The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-19
SOUTHERN ARTISTS
AND THEIR WORK
The Earliest Southern Sculptor
Was Joel I. Hart, Of
Kentucky.

Tho art instinct OF most nations has
found expression in sculpture earlier than
in painting. as we see in the case of the
ancient Egyptians and Assyrians anti
many other nations, both ancient and
modern. but in our country the reverse
has proved the case. America had pro-
duced quite a number of creditabie por-
trait and figure planters and even few
Of real genius before the plastic art be-
came sufficiently developed amongst US
to be dignified with the name OF sculp-
ture.
1 believe the earliest Southern sculptor
was Joel T. Hart. OF Kentucky dS1O-s5o
a self-made man. He first earned his
livelihood by chimney building and after
wards in a stone-cutter's yard He be-
gan to model in clay. and his iikenesscS
soon attracted attention, as they weresre-
markably truthful and lifelike. Amongst
his portrait busts are those of Jackson.
Taylor and Governor Crittenden, all char
acteristic and truthful lkenesses.
His statue of Henry Clay Is in Louis
vile. Kentucky. and is considered very
faithful likeness OF 1.-The mill boy OF the
sashes." In ideal work. like Angelina
and the graceful woman trlumpnant,
he shows delicate and refined fancy.
Considering the almost total lack OF an
art atmosphere in old Virginia, it seems
remarkable that this State should have
produced several fine sculptors even In
ants-bellum days. to say nothing OF
Valentine and Ezekiel, VINO have achieved
fame since the war.
Amongst virginias earliest scuIptors
was William r. Barbee. native OF Rock
ingham, W. Va He moved. however.
to Page, the adjacent county. became
lawyer and was made Commonwealth.s
attorney OF Luray, Page county. He
began to develop such q turn for sculp-
ture that his friends advised him to drop
the profession OF law and adopt the form
er calling. He went to tIorence. Italy.
to study. sometime between 1sc2-1s6U. ann
whilst there executed his famous statue
of THE Coquette.'' This statue was
bought by Mr.. John G. Meem. OF sVir-
GINA and given by him TO his son. Gem
eral. Meem. OF Mount Airy, and Is now
in possession OF a daughter OF the latter
in Lynchburg. Va. The other statue on
which Barbees fame chiefly rested was
1.-THE Fisher Girl which belonged 20
Mrs. A. T. Stewart
rupted the exercise OF Baroee's PROBES
sion and then disease developed itself
which cut short his life. when he had
scarcely attained middle age. But he
talent to his son. Herbert Barnea VINO
has made sculpture his professions land
who has recently returned from Florence
after pursuing , his ,, studies there as his
the Fisher Girl, made by htrnseir.9 W a.
liam Barbee also had a brother VINO MAD
a marked talent for sculpture. but Il
took weird turn as he devoted himself
entirely to carving snakes. which NJ 7ta1
in fearfully realistic manner This. Z
believe, was for his own amusement, as
he did not become professional scutp-
tor.
Edward yrginius Valentine was nam
father being merchant OF that city. He
went to Europe in 1853, studied first with
Couture at Paris. then at Florence with
a gsT a andef she Psns 5oue
so he returned to this country thoroushly
equipped for the exercise of his calling.
He found that the Civil War had provid-
ed him :, with III plenty en- OF heroic snp5eSes
sipally devoted himself. HIS lee ekeeum-
bent. was executed for the mausoteum
attached to the chapel Of the Washing
ton and Lee University. Lexington. Va.
time at Lexington. modelling a bust OF
Lee. he was very We'll fitted for the task
of preparing statue of him. The hy--
stander looking on this noble recunnbent
figure. involuntarily recalls Wolfe's benu-
tiful lines on the burial OF Sir John
Moore
With his martial cloak around him. =
The State OF Kentucky ordered OF Vaf-.
entine a. bronze heroic statue Of General
John G. Breckinr1dSe. which was erect
ed at Lexington KY in 1857;
He has also executed a statue OF Stone
wall Jackson for the Jackson Memorial
Association. He has likewise produced
portrait busts OF Beauregard. J.. e. b.
Stuart. Jackson and other Confederate
celebrities.
himself to sculprurtng real personageS
but he has produced several ideal figs
ures and groups. the most noted being
Andromache and Astyanax.
Cuban Cabinet Member Resigns
(By Associated Press.)
HAVANA. August Lat \ meeting oe
council Of Secretaries today Hnelio
Terry, Secretary OF Agriculture, presents