Connecticut western news., 1889-11-13
.FEODOR KAMENSKY.
FIDRIDA's EVERGLADES THE HOME OF A RUSSIAN ARTIST.

HOME OF A RUSSIAN ARTIST. "The First Step" His Greatest and Most
 Celebrated Work.
 E For number of years and until re- gently there lived in comparative ob- sscurity at Clear Water Harbor, Fla, 8 sculptor, whose name-Feodor Kamen- sky-is well-known in European art circles, where score of years ago he was prominent figure, writes cor respondent of the Chicago Tribune.
 The story of Kamensky's life reads like page of romance. He was born in 1886, near St. Petersburg, Russia, and is descended from the Russian mo- bility. At the age of thirteen young Feodor entered the Academy of Fine Arts at St. Petersburg, where he re- mained as a student until 1859. In a competitive exhibition of work done by the students he won the ''grand prize," which gave him the privilege of six years of travel and study at the expense of the Government.
 His first original design was the ''Little Sculptor,", which was highly commended by art critics as strong and realistic. It represents a rustic lad in the simple garb of the peasantry, absorbed and self-forgetful, while working intently on his first model. Alexander IT ordered it reproduced in marble.
 His next importont production was by him entitled s'Thc Widow" It was suggested by the sad scenes which attended the suppression of the in surrection in Poland in 1868. This subject has been enormously styled "A Mother Nursing Her Child" The widowed mother holding her infant child and mournfully contemplating it presents perfect picture of sorrow, blended with the most tender love for her innocent child. The model was sold to the Irnerial Academy of Fine Arts at St. Petersburg.
 But Kamensky's greatest work is en- titled "The First Step." It is grand both in design and execution. The story, written in marble, is simple one. A mother, manifesting all the joy of one supreme moment, guides, then watches her child as, with an ex- precision of exultation and half-ma- tured self-confdence it ventures to take its first step alone. The emotions of mother and child are delineated in manner that is simply inimitable.
 The original of the "First Step'.' was bought by Alexander II, and is now in the art gallery of the Czar'a Winter Palace.
 Referring to an article which ap- peared some months ago in Harper's Magazine entitled "Russian Bronzes," Kamensky said in a recent interview that outside of Russia people in general are not we'll informed in regard to what has been accomplished by Russian artists.
 "Over forty years ago." said he, s'Baron Klodt, who was born in Si- beria in 1905, became famous by cre- atiug groups in bronze and particularly by his life-ikes representation of horses. The four colossal bronze horses which every observing traveller sees at the bridge of Snietchkof in St. Petersburg were modelled by him and reproduced for the King of Prussia, to whom they were presented by Nich- olas I.'
 The story of Kamensky's life in the United States is briefly told. He came to this country in 1870 or little later. His best model that he brought with him was broken in ship ping it. Knowing but little of oul language or customs he failed to ob- tain the recognition here which he merited. For number of years he lived on the frontier in Kansas, and the beautiful designs in clay that he made there were the wonder of his rus tic neighbors.
 Being in strengthened circumstances he could give but little time, however, to his favorite pursuit. After strug. gling for years to secure home he re. solved to seek a more genial cline From Kansas he removed to Clearwate, Harbor, Fla, and with the discerning eye of an artist selected one of the most picturesque places in the State for his home.
 Kamensky has recently been called from his humble home ill Florida te resume his work as sculptor in con nection with the "American School o1 Art" in New York City.
 Johnny Surrounds the Tdea