The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-07-17
AGrent sculptor and His Works.


These ladies of Kentucky have ac-
compIisheG most creditable act re-
Gently. II is the purchase of Joel T.
Hart's masterpiece, "Beauty's Tri-
Aumph." Hart is the only great sculp-
tor Kentucky has ever had. Hon.
Edward J. McDermott, of Louisville,
thus describes him:
"His life was beautiful in its simpli-
city and virtue. His heart and mind
we're welded solely 10 his high calling.
His only attn was 10 achieve something
great and to leave behind him an HON
orablc name. The marble was his
chief and best medium for the express
sion of the strong feelings and the ex-
alted ideas in his breast. He hoped
TO speak, through his living works, to
the men and women of future time,
and lived to see assured the fruition of
that bright dream aud trusted main
stay of his long life.
"Mr. Hart was born in Clark county
in 1910, and died in Florence, Italy, in
1877. His remains are now in Florence,
but they will be rem wed to Kentucky,
the Legislature having appropriated
81 900 for that purpose. He went TO
school only three months, but by per.
sistent effort educated himself, and
towards the end of his life was able to
write some creditable poetry. To fit
himself for his art-work he studied
anatomy with success in Pennsylvania
University. He was always frugal,
temperate, laborious, genial and devot-
cd 10 his friends. His figure was q
little above the medium in height and
strength. His features indicated q
strong will and sunny disposition q
full beard covered his face. In early
youth he worked as stonemason, and
at twenty began to carve letters on
Stombstones and to make models III a
marble-yard. In the course of the
next sixteen years he made largo
number of good busts Of such men as
Andrew Jackson, Cassius Clay and
John J. Crittenden. In 1849 he went
to Florence, Italy, to put into marble
his model of. Clay's statue, made for
the "Ladies' Clay Association" Of
Richmond, Virginia. On this model
and statue he worked, with inter
missions, for thirteen years. In 1857
he completed the statue of Clay now
in the courthouse of Louisville. His
other important works are fine copy
of the Venus de Medici, bu.t called
"Penserosa," representing handsome
woman with downcast eyes: the
"Morning-glory," beautiful little girl
holding q morning-glory in one hand
and her scant, fower-filled gown in the
other; on exquisite lady-like hand
and wrist resting OIL an outstretched
glove: o colossal bronze statue of Clay
for New Orleans, and "Bcauty's Trl-
umph." All of these works are great
and will ever be highly esteemed, but
his fame must chiefly rest on the
"Triumph of Beauty" Of this he felt
assured, and with pleasure and conf
dence staked all his need Of praise on
that great work, making it the chief
effort of his genius. the bright dream
and solace ofhis laborious life. |. may
be fairly called o poem in marble"
Mr.. McDermott's memoir OF Hart
was written for the Lexington Memo
rial Association. the President Of which
is Mrs. w. e. P. Breckenridge. Ali
admirers of arr will be afforded an op-
portunity during the continuance of
the Southern Exposition this summer
and fall, at Louisville. Kentucky, to
observe end examine Harris works, as
the management hasarranged to OBJ
tain all Of them. The. group viii be
complete and will be arranged by citi-
zens of Louisville whose taste 10 mat
ters of this kind can not be excelled.
Gen. Jas. A. Ekin, whose distinguished
services in the U. S. army are we'll re-
membered. is Chairman ofthe Art
Committee of the Southern Exposi.
ton. Gen. Ekin has been in charge OF
the Government depot in Jeffersonville
since the war, and possesses the fine
architectural rnd decorative ability so
essential in q successful effort 10 pre-
nare nm ART gallery.