The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-30
SCULPTURE IN MODERN ITALE.
ROWE March -Notwithstanding tho


ful. and reverts to nature for his forms only so
far as they are consistent with idealistic beauty
He is n thorough Catholic Of the stamp OF Man
zoni: accordingly he treats religious subjects
with the inspiration with which Taddeo Gaddi
and Beato Agelico painted their Madonnas
Among his earlier works. his bronze statues OF
Cain and Abel cannot be overlooked. They are
worthy in every respect OF the places assigned
to them in tho UHlzi Gallery. which is. indeed.
no mean praise. The dying Abel Is modelled
with such Il degree Of truthfuness and perfec-
ton that the Florentines whose natural taste
for art Is very seldom mslcd. exclaimed.
"Dupre's Abel has killed Cain" although the
latter is n most striking personilcation Of
crime remorse and despair. The monument
erected by this artist to tho Countess Ferrari-
Corboli which is in the Church OF st. Lorenzo
at Florence. has only one rival in the world.
namely tho Modici monument by Michael An
gelo In the Medicean Chapel People who have
visited Rome. no doubt, arc still wildly i'm
pressed with the greatness OF Michael Angeles
"Pieta" in st. Peters. or this group, Lnbkc
writes in his History OF Sculpture" that the
form OF the nude figure OF Christ is treated with
such iustness and modesty that one forgets all
the deas that may be. however family, suggest
cd by a naked figure; the spirit asserts its sway
through the beautiful body. Tho whole work
eliminates. however. in the countenance OF the
mother. Her half closed eyes express grief
n tenderness and resignation OF n far higher
order than do those wide open OF Niobe This
monument is as beautiful and genuinely plastic
In design as grand and idealstic as its express
sion is thrilling" We find no word to change,
though many might be added to gloriIy this
masterpiece. which would even then convey but
a faint idea OF its sublimity.
We do not hesitate. however 10 assert that
Dupre's "PletA." in the cathedral at Sienna. IS
even superior 70 the one that tho Ger
man historian calls one OF the wonders
OF Rome" Tho time will come when Justice will
be done to the art production OF our age: then
our words will have more grateful sound.
Beautiful rs II is. Michael Angeles Sopument
borders on the absurd as It is difficult to con-
ceive how a woman can without any apparent
effort, hold on her lap the dead body Of a man.
Dupr6's Christ lies on the ground. his trunk
| leaning against his mothers right knee. while
she kneels on the other and supports his head
with her right arm. her left hand being
stretched over tho body OF her son in
gesture OF eunspeakable grief. Nothing can
| be conceived moro spiritually dramatic than
| the countenance Of this mother. But Michael
Angelo solved the problem In the wrong way
| by making the mother the eliminating figure
OF the group. Dupr6 has made Mary's grief
] very PROMINENT SUN oboikuluA ~ ~ WIN W.
coming. the primary place TO the Son Of God.
| The image Of Christ was never represented in
marblc-not oven by Thorwaldscn-with such
| intense feeling OF his divine nature. As regards
execution. too. II may be safely stated that
| II is piece Of workmanship such ns TO chal-
| lenge any sculpture. either OF Greek or Rcnais-
sance origin. The outline is free from all con-
ventionality and actually, plastic. We doubt
| whether Dupr6 himself viii ever work out OF
| the marble anything equal To II.
| The sitting statue OF the Duke Silvestro Cam
| erini. erected in the Church OF ~. Anthony az
| Padua is also worthy OF notice. On the right is a
| symbolic figure OF Grattudc. young and hHnd-
some woman In the net Of spreading flowers over
the sarcophngus. On tho left there is group
| OF two figures, n woman handing youthful
lahorer purse the reward due TO his labor
| woman the youth answers by taking the purse
and kissing her hand. The beneficial results
| OF labor are pcrsonined by this group; indeed.
