Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-02-11
W.itien for the Fee Pes.
Ar. Notes in Washington.
No. Ill.

Witten for the Fee Pes.
Ar. Notes in Washington.
No. III.
THE COgCoEAN GALLERY.
In the Gallery Of Renaissance IS the cast
from the west bronze gate of the Baptistery
at Florence 1t was brought from the Lon
don Museum, and consists of fortyslx
pieces The artist, Lorenzo Ghiberti, ap-
pcarcd before the world in that era of the
Renaissance when the cXhunation OF the
great models of ancient art inspired the
whole race of painters, sculptors and archi-
tects. His success with that gate, which it
took him tweniy-onc years to execute, at
once obtained him other orders. The designs
for the first gate were from the New Testa-
ment, and were dictated to him but in this
last he was allowed to select his own
designs from the Old Testament. Michael
Angelo said these gates ''wcrc worthy
of being tSe gates Of Paradise SO
every one will feel as they trace
the various scenes. Ten square panels con-
tain designs from the Old Testament, each
illustrating three or four incidents beginning
at the creation of Adam and Eve. These are
surrounded by narrower panels containing
historic personages, prophets, sybils, etc, in
high relief, and enriched with birds, fruit
and flowers delicately wrought.
There are also seventeen casts of the most
famous works of Jean Gonjon. He was the
leader of the Renaissance of French sculp-
turc, being called the Coreggio of sculpture
from the graceful flowing lines of his forms.
He was slain by 4 stray shot while at work
IN the Louvre, during the massacre of ''St.
Bartholomew's Day" Statuettes of Day
and Night, and of Dawn and Twilight from
original marbles by Michael Angelo will ill.,
terest any one. "The three Graces" or Chari-
ties is curious example of French sculpture.
1t was executed for Catherine of Medicis IN
memory Of her husband, Henry H. OF
France, whose heart was placed in the
original urn, supported on the heads OF three
female figures, standing back to back, with
linked hands, upon triangular pedestal OF
exquisite beauty. These figures represent
Catherine herself, the Duchess dEtampcs
and Madame Nilleroy, three of the faircst
women of that time. On the pedestal are
three inscriptions in Latin, one of which
translated is as follows: ''llere Catherine
has deposited the heart of the king, her hus-
band, wishing she could bury it in her own
BOSOM
The colossal bust of David by Michael
Angelo, was taken from the marble, nineteen
feet high, in Florence, representing David
about TO hurl the stone at Goliah.
The " Prisoners or Slaves, also by
Michael Angelo, WAS designed as n
wall statue for Il monument to Pope
Julius Second The artist gave the statue
to friend who had nursed him in illness,
and he presented it TO Frances l.,
1t now stands in the Louvre. No better
example exists of his power Of depicting
physical passion.
Iu the Hail of Bronzes, Ceramic Ware etc,
may be seen some exquisite vases from the
famous factory ut Sevres. France, also the
Hildersheim Treasures. These are electro
type reproductions oil ancient vessels found
near Hildersheim by some soldiers, who,
while digging near their camp found, at the
depth of ten feet, some bits of metal that
proved to be silver. Further search disclos-
ed vessels and vases of various kinds whose
designs and workmanship, show extreme an
tiquty, most of them being beautifully dec
GRATED.
The bust of Humboldt by Rauch, was exc
cuted by his request for Mr.. Corcoran. The
famous Prometheus vase (majolica) is worth
studying 1t is four feet high and represents
the old Greek myth of Prometheus chained
10 rock, with black eagle feeding upon
his never-dying vitals, as punishment for
stealing fire from heaven. Below him on
the swell. of the vrsc recinc four figures with
manacled feet and hands bound with ropes.
The base is encircled with wreath of lau-
rel round which Is twisted four serpents, typi-
flying throughout the gnawing cares of the
soul lighted by genius caught from heaven
and tormented by the worm creeping among
his laures.
Among SO many interesting works of art |
was pleased to see the marble statuette of
Echo by Iarkin G.. Mead of Vermont. 4
collection of bronZes Ia in number, by An
tonic Louis Bayrc, the late famous sculptor.
and professor of animal Dir, wing in the Jar
din dcs Planies cannot fail 10 interest every
one. His position gave him an astonishing
knowledge of the forms and habits qulescent
and ferOcious of the various ANIMALS repre-
scnted Near the collection is n case con-
tanning 81 elcctrotype reproductions of objects
from the South kensington Museum. Also
L. 81. f,t
copper bronze; Ancient Armour; Theseus
Staying the Centaur, a classic group, treated
with immense power, and the monument of
Frederick the Great, : feet high. bronze
reduction of the original bronze in Berlin by
Rauch. The person of the Emperor Is given
with all his pcculiariticS. The bass reliefs
IN the upper section represent epochs in his
life. 1t was purchased from the Centennial EX-
hibition by Mr. Corcoran, as were the statI
cites OF the Emperor Frederick William and
the Crown Prince of Germany.
There are many fine examples of Japan
csc and Chinese art in this hall, but space
will only admit of Il glance nj few of the
interesting objects. n copy by Canova, of
the head of the colossal statue ot Napoleon
First, which he modelled from the Emperor
in lS0j, is said to be very correct. CanOva' 5
first statue, Orphcus, was completed in his
nineteenth year. -Four wears later he aston
ished the world by his TheselIS and
Minotaur. He had great beauty and sim
plicity of character, and ,pwards the
close of his life his chisc was devoted 10
religious subjects lie died in Italy i'll
iS22
In the centre Of the Octagon Room stands
Powers original Greek Slave in marble
This beautiful work is too well known TO need
description Hiram Powers was born i'll
Vermont, and closed II long life of industry
and honor in Florence, i'll 1875. In this
room is also, in marble, the Yelled Nun
and Forced Prayer, by Milan, and Ginevra and
Proserpnc by Powers. Youth as But
terily, by Carom, represents first, Youth, i'll
the form of butterfly, who, while flying
over the pleasures of life. is cntanged in II
net that awakens to reality The graceful
pose, startled look and delicate limbs of the
figure. combined with the elaborate execu-
ton of the flowers, make il Il notable exam
pie of the picturesque style of the modern
Italian sculpture. Endymion, by Reinhart,
tells most admirably the story of the
young herdsman To whom his reputed
father Jupiter, gave immortal youth
and eternal sleep. Enauiored of the sleep
ing boy, Silene (thc noon had him con
vcyed to Noun. Latamus, where she could
privately gaze upon and kiss his unconscious
check. To illustrate this fable the sculptor
has gwen lis beautiful shepherd boy,
stretched in rcposc upon II sheep skin, cover
ing u sloping rock.
EIIKABETn.
NOTES AND NOTES.