The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-03-08
PAUL AkeRs' FAMOUS WORK.
The "Desd Pearl Diver" Finds = PUG.
chaser In Portland. Me.

The "Dssd Pearl Diver" Finds PUG.
chaser In Portland. Me.
Readers OF 'The Marble Faun" will
remember the studio of the american
sculptor Kenyon" in Rome, and two
pieces of statuary therein favored with
especial notice by Hawthorne, The
sculptor Kenyon" was Paul Akers.
We know this because Akers occupied
at that time the studio which cad been
Canova's--t self same studio in
which Kenyon" wrought because
the description Of his features firmly
cut, as if already marble, an ideal
forehead, deeply set eyes and mouth
much hidden in light brown beard"
applies TO Akers; and, finally, because
in the preface 10 the MARBLE Faun"
Hawthorne says that the American
artist of his romance is none other
than Names gifted sculptor. In that
studio there were two pieces of Akers'
work that strongly attracted Haw-
thorne One was the marble bust of
Milton, which is now in the library at
Colby university; the other was the
dead Pearl Diver" of which the
miriam" of the Marble Faun" says
in words that embody the criticism Of
Hawthorne himself: ~ like this
statue though it is too cold and stern
in its moral lesson, and physically, the
form has not settled itself into suffa-
cient repose.
''The Pearl Diver" was modelled in
Italy in 1857, and cut in marble the
next year. Akers died in 1861, when
only IS years Of age, leaving accom-
plished great work, which seems
small, however, beside the lavish
promises of his genius. The Dead
Pearl Diver" was carried to New York
by Akers, and there became one of the
chief attractions of the exhibition at
the Dusseldorf gallery. When that
exhibition was broken up the Pearl
Diver" with other fine spoils of the
collection. was taken to the Academy
of Fine Arts in Buffalo, N. Y.
The academy could not afford to buy
it, but it was allowed to remain there,
where it was admired by all who saw
it. Governor Israel Washburn was
very anxious to have it purchased and
brought to Maine, but gave up the
because there was no So
ciety with facilities for caring for it.
When the Society of Art was formed
in Portland, however, Mrs. Elizabeth
Akers Allen thought the time suitable
for having the statue placed in the
city, which, before all other cities,
should remember the work of Paul
Akers.
The real value of the statue, as the
sculptor would compute it, was some
thing like $4,000. Mrs. Allen, how
ever, was willing that it should 60 to
Portland for price as low as would
be proper for such a work of art. So
she fixed the price at S., 600, and then
offered to contribute herself $4,000 to-
ward the sum needed. The offer was
promptly made known to prominent
citizens of Portland, who responded
readily and literally with the funds
needed to complete the sum of S., 900.
The money has been paid over and the
statue has arrived at Portland.
The figure tells its story at the first
glance. Stretched on the worn rock,
at the bottom of the sea lies the diver,
Tapped in the soft slumber Of death
and rocked gently, one feels, by the
multitudinous waves.
The arms are thrown carelessly
above the head, one hand buried in
the floating mass of long, dark hair.
The net partly filled with pearl bear
ing shells, which he will never bear
TO the upper world, is still attached to
The divers waist. The bright young
face is turned upward. but the half
closed eyelids are weighted with eter-
nal sleep. There is nothing repulsive
n the little figure or in the expression
If the delicate features. 1t is death
n its most peaceful form. Lewiston
.Me) Journal.
Convicted by Piece of Bread.