eBooks Base 2000

His costume, at all events, was a part of his character, and must
be dealt with by whatever sculptor undertakes to represent him. I wonder
that so very sensible a man as Powers should not see the necessity of
accepting drapery, and the very drapery of the day, if he will keep his
art alive. It is his business to idealize the tailor's actual work. But
he seems to be especially fond of nudity, none of his ideal statues, so
far as I know them, having so much as a rag of clothes. His statue of
California, lately finished, and as naked as Venus, seemed to me a very
good work; not an actual woman, capable of exciting passion, but
evidently a little out of the category of human nature. In one hand she
holds a divining-rod. "She says to the emigrants," observed Powers,
"'Here is the gold, if you choose to take it.'" But in her face, and in
her eyes, very finely expressed, there is a look of latent mischief,
rather grave than playful, yet somewhat impish or sprite-like; and, in
the other hand, behind her back, she holds a bunch of thorns.


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