THE INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS.

M/Z

it ^

>> I ;

%ss*.: VAs

fi&M

^C, WrC

mm

.

*v

mm

mm

mm

RfilH

MS

^■Bif

wm

■Miiiln

NB»j

SMss

wm

':® p : ! ;! m

Tiioewaldsen’s Christ and his Apostles is the subjectto which we consecrate this page. This group is ex-hibited by its proprietor, Edward Bech, Esq., DanishConsul for New-York, and has been arranged under thespecial superintendence of Messrs. Carstensen & Gilder-meister, the Architects of the Crystal Palace, and J. T.Elnnewekr, artist of Thorwaldsen’s Museum, Copen-hagen. The statues now exhibited are Thorwaldsen’soriginals, once standing in the Metropolitan Church inCopenhagen, where they were replaced by marble. In theMetropolitan Church they are so placed that the figure ofChrist stands about fifty feet distant from the Apostles,and elevated three or four feet above the altar. Thisarrangement was impossible in the contracted space as-signed to the group in the American Exhibition, andhence the Christ appears unduly gigantic, when broughtinto the same circle with the statues of the Apostles. TheI grouping in our engraving differs from the actual ar-rangement, and has been devised by the designer tobring all the figures of this august assembly within theI limits of the page, while the size of the Christ has beenpurposely reduced to conform to the original intention ofi the artist. It is impossible by any engraving, unless it

i be on a very large scale, to convey any proper notion

! of the impression made by this wonderful group upon

■ the spectator. Christian art has reached, in this immor-

j tal work of Thorwaldsen, its noblest expression. ^ It is un-

\ doubtedly the great artistic feature of the Exhibition, a

[ subject of universal and eternal interest, touching the

: springs of deepest feeling in the human heart. Ancient Art,

while it has left us nothing nobler in execution, neverhandled so sublime a theme. We proceed to enumerate thefigures as they stand in the exhibition, as the characteristicmarks of each will enable the reader at once to recog-nize the corresponding figure in our engraving.

Christ, the arisen Saviour, appears in the midst ofhis assembled Apostles, greeting them with the words,“Peace be unto you.” The expression of the wholefigure is exactly such as meets the most lofty conceptionof his appearance before his “ terrified and affrighted ”disciples, when he said unto them, “ Why are ye troubled,and why do thoughts arise in your hearts ? ” In thebeautiful countenance the artist has reproduced in theirbest form those features which Christian art has handeddown from generation to generation as peculiar to Christ.The hair is parted on the middle of the head, and flowscurling in rich abundance over his shoulders. The breast,the partly elevated hands, and the feet show the scarsof the lance, and the laceration of the nails, convincingeven the incredulous Thomas that it was, indeed, hisLord.

Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles (1st statue on theright of Christ), holds a sword as the symbol of hismartyrdom, while, with his right hand raised to heaven,he appears to exhort his companions to new faith in theirMaster’s service. His countenance bears the expressionof that deep thought which distinguished him as themost learned among the “glorious company of the Apos-tles.” This Apostle is substituted for Judas.

Peter, the first statue on the left of Christ, holds inhis hand the keys of power.

Simon Zelotes (2d statue on the right), holds in hisright hand the saw, in testimony of the mode of hismartyrdom; the left hand resting on the right wrist.

Matthew (2d statue on the left), the publican, withthe emblematic money-bag at his feet, holds a tablet inhis hand, and appears lost in meditation upon the greattheme which, in his office of Evangelist, he is about tocommit to record. An angel, emblem of his evangelicalmission, kneels at his side.

Bartholomew (3d statue on the right), holds in his righthand the knife, emblematic of his death, inflicted accordingto tradition by the orders of Astyages, the Armenian

King.

John (3d statue on the left), raises his face in adora-tion, full of that sweetness of expression which we everassociate with “thebeloved disciple.” By his left side isseated an eagle, the emblem of his angelic mission.

James (4th statue on the right), the brother of John,is about to set out on his apostolic journey. He carriesthe pilgrim’s staff on his right-hand, and on his back thebroad-brimmed hat of the Palmer.

James, son .of Alpheus (4th statue to the left), sup-ports his left-hand on a staff. The right-hand rests onthe left arm. Beneath his flowing locks is Been themild countenance, bearing that resemblance which thisApostle is said to have had to his divine Master

Thomas (5th statue to the right), holds in his lefthand the square, as a symbol of his doubting mind.His right hand supports his head.

Philip (5th statue on the left). This aged Apostle,borne down with cares and years, carries in his right-hand a cross of cane.

Andrew (6th statue to the right), holds in his lefthand a scroll of parchment, bearing on his right arm thecross of his martyrdom. Lastly—

Thaddeus (6th statue to the left), joins his hands in ador-ation. His left arm supports the executioner’s axe, by whichhe bore testimony to his Lord in the death of a martyr.

Of the Apostles, those of St. Peter and St. Paul werealone entirely modelled by Thorwaldsen himself. TheChrist and all the others were modelled from Thorwald-sen’s sketches by his pupils, and only finished by himself.

The St. James was, of all the group, the great Sculp-tor’s favorite.

24