will be sure to recall the very words
of that grand soliloquy-for she speaks as
much TO herself as to the upbraiding chorus;
her speech is in broken, detached sentences, with
great pauses between. You almost expect to
see her lift those stony, horror-stricken eyes
and hear her audacious reply to the chorus,
'Ye are trying me like senseless wo-
man. say with hearl northumberland
tbs all one whether thou wilt praise or censure
this is my husband, and corpse the deed Of
TINS right hand of mine, righteous agent.
Thus this deed standsp To sit and look at this
statue OF Mr.. Story with your memory full of
the grand old Greek drama, is as choice and
tine pleasure as listening to that great actress
who possessed the Greek genius, reciting with
pure rhythmical scanning on the stage with an
air 80 august as to recall the movements of the
ANTIQUE statues"