70(3
DANISH AND AMERICAN SCULPTURE.
[Ci.ass XXX.
These works are of rare excellence in every respect, bothas regards the taste of the patterns and the artistic styleof the execution. Among the most remarkable are achest, worthy to receive the muniments of the proudnobility of Castile, two pairs of pistols, a conteau de chasse,and a sabre. Honourable Mention. (Awarded Prize Medal,Class XXIII.)
The Royal Ordnance Manufactory of Toledo (266,p. 1346) exhibits a number of works inlaid in the samemanner, among which may be particularly noticed adagger. Honourable Mention.
Sculpture on a large Scale.
It was for this country that the great Thorwaldsen embodied his spiritual conceptions in such a number ofmasterpieces of sculpture, and there are not wanting inDenmark at the present day distinguished sculptors whofollow in his footsteps with greater or less success.
J. A. .Tericijau, of Copenhagen (39, p. 1359, and seeIllustration). Group of a Panther and Hunter. Theanimal has fastened on the hunter as he is carrying offone of her cubs; be is about to pierce her with his spear.
This group is full of life, and finely conceived ; theexecution shows great knowledge, and careful minutelabour in the details. It should, however, be noticed thatthe artist has missed the true proportions in the legs ofthe hunter, which are too short.
Another group by the same artist, “ Eve after the Fall,”leaning on the seated figure of Adam, has great merit.Equal praise is due to him for a bas-relief intended toform part of a frieze; a drawing of the whole designgives a very favourable impression of it. Prize Medal.
II. W. Pisses, of Copenhagen (38, p. 1358). A figureof Orestes in rapid movement, and brandishing a sword.In this work the conception is full of life, and the mo-mentary character of the action well rendered; the ex-pression of the countenance is noble, the execution careful.Honourable Mention.
Sculpture on a small Scale.
C. G. Klingsey, of Copenhagen (34, p. 1358). A jewelcasket in ivory, ornamented with reliefs, after celebratedworks by Thorwaldsen . The artist has shown a highlycultivated taste and correct feeling for style, not only inthe general form of this casket, but in the adaptation ofthe reliefs to so small a scale, and in the architecturalornaments. This work is also to be especially com-mended on account of the great care shown in its exe-cution. Honourable Mention.
It is to he regretted that Russia has contributed to theExhibition no specimen of sculpture on a large scale,although we could here mention two distinguished Russiannames, tint of R. M. Von Launitz, now residing at Frank-fort, a sculptor full of talent; and the well-known BaronKloth, of St. Petersburg , who, in the representation ofhorses studied from the life, is one of the most distin-guished artists of modern times. His groups of horses,with their trainers, at St. Petersburg and Berlin , may becited in p-oof of his merits.
Count Tolstoy, President of the Royal Academy ofArts at St Petersburg (328, p. 1381 \ exhibits plaster eastsof a series of medallions, on which are represented inrelief the incidents of the successful war carried on by-Russia against France , from 1813 to 1814. These worksare well known to all connoisseurs, and deserve notice onaccount o: the invention shown in the designs, some ofwhich art very happy; the execution is also careful.Honouratle Mention.
N. Korniloff (318, p. 1376), a painter in the ImperialPorcelain Manufactory of St. Petersburg, exhibits a copyof a landscape with cows, by Berghem, in which thecharacteristics of this master, both in form and colour, arerendered with remarkable truth and admirable executionof the details. Prize Medal.
Lillwchromy.
F. Dregf.r, of Moscow (362, p. 13S3), for an illustratedwork, in which furniture and other examples of mediaevaldecoration are represented iu a very masterly manner.Honourable Mention.
It is to be regretted that so distinguished an artist asFogelberg, now living at Rome, did not contribute anywork to the Exhibition on behalf of the school of hisnative country, Sweden ; and that, in like manner, theNetherlands were not represented by Roger, the Directorof the Academy of Art at Amsterdam , an admirablesculptor in the Realistic style. The works of both theseartists would have shown the great excellence of therespective schools of sculpture to which they belong.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA .
The American States, which in the course of a fewgenerations have established so vast a scheme of mu-nicipal and political institutions, have attained to greatperfection in many branches of industry, and are nowbeginning to turn their attention to the sciences, and alsoto those arts which minister to the spiritual rather thanthe animal wants of man, and which have for their highpurpose the investigation of truth, and the expression ofbeauty through form.
All who have truly at heart the advancement of civili-zation, and regard it as the common good of mankind,must sincerely rejoice at the success which has attendedthis new movement of the Americau mind.
Sculpture on a large Scale.
Several natives of the United States may be mentionedwho have attained proficiency in this difficult branch ofart, winch cannot be acquired without a certain courseof training. I am acquainted with the works of twoAmerican sculptors, Greenough and Hiram Powers , ofwhom the latter alone contributed to the Exhibition, andwas only represented there by two specimens of hisworks:—-1. The Greek Slave (522, p. 1467). In this worka youthful creature of very delicate form is representedin" marble. The figure is studied from the life, andexhibits an extraordinary refinement of imitation. Thetreatment of the back, especially, is one of the happiestefforts in modern sculpture. It should be noted, however,that the manner iu which the right hand of this figure ismade to lean on the trunk of a tree, while at the sametime the real support of the body is on the left leg, givesan appearance of uncertainty to the motion of the wholefigure, and deprives it of that charm of contrast whichthe sculptors of antiquity imparted to their statues bythrowing the weight of the figure decidedly on one side,so as to leave the other side free. It may be added, thatthe expression of gentle endurance and resignation whichcharacterizes the head, by no means serves to indicate thesubject represented by this figure; the sculptor has there-fore been obliged to have recourse to the symbol of themarble chain, to justify more fully the title which he hasgiven to this work. 2. A Fisher Boy, listening attentivelyto the murmur of a shell (548, p. 1468\ A youthfulrefined figure, sculptured iu marble; the execution iscareful, but not equal to that of the Greek Slave. PrizeMedal.
FINE ART CASTING.
The art of easting sculpture in different metals isobviously of the greatest importance for the diffusion ofthe finest works. I should not be therefore justified wereI to pass over the specimens of Fine Art casting in theExhibition, though these have been already examined andrewarded by the Jury of Class XXII.
The following artists and directors of foundries may beparticularly noticed:—
England. The Coalrrookdale Company, in Shrop-shire (pp. 659-G61). The cast of Bell's figure of theEagle-slayer shows great perfection, both in the castingand subsequent tooling.