Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1910-01-21
tt.x.,,a axeee4ah
nor dtlt vi = NJ = y


Among the studies Il living artists
the most attractive. naturally, 10 an
American. are those Of ms fellow eoun-
tfxmen- Nor do they need national
psrtiailly To make them attractive
The first American who gained re-
uatatIon ia the ssseres1 of the Fine
Arts was Hofstlo afeenongh For
some years he Was the only sculptor
we had, and "worthily did he lead the
van In the field where triumphs await
ed ns. -
This quotation, from the essay OF
Henry I. Tuckerman, written In lsbs,
soon after oreenonghls death, express
es the estimate OF a contemporary; as
We have passed the hundredth ami
vefsafy Of the sculptor. = birth, II Is In
teTesting for us la review his life and
achievements through our heightened
perspective. That his life Was spent In
unfemiiling effort, and that effort most
rich In its results, there can be no
doubt.
The World OF Art gained permanent
inspiration through his personality,
aad acquitted masterpieces OF ststusfy
through his talent. 1t Is not Of the
first Importance 10 know when such
men ~ lac afe born, Of when they die
Thelf achievements identify them with
all Tine. and not iniIrquensly they are
e,ssi UNDERSTOOD aud appreciated by
later generations.
Some Of his early bits 4 carving and
moulding are stu taexistencc-a heat
Of plaster lakru ffam Roman cosn
and very ,tefi &, carr cd With Pcnkailc
AMI shingle = at. a miniature figure Of
William Penn cut IN chalk, from an
engraving OF his statue. a pistol deli
ealely ofnamenied With flowers IN
lead. and cartridges motded IN wax !
At the age 81 SIXTEEN We dnd him
entering Har> afa college, strong
Yaung man. u athletic abilities, aItfae-
ti7r IN mannvr and appearance, aud
to3ahte III disposition Al this period
ho neeame acquainted With Washing
Ion Atlslen. cur eminent painter, and
hencefotth they @efe bound together
hN their kinship ot sNmpalhies LonE
auerw atds cfvenou1h Wrote "a note
10 AIlston's itte might tell All OF me
that Is essential.
Ne must remember that artists wefv
few IN the years " hen this Young maa
as dediealing himself 10 Sculpture.
Cammcn oial, professional aud political
Afe were the chosen Noeatians which
the Harvard students atseal him wefe
choosing 70 follow, and he seems never
10 HAVE considered any Of them. Apart
from his studies, he did same worthy
work In att, producing bust Of Napo-
leon, and one Of " ashingtoa from stu.
arts portrait, and Others Of his friends
FROM life The entire country BECAME
enthusiastic in preparations for the
erection u monument TO immortal
lac The Battle Of bunker Hlil. Designs
for ii ~ete solicited irom all parts Of
eur country, Young tinenough sci
about constructing enc from wsd--a
simple alchsk, grand In is pFopof-
stans. majestic In lis ealiWtS This
u A. acveplesi ~ the committee, and -
IL eame aeaal that the laF>l important
Wegk frem hls hand wss #eeepged ~
tbs ely where De ~Ss bora aud which
he loved 50 Nell In explanation II
this design he ~rese. The eoelisk has
10 my eye a singular aptitude, In is
form and character, - call astenlion 10
n spot memorable in history II SAYS
but one word, bat il >pesks loud, II /
understand Is yeaee, Il ssss, Here" Ii
says no more. Fof this reason II Was
that Designed an ohellsk Tor Bunker