The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-13
Something of the Famous
 Sculptures
RARE SPECIMENS OF ART
Examples of Morettl'e Work Have Been Exhibited at All of the Aoad. emles and Have Made
 Great Impressions.
BY ANNIE kENDRlck WALKER.


 signor c. Morettl of New York, the sculptor, who is spending several weeks in Birmingham experimenting the cast Ing of his great statue of Vulcan, has established himself in a studio in a most upfashionable part of the city and blocks away from even the Art Quartier The outside of Signor Morettis present stu dio Is exactly like the outside of the chinese laundry which 1t adjoins with the exception that the studio bears evil dehce of being freshly painted. There is just shade difference in the two colors, and 1t would require an expert to de- tect 1t, and even now people make mis- takes and knock at the studio doors so violently that Pepito Sgnor Morettrs chef, forgets any English that he knows and sends them away in Italian.
 It was very difficult to find a studio that would even meet temporarily the requirements of the sculptor, and not until the present quarters engaged for him underwent an interior transforms tion could they be thought of as at all acceptable to Signor Moretti. The walls, which in plain English were disreputable and in Italian nexpressible, have, in ac- cordance with the tastes of the sculptor been painted an azure blue. The studio is near a suite of apartments divided by thin partitions and scarlet hangings It occupies the entire ground floor and the sculptor uses the front apart ment for his modelling. He has not yet received any of his sculpture from his New York studio.
 Back of this Is the dining room and at the rear, screened off, is Signor Mo retti's little kitchen, where exists pos sibly the only rival in the world of the great sculptor-hs Italian chef, who pos sesses the gentle art of making friends by ingratiating stews and broils.
 The small apartment where Signor Mo retti has his breakfast Is also painted an azure blue, and directly above tho buffet, the sculptor, in order to relieve the dull monotony of the wall, has had a stained glass window put In, while on either side of the buffet arc lanked growing plants and tall calas. The sculptor has number of photographs of his work ornamenting the walls. At one end of the apartment Is the piano, as Slgnor Moretu Is passonately de- voted to music, and possesses a magnif- cent voice.
 The sculptor loves color. He likes flowers and brilliant tropical things. and In a short time he has given an air of comfort, of even luxury to his tempo rary studio in the very heart of the foundry shops of Birmingham.
 Signor Moretti has met a number of Birmingham people and has been enter tained a great deal socially. He is en- tertaining also informally at small luncheons and little dinners and Is So hospitable that Pepito never has the slightest idea whether he Is marketing for one person or a dozen.
 At the head of the little table in his breakfast room Sgnor Moretu chatted recently to a small party of guests, as we slipped Italian claret which he served us himself from a f1eschetta.
 Pepito brought us a delicious soup, a recipe known only to himself and which was given most delicate flavor by the addition of grated cheese, the exact quantity known only to Signor Moretti. Then we had fish. broiled deliciously, and finally Pepito brought a plate of chops. Signor Moretti himself made our salad, and prepared our cheese for the coffee served after Pepito had removed our empty plates. Signor Moretti in common with his countrymen drinks pousse cafe, which Is exactly like our after-dinner coffee with the addition of little cognac. signor Morett also likes a good cigar.
 Morettl at Work.
 Signor Moretti chatting at luncheon and Signor Moretti at work in his studio are two absolutely different persons I watch ed the great sculptor chisiling from block of Alabama marble a bas relief of marvellous delicacy and beauty. Every stroke of the chisel in his large, symme- trical hands lent additional grace and softness. The marble taking so rapidly a symmetry, a delicacy, seemed to glow with feeling. The exquisite contour of the face, the throat the poise of the head. was art itself The only sound breaking the silence in the studio was lhe contact of the chisel with the mar ble, the firm. even strokes as Moretti, ob- livious to all else. worked transforma- lion In the cold marble before him, cold 10 others, but warm. glowing, impression able, a living thing to him.
 Signor Morett Is giant in strength, but 1t Is not his strength alone that mar ble becomes so passive, so yielding to the ,ouch of his chisel. To see him at work is 10 see two forces, the one yielding to