Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-14
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IN AVE - - =
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,.,on,ine's classical group--Anaro-
che and Astyansx--as Il isgenera'ly
,sd. is ready for casting, and has been
xbibi,ion at his studio for the past
DAVIS. After years of labor the
1,otOr has laid down his modelling
4 and presented another splendid
forcible a!ps.satior Of the fact that
was Homer who gave laws to the
St" There is no name in classical
nature that is better known or has
n;red more elevated thought than that
sndromache. 1t is star Of soft yet
ost pervasive and constantly reflected
s;.nce. Still there are few such
karscters in classical history, legend,
law that we really know less about.
sen,ial as she is to the poetic integri-
and argument Of both the Had, and
fneid information about Andro-
cte is very meagre. Allusions to
in those two grand productions al
VS. suggest a sad, sweet strain that
o,nes in between the beats Of martial
psie. and is quickly lost to the ear
z !, not 10 the heart. The best of
bolars will be surprised upon self
,miDation TO see how little Of his
], OF Andromache is the result OF
steal reading, and how much Of it is
result Of building upon that read
The facts of her life, if facts
IN can be called, are that she
S "a daughter of Eetion, King of
"A /, roplacian Thebe, married Hector,
En- Of Priam, and became the mother of
"A styanax. She was remarkable for
An domestic virtues and for attach
bent TO her husband. In the division
81 the prisoners by the Greeks, after
Ne taking Of Troy, Andromache fell to
he share Of Pyrrhus, who carried her
"a Epirus, where she became the mother
81 three sons-Moiossus. Pielus, and
Bergamus. Pyrrhus subsequently
Conceded her to Helenus, the brother
bf Hector, who had also been among
4be captiyes Of the Prince. She
ksjgned with Helenus over
BAIT Of Epirus, and By him became
4he mother of Cestrinus." Upon this
basis modern literature has enlarged
and given rein to imagination. Nor
Aas art been slow to utilize the story.
has been fruitful subject
dor illustration by artists-particularly
bainterS. Her parting with Hector has
been an especial theme for the brush,
nrd has received great variety of treat
1nent. One naturally feels that that
|scene contains the greatest wealth of
art suggestion. There is room in Illus
ara;ing it for action, pathos, effective
grouping. and striking contrasts and
accessories. The title Andromache
|and Astyansx is therefore out of
harmony with our impression Of
ahe highest artistic development of
D IIomeric group in which An
|5yomacbe figures. 1t conveys the
of incOmpleteness in .nat l,
would seem to call upon us to dissociate
|Andromache from Hector. However,
thst title is a misnomer, and whether it
'bss been applied to the group by the
Sculptor himself or some Of those who
have written Of it in its unfinished
state. it does Mr.. Valentine an injustice.
|The subject is really " Andromache's
of the Death Of Hector
|snd the key to the story the artist
would have the group tell is found in
:these lines from Munford's translation
|of Homer:
l'ui row, returning home, thy works at
tend
<Ihe loom and distaf. aid direct thy maids
Iln household duties, while the war shall be
ma Ha a - Flf "a
'1He care Of me, OF all in iiion born.
Nj. Valentines conception is beau
|tiful and original one, and has been
|grandly worked out. The group is
|pyramidal, measuring about five feet in
height. The first impression of it as a
whole. is that of exquisite harmony Of
proportion and graceful blending Of
Hines. The influence of the best periods
OF Greek art is manifest at glance.
There is freedom and confidence in
modelling without the severity Of start
ling effect. and refinement without the
|Seusuousness we associate with Scopas
and Praxitiles. But it is only after
study Of the details Of the compost
ton that we grasp the breadth of
the artists conception and appre-
slate his triumph in respect of
grace Of expression. Andromache is
seated, with head slightly bowed,
tuned to the right. The hair is bound
with simple fllet. The right arm-a
superb piece of modelling-hangs list
leSsly at the side, the hand partially
closed, and the wrist touching an owl
beaded vase, which stands upon low
pedestal and is half concealed in dra-
perry. The left arm clasps Astyanax,
VITO is seated in an easy, natural posi-
ton upon a stool, which is covered
with a lions skin-the head serving to
Support one Of the feet Of the child.
The left foot Of Andromache rests upon
a miniature foOtstool, and the right
upon the pedestal proper Of the group,
thus giving the lap an incline from
leit TO right, and showing the con-
tour Of the lower limbs through the
draPery. On the lap Of Andromache
lies the distaf, indicating that she has
al least attemntad N ohav Heetor's