The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-20

The following notice from the Italian
Gazette. a Florence Italy newspaper,
concerns the artistic work Of Sir. VIII
liam Couper late Of Norfolk. Va. Mr..
Couner IS o. son of Dir. John u. Copper,
OF Norfolk. and has been working abroad
for some years with very marked sue
cess. as evidenced 10y the complimentary
illusions 10 him IN the newspaper notice.
4 few weeks ago Mr. Thomas Ban,
with his son-in-law. Mr. William Copper.
exhibited the rich harvest Of their past
years work la sculpture lu their studios IN
Via Dante dc CastS ionc. The series or
rooms forming the ground floor Of the
villa aye filled with treasures In marble
the work OF either artist. not only OF the
past year. but many specimens OF that
OF ytara gone by. Amongst them arc the
models OF the great bronze and ma4Dle
monument % Washington for Methueh,
hear Boston. Mass. This Is the work oil
Thomas Ball The colossal bronze hsulc
OF Washington viii stand upon Canoya
marble pedestal FIFTY feet nigh ~ all
The base is % have four seated nSures
I'm bronze. representing Oppression, Re
bellion, Peace. and the embleMduc en-
cinnatUs, who left the plough Tor the
Senate, ana again the Senate for the
plough
Between the figures are bronze trophies
of rsgs. with tho American eagle; above
arc placed in inches in the marble ped
estal four busts IN bronze. or these.
Lafayette and Abraham Lincoln are es-
pecially line. The composition Is very
effective and harmonious Of color ana
design The groups OF has5 about the
base are finely designed with symbolic
intention by Alr. Copper, and include
some standards less known 10 the average
European than the famous Star-Spangied
BANNER. Alr Copper has draped them
with 90 quiet original grace, making the
Union ane nolacl and include the others
without hiding th'm. Mr.. Copper tells
an amusing aAecl0te of the first stage
of this monument How one day. when
engaged uf Do the anatomy of the colossal
form OF a.amgton. before the draDery
had been added 90 the nude model in
clay an inudVerfDnt come iu," addressed,
as DE thought. o. an assistant produced
the entrance or "a stranger into the studio.
Taken unaware the sculptor, nevcrthe-
lesg ailowed the stranger 10 inspect the
model and answered the question concern
Ing IL put by the apparently awe-struck
stranger. The latter at length said:
well, SIR, It's a very fine figure but !
guess 1t won't 80 down IN the states.
NOW don't you think yourself, sir, it's
playing 80 low on Washington TO set
him up Ike that In public?' We need
scarcely add that explanations followed.
and the strangers perturbation was re-
leved
TWO interesting busts. respectively
Of gentlemen well known IN Florence.
Mr. Reynolds and Or. Baldwin were
particularly attractive as showing the
contrast of character IN Two strongly
Individual heads. ana the sculptor's strong
grasp Of suIeni traits and fine nuances
OF fern which the mind 80 surely caryes
upon each human head for those Who,
ike the artist are born with seeing eyes,
TO interpret the inner man.
Amongst the work showing Mr.. Couper's
fine feeling Tor beauty are SOME portrait
heads Ia very slight relief, work requir-
ing the utmost delicacy OF drawing.