Year: 1879

JOHN ADAMS JACkSON.


A cable despatch from Florence announces the
death of John Adams Jackson. an eminent American
sculptor long resident in that city. In his youth
ful days Jackson apprenticed to q machinist in
Boston. Even then he began to give indications Of
his future emnenco. Having and admired .
picture of Thomas Buchanan Read. the ''panter
poet" he determined to cut his bust Taking
it home one day from his workshop. gentleman
meeting him, exclaimed in tones of pleased surprise
'That's Tom Read!" After introducing himself he
asked permission to call upon him. and in u few
days did SO. accompanied by his friend Read. both
of whom advised him by all means to go to Italy
He went to Florence through the instrumentality
OF his friends and spent several years hard ut
work. He then returned to New York in 1861 where
he remained nearly four years. He returned to
Florence in 1855, and. having taken a studio near
Mr.. Hart's. has remained since. Among his
most famous works executed at Florence are his
'Eve aud Abel. the "Culprit Fay and DAWN" His
great work in marble is his "Eve and Abel" The


figures OF the group of life size. and modelled with
great and with happy The attitudes
knee upon her LETT she holds the felcss body Of
Abel, his legs turned under and resting the
ground his head hanging over, with hair sweep,
hand resting upon the earth; his right falling
naturally by him. supported by his mothers hand.
His eyes are closed and his mouth partially open;
but the flesh is still full and fresh. denotlng that
the corroding influences have not yet begun to work
The expression of the face is that Of death-the
nothing ghasly or rcpulsive about it. The limbs
and body all indicate by their peculiar positions
and by the relaxed muscles that what we before
us is death. The body Of Eve is bent gently over
the form of her dead and with expression Of
profound grief, mingled with that OF wonder and
alarm she gazes upon the first victim Of
death. She is supporting him upon her
knee. with her LETT arm placed under him.
been wrought she gazes, with fixed eyes and
breathless attention, upon what but short time
before the form OF her The .'Culprit Fay" is
beautiful little statue representing the little fairy,
bound in chains of ivy sprays, as he appeared
before the Court of Fairies, who were trying him
for tho heinous of falling in love with
maiden who, unfortunately for him, was a common
mortal-beings that law and tradition declared to
be incapactated from entering into the matrimonial
state falling in love with any fairy fay what
ever. The culprit weak enough to give way to
the promptings of his too susceptible heart, and
actually INDUCED in moonlight walks with maiden
who beautiful, If she was mortal, and was de-
tected in the very act OF pouring into her willing
the protestations Of his love-. or course the
guilty fellow tried by his woodland court, and
bound. hands before him, he awaits the issue. The
charningly csn modelled. The culprit Stands rest est
ing against stump OF little tree. and.
with his head bending downward. he awaits his
sentence. He feels ashamed. evidently not because
he loved which he would do again. but because he
was caught His face. which is of great beauty. is
expressing all sorts of emotions. Regret shame,
defiance. unconquerable love and determination to
do it again if he happily blended. and give
piquancy and coyness to his face that are rressti
bly, attractive His eyelids dropping and his
finely formed mouth closed. His graceful.
delicate wings are motionless. and his pose
des taes G5 bust of sr ass rpsnns nto
womanhood The face is sweetly fresh and beautiful,
and has a dreamy expression really charming. Tho
hair is handled with great taste and skill, and Is
finished in excellent STYLE bas reief might" is
figure representing Guardian Night flying through
the heavens, bearing in her arms the form Of
infant Day. The attitude is fine and full of motion.
The wings and drapery of the principal figure
graceful and flowing. The idea is highly poetic
one. and is artistically and successfully wrought
out in marble.