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PRUSSIA. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS, ARCHITECTURE.—AWARDS. [Class XXX.
the Prince of Wales. Though it belongs properly toClass XXIII., and has received a Council Medal from theJury of that class, it is so exquisitely wrought, and thedesign is of so high an order of art, that I feel myselfcompelled to offer a few remarks on it here. In the exe-cution of this work the talents of several most distin-guished artists have been most felicitously combined.The architectural portion of the design is due to thePrivy Councillor and Director of Architecture, Stiller.All the groups of figures are modelled from drawings byCornelius, whose rich and fertile genius has here ex-pressed in truly artistic language the cardinal idea of theChristian Faith, and happily combined with this principalmotive an allusion to the immediate purpose for whichthe shield was executed.
The designs were modelled in low relief by the sculptor,A. Fischer, in a most masterly manner, and with a trueperception of the principles of Plastic Art . The reliefswere then moulded, and the casts from them finallychased and tooled with consummate skill, by the engraver,A. Mertens.
The figures of the twelve Apostles, which are from thedesigns of Cornelius, were beautifully cut in onyx by thedistinguished gem-engraver, Calandrelli, who has longresided in Berlin ; the fine enamels and ornamental workare executed by Klossauer, jeweller to the Prussian Court.The Council Medal awarded to this shield is presented toHis Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, as its Exhibitor(p. IBM.
.1. Wagner and Sons (840, p. 1006), jewellers to theCourt of Berlin . An ornamental piece of plate to serveas a fruit-dish in silver embossed work. This, like thepreceding work, belongs in strictness to (.’lass XXIII., inwhich it has received the Council Medal. I cannot,however, pass over in silence a work which shows towhat perfection this class of art lias been brought by thesilversmiths of Berlin . In the whole design there isgreat beauty of form, and much invention is displayedin the subjects with which it is decorated. These re-present the successive stages iu the development ofcivilization.
The first scene represents the simple characteristics ofthat primeval age which is still engrossed in supplyingthe mere physical necessaries of life, when hunting, fish-ing, and the tending of flocks and herds, are the only joccupations of man. This forms the pedestal of the vase; .round the columns a more advanced civilization is repre-sented bv figures, with the symbols of tillage, horticulture,aud the* vintage. In the reliefs upon the body of thevase, which are still unfinished, we have the characteristicsof a still higher stage of social refinement; mining, com-merce, navigation, and the arts and sciences generally,are here represented figuratively.
As the apex of the whole composition, we have thegenius of light overcoming a snake, designed to symbolizethe highest form of civilization, when man has arrived atthe government of those worst enemies, his own passions.Both the detached figures and the groups in relief whichdevelope this train of ideas are disposed with admirablejudgment about the vase ; they are also executed withgreat knowledge, and a masterly finish of detail.
In the fruit, flowers, and foliage, which form thesubordinate ornaments, the combination of a close imita-tion of nature with a very good style, deserves the greatestpraise. It may, however, be noticed as a defect, thatthe mass of the figure of the genius is somewhat toolarge, and that his wings appear ill set on, as if notoriginally united to his body. It is to be regrettedthat another Berlin artist, equally distinguished for hisembossed work, M. Xetto, contributed nothing to theExhibition.
Julius Franz. (1, Zollverein , 293, p. 1066). TwoVictories modelled by this artist, from the figures byRauch, on a reduced scale, of about two feet in height,cast in bronze, and tooled by Fischer. These works areremarkable for the scrupulous accuracy of their exe-cution.
J. Bernhard Afinger. Four medallion portraits castin bronze by this artist deserve praise for the truth of thegeneral conception ; but the execution, though always
careful, is occasionally somewhat feeble, and the treat-ment too picturesque. Honourable Mentiou. (No. 309,p. 1067.)
( b .) Medals.
K. Fischer, Medallist of Berlin , exhibits nine medals.In the design of these, botli obverse and reverse, goodtaste and feeling for nature are combined with correctnessof style in the treatment of low relief, and a very carefuland conscientious method of execution.
The medal struck in honour of Alexander von Hum-boldt , as the author of Cosmos, is specially worthy ofmention. Prize Medal. (No. 281, p. 1064.)
C. Pfeuffkr. Chief Medallist to the Court of Berlin ,exhibits 22 medals. These show a very careful execution,but the overcharged character of the forms, which aresometimes too full and heavy, is at variance with the truelaws of this branch of art. Honourable Mention. (No.286, p. 106C.)
The works exhibited by the Royal Iron Foundry ofBerlin fall under Class XXII., and have there beenrewarded with a Council Medal; they belong, however,so completely to the Province of Art that they deservesome notice here. The admirable taste shown in theornaments of these works, and the good style of thesculptures, prove the extensive and abiding influence ofthe immortal Schinkel in this establishment. Among theworks which specially deserve notice are, a large vaseinlaid with silver and ornamented with a design by Hesse,chief architect of the Palace, after Thorwaldsen ’s T riumphof Alexander, and two stands ornamented in a similarstyle with small groups. (No. 271, p. 1064.)
B. Graphic Representations on Plane Surfaces.
Designs for Tapestry.
This kind of work has been more extensively practisedand brought to a greater perfection in Berlin than in anvother place. Among the different designs of this class,those of M. Griinthal deserve special notice for theirgeneral good taste. Honourable Mention. (No. 166,p, 1057.)
Lithochromy.
'VVinckf.lmanx and Sons, Berlin . The specimens ofLithochromy exhibited by these artists are among themost perfect that have been produced. By the employ-ment of a number of stones for the same impression, agreat variety of tints has been obtained, so that the mostcomplicated objects, and particularly architectural orna-ments, can be represented with all that refinement ofgradation which they present in a perspective view. Themost remarkable specimens are the views of the Castle ofOrianda, designed by Schinkel for the Emperor of Russia ,and several of the Plates in a magnificent work onArchitectural decoration, by M. Lewis Gruner, of London .Considering the excellence of these lithochromes, theirprice is proportionately moderate, which is an additionalmerit. Prize Medal. (No. 306, p. 1067.)
C. Architecture.
Jlludels.
J. C. Boesche, of Magdeburg . A model of the Cathe-dral at Magdeburg , of considerable dimensions ; also amodel of the beautiful fountain at Nuremburg . Theseworks are accurate in their general proportions, and thedetails are faithfully and carefully worked out. A modelfor another fountain is very neatly executed, and thedesign is prettv and original. Prize Medal. (No. 785,p. 1094.)
To this artist the Jury have also made a money awardof 30/. sterling.
A. Sculpture and Works of Plastic Art.
1. Sculpture on a large Scale.
The Munich school of sculpture owes its importance toScuwantiialkr, whose untimely death in the flower ofhis years we have to deplore. The number of highlyimaginative designs which the fertile invention of this