] tho ,whole monument y groundrd on thls
/ fundamental feeling and idea. II tells that II
| has been erected TO n laborer ms token Of
gratitude which he highly deserved. chiefly for
! his benehccnce to working people. Duke Sill
| Of u family which, once very wealthy had finally
/ fallen into wrctched poverty. Silvestro became
/ worsman; Tor long time lac was a cart
| dryer and then. when the hydros. Uphic works
/ OF Ionibardy. between the rivers Pc and Adgc,
] were undertaken, he throw his whole scout into
/ the enterprise. aud ltiuc 10y little by dint u
/ activity. economy, Industry. and wise invest
] u"nfs he restored tho fortunes OF has family.
] Having taken uu his residence at paduu ne be-
| came the Intelligent bcnelactor OF the labOrlng
| clns-es for many miles around the city.
/ The life oi Dulrc has certain analogy 70 that
/ OF the Duke. Born Ia poverty. after spending
/ many years OF his luth IN hard manual labor
| by nls talent and industry he has finally accu-
tion. Owing 10 the affinity OF the artists char
| Acter aud life as well as To his friendship for
ine Puke' great eNpr8tatlohs were enter
ment referred %. He has fully realized all
expectations. Tho figure OF the Duke is as
! suggestive and life ike as Ncla's Napoleon.
| Dupre has shown that the unHsthetic capabil-
ities Of modern costumes are mere fancy; by
| simply magniiylng somewhat their natural
folds he has made the coat and trousers OF tho
| present day as drcssy rs the Greek mantle and
| Guilty. rs he has not resorted TO ample winter
| clothes. but represented his hero in tho sim
/ plicity OF summer costume. This monument
| artist to be forgotten and the man to bc eXclu-
sIvely thought Of in honor OF whom it has been
4 erected. The mind goes far beyond the surface
| OF the marble and penetratcs the life OF the
nero In the statues that complete the
creative power. Their loveIness is the on.
spring OF his imagination he has not sought II
from models-indeed,h he would not have found
among them the divine beauty Of his Benen-
cence and Gratitude, Critics and artists who want
/ 10 reduce art 70 mere copying OF the real may
find some fault with this monument; butwhoso-
ever understands tho eminently ideastc pur-
| pose OF sculpture cannot fail TO admire the crea-
tons Of this artistwho, from the fields Of reality
, his conception with. and who renders the
hand as Michael Angelo was wont TO say. a
]
! Mr.. Dupr6 has "a daughter to whom he has
! transmitted IA good deal Of his artistic talent
| Her bassO relieves TO which out of modesty she
mainly confines herself. are excellent both as
regards composition and execution. Signor
! Caggiano Is perhaps the most promising Of
Dupr6's pupils. He feels. however. the influ-
| cnce of the time. and accordingly he is more
modern than his teacher. He exhibited last
| year Bread and Work" which notwithstand-
ng its faults attracted much attention 1t
| represents young girl employed in netting.
| 10 which work she attends with an earnest
! ness that is really remarkable. This statue
is. marvel Of finish in all its DO
| tails, The rlckety stool upon which the
| girl s seated has been called " poem" by Il
| critic OF no less repute than jules Tardieu.
The basket in which are piece of bread and q
| pair Of scissors, is finished in an astonishing
| style; II reminds one, in fact. OF those ivory
works for which the Chinese are so widely ia
nous. The girls head is lovely and endowed
with intense feeling; her hands and feet arc.
| however. too ugly not 10 lessen the merit OF tho
whole, They bespeak. indeed. harder work
than the girl is evidently accustomed TO.
Maliaufs Girovaghi lthe Wanderersl. as
regards ability To convert tho marble into
any object for which it is intended to stand
may be actually termed triumph Of the scup-
toral art 1t represents bagpiper car
rylng monkey. and laden with a thousand
bibfiotS which must singularly cucumber tho
youth IN MS long pcregrlnatlOnS. Everything