Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-27
THE BUTTER LION.
How Canova, the Celebrated sculptor,
First Attracted Attention

How Canova, the Celebrated Sculptor,
First Attracted Attention
BoiC Bills.
In the courtyard of the beautiful Nene-
tan Villa OF the Faiieri-rhat family
which gave more man one DOge to Ven
ice-assemuled one day in the year 1860
little group OF persons, laboring under
great excitement.
They were the servants Of the Ealieri
family.
Bap;iste. the major-domc, taller than
the rest by head aud shoulders, and with
his features cOnvuised with Indignation,
poured forth upon an unlucky under ser
want the vitls of his wrath. The others
listened. but not calmly.
In the centre Vi the courtyard mar
Bile Cupid seemed to toss about the splash
ing water of the fountain. in the midst of
which he stood as though he shared Bap-
1iste's indignation; and perched alOft up
on a lOuE ladder Old PIsanO. stone
mason OF she neighbOrhOOd, who was
cleaning and repairins some quaint old
heads above the doorway, added his quota
10 the hurly-1urly.
One Ignorant Of the language
would have believed that Baptiste was
political leader incItinL his followers to
some lawle-s uprising, or that he an
nOunced To them that Nesuvius threaten
ed another eruPtiOn, from which it was
impossible To es ape.
But all that had happened was the des-
tructiOn OF the beautiful centre-piece Of
the table, which had slipped from the
hands Of the servant, VINO trembled be-
fore the MaiOr-dOmO and swore that he
was the most miserable man on earth
and would destroy mself, drown him
self IN tle canal or take poison before
nightfall.
Some servants would simply have ex-
pressed wish that they might not have
it taken out Of their wages or lose their
place.
These Italians were nearly beside them
selves.
The only quiet person in the group was
slender child, whose simple dress be-
tOkened him a scion Of the people; who
was, in fact, the orphan grandson of old
PisanO. the stOne-cutter.
He stood in a graceful attitude that
might have served an artist for the model
of cherub, and listened to all that was
said in silence, until Baptiste cried: at
IS too late to do anythingl The table
must be set for such illustriOus company
with nothing but vase Of flowers"
Then he spoke:
"Bdptiste. Baptiste! Take me instantly
to the banquet hall. l want to see the
table,
Bapt!ste, indignant and amazed, turned
upon him an awful cOuntenance.
''What do l hear?7 he cried, throwing
his hands aloft and wrInging ms fingers.
%'ohOw you the table! Take YOU to the
banquet hall. At this, the most anxious
moment Of my life, l am to pause and
play cIcerOne to child | am to show
His HighneSS, the SignOr CanOva, through
the Villa Of the FalIeri! Does he wish to
buy 1t: All. good heavens One would
believe child might understand the tel
rIble thing that has happened, The boy
must be an IDIOT
There. there" cried the OLD macon
"A little patience, Baptiste; my Canoya
is no . col
"No matter, grandfather" said CanOva,
loot w at Pisano with the air Of
Prince addressing a King. lit was calF
for his own sake that | spoke. What is it
TO me. l intended to provide him with
new centrc-piece; if he does not want it,
so much the worse for him. I'll go home"
And be turned away.
'Stop, CanOya,@ cried his grandfather.
"Baptiste. you would do wrong to despise
the child. He is a genius, that boy, and
what he SAYS he can do, he can, | assure
you. You should see the beautiful Orna-
ment he made for our table on his grand
mothers birthday"
do YOU say 50? That puts a different
color to his request" said Baptiste.
"COme. Canova."
NO" said the boy, proudly.
''Yes, Yes, yes. We know you have
genius, but in excitement one fOrgets,"
said Bdptiste. Come, CanOva. You
seem to have an idea"
ITO be sure!1 cried another of the
group. He Is a genius. He has made
the l0velicSt little shrine for my wax Ma
donna and child, and a rose you will think
has grown cut of marble. My lady uses
-
Gomez
Little Cdn0va relented.
CAS- you pease,' he said. cOldly. "Mv
plans are already formed. l only wish to
see the dimensions the work should be-
Then the child of twelve advanced at
the head OF the train Of servants to the
banquet hail, considered the situation for
moment and returned to the kitchen,
who. raannt'- .,"nn tine great fable he
cried, " ith the air Of General, Bring
me all the butter YOU can findW
And as they obeyed his command he set
to work with wooden butter spoons and
stirring sticks for his only tools.
Before the centre-piece was needed he
had completed large and beautiful lion,
with noble countenance and splendid
name; lis figure, its pose, so true to ma
ture as To astOnish the servants who
crowded about il, and who, being Italians,
knew more Of art than they could had
they been of any other natiO1; for Italy
has always been a land Of artists, and the
poorest may visit at Will grand galleries
of paintings and statuaTy. The little
street bows of Rome or Florence respect a
great picture OF a fine statue, it is said,
and have never been known to injure
either. These servants were not the
worst judges in the world, and when they
applauded it was safe to say their mas
tiers would applaud too.
Little CauOva's beautiful, pale-yellOw
butter lion made a grand sensation
among the guests.
Inquring. they learned that it was the
delicate child, PisanO's pretty grandson,
who executed the figure.
They sent for him, and delighted him
with praises and applause. Moreover,
Giovanni Falieri took him specially under
his protection and placed him Win sivov
sculptor OF the day, whom he soon out
rivaled. Doubtless the butter Hon melted
away before many days and ended its eX-
istence in the fat-kettle or frying-pan,
but the little CauOva arose from that
small beginning to be the great sculptor
of whose fame all who know anything of
art must have heard. Among his patrons
were the King Of England and the En-
perOr Of France. In fact, no sculptor
ever had greater worldly success than
the stOne-mason's little grandson who
made the butter lion for the banquet table