New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-11-28

an cth'rca existence. In marble you do not recal
the hyllg flesh. the flush of the cheek and the light
of tie eve. fou invest yOur work with spiritual
pnr'iy. iom materiaiize a shade" The remark was
recalled to Sir John by seeing on pedestal In BIS
studio the original model for his bust OF Dr.
Chalmers. His studio Is filled with models, and each
one II wreathed with memories. HIS marbles ana
Dronzes are scattered over the World from SehIat
Park 10 Delhi. but here in Edinburgh are the hrst
conceptions Of his subjects as By his own hand they
were rendered IN clay.
Almost as entered the sculptor emerged from an
inner roOm and the artist at riveted tue atte-
tiJn that was for a few moments devoted 10 MS
works. Seveuty-hve years have elapsed since or
John first saw the light Of Aberdeen, the prahi,e
CITY, but time has neither robbed his hand OF us
skill non dimmed bis artistic perception. On
the contrary the artist has developed as
the has advanced in years. An after
surmise might place his age at about sixty,
but IN his presence the question r. not
iikeiv 10 occur. There is something IN his ar,
appearance aud manner which at once reminded me
OF Mr. Longe,low. lie Is one OF the lew men ~uo
never grow old. 4 figure somewhat above the aver
age IN height. genial face, handsome features
clear ruddy complexion and an abundance OF WaVy'
svery hair, worn IN slight disorder may give an
imperfect idea Of his personal appearance. 10 de-
scribe his bearing and manner Is more dlincnit
by conversation. OF mOdesty backed
by greatness. Of intellectual power. Of
warmth. and Of a character both beautiful
and strong. OF himself he cannot speak
without "a deprecatOry that tells Us plainly rs
words mat tie subject is not Wen suited 10 HIS
taste. His victories in competition for commissions
merely 20 many curious eccidcnt. in his career.
such Is apparently his own opinion. crhers may
take different view of rhe Inatter-but let me give
an example. When the competitive designs.
he said, for the Edinburgh Prince Con-ort
memorial all given IN they were nist
subn.itted 10 Her Majesty, and mine hap
pened 10 De tie one she preferred Inc
Queen then. in order To have her Judgment
confirmed. Father tested. sent for Sr Charles
Eastlake, and laid AL the designs before INN, Win
a request that DE should selec. the one he thought
best. II happened q second time that NINE was
preferred. Her Majesty 30 once jocuariy sad,
some one must have told you shat that was my
choice, nut -ir Charles protested thai ne gu noV
even know Her Majesty had stated any preference
for one above tAe Olner."
SIR Johns studio u i.at of a working sculptor.
II has not been ted nj with elegance n iounging
place. II might even oe SAID that 1t has not been
httcd up al al. large room or hall hung Win
dDcp-Icd cloth is the GENRE oi the aiTac-
TONS of the place. and answers the purpose
of reccp-i0n-foOm. smaller rooms lea'ling
OF 70 constitute the ar'i.t- workshops Inc
Latter are IN 4 state OF orderly cunIusiOn-otueIiy
tii- occupant, confused o. VISITOR. ls"ubn rue
haL aIe arlayed lumner OF models Oh Inc aftIsf
works, a4d ~ 20 them that the eye turns as sup
PLYING Illustrations of tie different stages OF MS
career, from iis beginning nearly 10 the present
time. During hls studle, 40 Rome ne made many
designs from classical themes. inspired prODanly
by the same spirit that ed Th0rw.i.dsen 10 turn 10
tne well-trodden ground OF Greek mythology ana
legend. One If the more important OF the
groups ~ that of Alexander ana Bucephalus,
a finely conceived aud excellently modelled WORK.
One of the statue, executed about the period OF oir
johns rcturn to Edinburgh IS that 1T PROVOST
the cDtors native CITY, Ii u deserving or notice
n the hrst public marble statue known 10 nave
been executed IL Scotland. ms strikes one A.
being somewhat singular, bul Sir JOhH Is saie
authority. and he saws Jhat although Ofner marble
statues weTe doubt, erected IN scotland prior %
ms Blake lie can discover no trace Of earlier
works of the same kind executed IN the couutry.
Opposite II stands the majestic inquire OK the
enthusiastic John Wilson, from winch me
bronze statue now III iIlnces street OaIueus
was cast In The comparative conhnement oil me
hall II looms In all The grandeur OF us nne pro-
portions. the hOu-ilke head erect, the 1Owln-
locks falling ~ the shoulders, and the left hand
restln NJ upon tine stem OF broken palm-tIee-a re,
hinder of tie authorship ot " The Isle OF rains
To he left % the door Is the equestrian statue OF
the Duke of Weln gton, ana opposite 1t - that OF
Queen NictOua. Close by he former II me modei
o. the marble statue OF or alter scott, Wnlch
stands under the magnificent canopy reared on
Princes Street by the genius OF hehp Inc
bronze replica in Central Park does scant
Justice 10 a work not only possessing
both fidelity and strength but employing
a great deal OF the character OF SCOTT. In bronze
the finer shades of expression are lost, and the lace
IN consequence appears somewhat heavy ana dull.
In the model the play OF bght anu shade relieves
the hxed stOlidity oi the aspect anu one sees not
only the towering head, bur tnr humor, kinlllness
and rerose IN strength OF the Wizard OF the North
4 bronze original and bronze replica OF marble
ori nal are two totally different thing In the lat
ter case the casting of work not designed for re-
factory. Ii would therefore appear that even after
seeing the greater number of nis works rs gwen To
the world. something more may be learned ~ an
ARTIST, power by studying tue mOutls IasAlOheu ny
his own hand.
There are many other works, statues and busts,
in sir john Stee.ls studio, which might be men
toned recalling famous men aud women OF Great
Britain-Dr. Chalmers Lord DalhOusle, Florence
Nightingale. DR.. Guthr e, aud others. IL Is aston
ishlug u find now many Of the leading characters
of his time have received artistic immortality az
his hands but a. ter looking upon the features be
has modelled and hearing his "reminiscences Of bis
subjects leaves his studio with the belief that
among them ali Is none more remarkable or attrac-
tive tuan the artist himself.