The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-14
MODERN ART in ITALY
The Splendid Exhibit Of William Copper, a
Talented Son Of Norfolk.
INTERESTING ExAMPLESO OF EARLY WORK
His Studio In the Via Dante Casti.
glionc-Eull of Treasures I'm Mar
fnEfon-A Description OF Some
OF Couper's Works.

The italian Gazette. Of Florence. in Its
issue of April 25th, devotes column or
moro to description of the studio and
works of William Copper, an honored
SON of Norfolk. who has been making
fame for himself and the city of his
birth during his years of residence in
Italy. The many friends of Mr.. Copper
will read with pleasure the article which
we present below from the Italian Ga
zette. and will rejoice at the splendid
| success that has attended the efforts and
labors of their distinguished citizen.
Says the Gazette:
A few weeks ago Mr. Thomas Ball,
with his son-in-law. Mr.. William Copper.
exhibited tho rich harvest of their past
years work in sculptor, at their studios
| In Via Dante Castiglione.
The series OF rooms forming the ground
floor of the villa are filed with treasures
In marble, the work of either artist, not
only of the past year, but many speci-
mems of that of years gone by. amongst
which are some interesting examples OF
early work. and of the most recent viz. :
| the modest of the great bronze and mar
BILE monument to Washington. destined
| to be set up in Methuen. near Boston,
America, and now being executed at
Carrara. This Is the work of the vet
eran Thomas Ball and promises to fully
sustain ms nlSn reputation. me cOlOS-
sal bronze figure of Washington will
stand upon CarIara MARRIED pedestal,
fifty feet high in all The base of the
pedestal is to have four seated figures
i'm bronhe. representing Oppression, Re-
bellion, Peace and the emblematic Gin
cinnatus, the Roman of heroic memory.
who left the plough for the Senate, and
again, the Senate, when his worl; was
done, for the plough. Between the figures
are bronze trophies of flags with the
American Eagle; above are placed in
inches In the marble pedestal, the bustS
in bronze OF four generals on Washing
tons staff. or these Lafayette and Alb
raham Lincoln are especially fine por-
traits. The composition is very effective,
the repetition of bronze masses in the
flags and busts between the principal
figures and the STAFF itself connect the
same AMI brings them into harmonious
Whole Of color and design. individually,
the ideal figures are grand looking forms,
emnenuy suitable TO their mission of
repr asenting the Ideal elements opposed
to innate in Washington's genius.
The groups of flags about the base are
finely designed with some symbolic in
tentlon by Mr.. Copper, and include some
standards less known to the average
European than the famous 9tar-spangled
banner One is adorned with new
| moon and was designed by the young Re
public to typfy the dawn of a New Era.
the New Continent: that these be seen
as the standards of the Republic, and yet
he shown to be superseded In general
use by the flag with the thirteen stars
Of the thirteen united free States uhc
one denotins Washington State having a
glory of light about it In compliment to
the hero after whom 1t was named), Mr..
Couper has draped them with u quite
| original grace, making the union flag
embrace and include the others without
hiding them.
The bronze portions of the monument
arc to be east ut celebrated Munich
foundry, not that CALI of Florence could
not do them as well, but because the
American millionaire who commissions
the statue Tor gift to his native city,
expressly stipulated that this shoull be
the case.
Mr.. Copper tells an amusing anecdote
of the first stage Of this monument How
one day, when engaged upon the anato-
my OF tho colossal form of Washington,
before drapery had been added to the
nude model in clay. an inadvertent
come in addressed, as he thought TO
an assistant. procured the entrance of
Il stranger into the studio. Taken I'M
awareS, the sculptor nevertheless allow
ed the stranger 10 inspect the model,
and answered the questions concerning
II put by the apparently awe-struck
stranger. The latter at length said
Waal. sir. it's Il very fine figure, but
guess it won't go down in the States.
Now don't you think yourself, sir it's
playing il low OH Washington TO set him
up like that In public? We need scarcely
add that explanations followed and the
strangers perturbation was relieved.
Mr.. Copper is now working upon an
ideal figure OF lady flying ii hawk,
which. TO Judge from the small sketch
model, will be Il work combining viva
city and grace OF swift motion. with
dignity of conception and simplicity of
execution. TWO interesting busts re-
spectively, of gentlemen well known in
Florence. Mr.. Reynolds and DR.. Bald
win. were particularly attractive as
showing the contrast of character in the
two strongly individual heads. and the
sculptors strong grasp of salient traits
OF fine nuances of form which the mind
so surely carves upon each human head
for those, who, like the artist, are born
with seeing eyes. to interpret the inner
man.
Amongst III" work showing Mr. Com
pers fine feeling for beauty are some
portrait heads in very light relief worI;
requiring the utmost deIicacy of draw
ing. and Il very lovely statue This is a
seated female figure of singular charm
| engaged in twining an olive wreath I'm
an attitude at once realistic and COM
posed with most natural grace, whilst
thoroughly original in pose and idea.
Greek maid before the Olympian games.
who shall say what dreams of the vic
tor, what hopes and fears and PRAYERS
of success are inwoven with the green
leaves of fame!
1t Is interesting to note the early worl,
81 the sculptor In Tennyson's Princess.
the head OF stately maiden executed