The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-04
..THE TEMPTATION OF EVE"
Statuary for which A. II. Stewart
Paid $4,000 Now in TeIfair Gallery

Paid $4,000 Now in TeIfair Gallery
The fact that one of the most celebrated
works of art ever seen in Savannah is now
on exhibition at the Teifair Academy is
probably not generally known TO the
friends of that institution and the public
generally. Yet such is the fact. The
work is now the property of citizen Of
Savannah and is loaned to the Academy
for exhibition purposes.
Some month ago Mr.. 5. p. Shelter, while
in New York learned Of the sale OF the
collection n art works Of the late Judge
Hilton, which were formerly part Of the
estate of A. T. Stewart. the New York
merchant prince. The Hilton collection,
while containing number OF valuable
works was not a noted collection and was
not largely attended by art buyers. MI
Shotter. however, was fortunate enough TO
be present and was fortunate enough 20
obtain several valuable works az mucn
less than their real value. Chief among
these was the figure which now occupies
the most prominent position in the main
hallway of the Teifair Academy leading
from the gallery of paintings.
The figure is The Temptation OF Eve,
one of the most celebrated Of the works
of Hiram Powers, Americas greatest
sculptor. Powers Greek Slave" is known
not only to every lover of art, but almost
States and especially 10 every reader Of
the illustrated papers and magazines
Others Of Powers works which are al
most equally well known to sculptors and
art lovers, are but little known to the
general public. One of these is the
Temptation Of Eve"
How is il regarded. by artists may be
judged from the criticism Of Thorwaldsen,
the great Danish sculptor, WHO said of it,
1T is good enough to be anybodys mas
terpiece" That this view was not shared
by sculptors alone, is evident from the
fact that A. r, Stewart paid 600 for this
piece of statuary, which now stands in
Savannah's Academy. Subsequently, Pow
ers produced another figure upon the same
idea, representing Eve after the tempta-
ton, which he called Paradise Lost
This was purchased by a gentleman of
Brooklyn named Morgan, for $4,000. Mr..
Morgan subsequently failed in business,
and A. 7. Stewart purchased this work
also. 1t was disposed of at the recent sale
of the Hilton collection, but fell into other
hands than MIR. Shelters.
Some time ago Mr. Shotter brought his
purchase to Savannah and Mr. Carl l..
Brandt, director of the Academy. whose
alertness in everything pertaining TO the
interests of the Academy, is well known,
prevailed upon him TO allow ii to be plac-
ed on exhibition there. The statuary vas
recently placed in the Academy and from
its prominent position is the first and
most striking feature to attract the eye OF
the visitor.
The figure is mounted upon a stained
marble pedestal and is about feet 10
inches in hight but so perfect in proper
ton that it appears somewhat less. Be
ing a representation of Eve before yielding
to temptation the figure is naturally that
of the mother of mankind in naked SIM
plicity and beauty. The purity of outline
Al,
the visitor is at once impressed with the
beauty of the figure. In many respects it
compares favorably with the wonderful
copies of ancient Greek sculpture exhibit
ed in the hall of statuary just below where
the figure stands, and it is beyond question
one of the best specimens of modern sculp-
ture.
Eve is represented as standing with the
weight thrown upon the right foot, the
left foot partly raised and resting upon
the toes. She is glancing downward, deep
in thought, toward the apple which she
holds in her right hand, while in her left
are two apples with the leaves still cling
ing 10 the broken twig. Just to the right
and slightly to the rear is a small broken
tree trunk which serves as a partial sup
port TO the figure. Around this the ser
pent is coiled, with his evil head raised,
whispering dire advice, freighted with
woe for all who were to come after her
WnOm ne tempted Inc serpent ; DOuy Is
only partially wound around the ivy
twined trunk, the lower half of the body
being partly hidden in the leaves and
vines at the womans feet.
The perfection of the artists work is
seen not only in the beauty of outline and
proportion but in the evident attention to
every minute detail. This is indicated by
the crimp in the toes of the slightly raised
left foot, by the delicate tracery of the
veins of the ivy leaves, and by the perfect
imitation of the scales of the serpent, of
which there must be several thousand, all
i'm perfect symmetry and varying in size
with the size of the serpent's body. There
are other details which will strike the at
tention of the art student, and especially
those who have studied sculpture of a
high class
Mr.. Brandt is especially well pleased
with having secured this beautiful figure
for the academy. If only temporarily, and
he has reason to hope that its stay may be
a lenthy one. Though a beautiful work
of art, the figure is of kind more suited
10 pubic art gallery that private res
idence. and the hope has been expressed
that MIR. Shotter may be brought to view
the matter in the same light.