The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-31

metal. 10 we'll worth your time. II is an
attraction which has the more fascination
Tor you the better you are acquainted
with II.
iou would not think II possible for .
msn to make vase in cold. dull bronze in.
which you could always find some new
beauty. no matter how many times you
visited IL, would you? Yet that 10 just
What Gustavs Dore did in this marvellous
creation. The Dors vase 10 called "Le
vin." or "Wine." and IL the apotheosis OF
. tacchanaiian revsl. But no hideous, de-
formed. gluttonous, disgusting god Of vino,
th;s. Instead. all that 10 light. graceful,
poetic and beautiful. The vase stands
some fifteen feet high and weighs about
4,taO pounds. Its shape IL that Of an
Oriental water bottle or caraife, and upon
II are hundreds Of figures from the animal
anst vegetable kingdoms and the world OF
mythology. The vine trails all round,
with flowers and clusters Of grapes. Among
Its shoots and tendrils . horde Of cupids
and nymphs play gay pranks.
Al OF Dore's cupids are brownies in
their love Of fun. Nothing solemn or SEN
sational about them. save that serio-comic
eoiemnity with which Palmer Cox has en-
dased his now famous little men. The
vine 10 in these little cupids. and ideally
ana wiggie about on the face of tho great
vsse like % many beautiful little monkeys.
Here II one hanging by his toes TO bit of
Vine, and the expression on his face IL that
Of brownie about to fall from some emf
nsace. Another 10 helping companion
up difficult ascent, and you can see the
iitae rogue push with all his might. A
third, having reached the summit, leans
frasn the top and beckons his fellows up.
ward. Still another il having . battle
rosal with big beetle, whose two horns
he has boldly grasped.
There are cupids asleep. cupids rolling
stones down upon other cupids, cupids
prsdding lizards with sticks, cupids chas-
ins butterflies. cupsds pouring wine upon
sev heads OF venuses. eup.ds playing hide
ani-seek, cupids in all the vagaries and
varieties of bacchanaiian revel. OF
Course, there arc nude women on this
vase. II would not. be the work of
frsnchman IL there were not. Vepu,es
arr every v here. and such venuscs. One
Is prepared to believe the story that Dore
raasacked Paris for his models, and the
wander Is that he found them, even AT
thst Two figures. to INV mind. form to-
eaSher the piece de resistance of the work.
Stretched out at full length. her back fol-
laeing the curve OF the vase at its thicSes,
paEt, lies q glorious Venus. Her arms are
extended above her head rs far as she can
Teach. In her hands she holds chalice
aHd into this from his perch above sweet
i'sie cupid Is squeezing the Juice from
essneh of luscious grapes. IL is figure To
IL seen. and TO be seen again and again.
While thus ideaiizing wine Dore was
artist enough not 10 forget its sting. A
s'agie venomous serpent. near the base of
tee creation, Is seen insidicusly craving
asaong the revelers toward the summi, OF
the fairy landscape. With this gentle vet
expressive touch-withont surfeit Of hide.
ensness OF trutaiisation--siid the great
sculptor remind us that gay as may be the
Fsvel. roag,sh and prankish the reveler..
beautiful and aiiuring the feminine sievo.
sss,s, rich in color aud mad With abandon
III the bacchan alians. the serpent turks i'm
tia vine and will ultimately victimixe
them all.