Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-05-21
VALENTINES HOMeRlC GROUP.
Its Exhibition ut Chicago aud tho Impres.
sion IL Makes.

The Chicago Inter Ocean, referring to
Valentines Homeric Group. which, with
his Blind Girl. Is now in the Virginia build
ing ct the Chicago Exposition. says:
Edward Y. Valentine. tho distinguished
sculptor of Virginia. has brought to the
Exposition one of the most remarkable
groups OF modern times. Indeed, its mo-
dcrnlty might almost be doubted were it
not for Its distinct, human interest.
Tie marble was suggested by the part
ing Of Hector and Andromache, as related
by Homer III the sixth book of Had, when
the wife returns to her cares IN obedience
to HectOr's words:
"But now returning homo thy works attend
Tho loom and distaf ana direct thy maids
In household duties. While the war shall be
OF mon tho care; Of all indeed but most
The caro- Of me, of all In lion born
Andromache Is the pearl Of classic htera-
ture. the daughter of king. and Hector
wife Poets and painters have dwelt upon
her virtues and her tenderness, but no.
where mas the fact been more fully proved
that "it was Homer who gave laws to the
artist" than it is IN the most exquisite
marble group by Mr.. Valentine.
The sculptor's conception Is both beau
tiful and original. and has been nobly de-
veloped.
The group is about five feet high. An
dromache il seated with head slightly
bowed. turned TO the right. The hair is
bound by simple fllet. The exquisitely
modelled right arm hangs listlessly
at the side, tho hand partly closed
and the wrist touching an OWL
headed vase which stands on a low
pedestal, and is half concealed by
drapery. The left hand clasps. with the
protecting instincts of motherhood. the
little son. Astyanax, who Is seated on a
stool which Is covered with lion skin
emblem of royalty-the head of the king
of beasts serving to support one of the
feet OF the child. The left foot of
Andromache rests upon footstool-
the knee. little swayed to one
side and the entire pose one
of self-forgetfulness and relaxation. On
her lap is the distaff and over her hand
hangs the thread. symbol of human life,
which is about To be cut by liZard-em-
blem OF death-that is creeping from the
drapery about the vase. The child, happy
and full OF giee, plays with the svastika, o
jewelled talismsn upon his mothers neck
lace.
The face of the woman is one to call out
compassion and admiration, it Is so
entine has succeeded in knitting
the art of the past with that of the
present bv the thread of sympathy. The
marble princess was q woman. strong in
suffering and kindred through her love
and sorrow to tho women of TO-DAY. The
expression is one of dark forebo6ings
Already she feels herself widowed from
her lord by the blow from Achilles. and
upon her features is the majesty of woe.
The accessories of jewels and the owl
headed vase make the work historically
correct, as the models were taken by DR..
Scnliemann from what he believes to be
the site of ancient Troy. The lines of
drapery are soft. and the treatment of diff
ferept materials attests close study of
technical detail.
The statue graces the reception-room
of Mount Vernon. the State building of
Virginia. and is magnificent tribute from
the cultured South to the. Worlds Column
ban Exposition.