THE STUDIO IN GHUZNEE-STREET.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4908, 14 December 1876, Page 6

THE STUDIO IN GHUZNEE-STREET.

Messrs: Luigi del Vesoovo and Te Sam, the ' Italian sculptors, have removed from their old ’ studio in Tory-street to more commodious pre- . mises, situated at the east end of Ghuzneestreet.. The works on which they are at present engaged are a series of clay models of Daniel O'Connell, the Irish liberator. There are three ■ i of these, all being -in'miniature, and the first 1 represents the great patriot, in the . act of 1 delivering a speech, the right'harid being'outS stretched as he addresses the. people,.and the' i left holding a roll of documents. The. appearance of the -features is most lifelike,’and the , artists have caught the expression of the gifted : and impassioned orator in, a, moat marvellous t . manner.. The second model is of a less heroic - nature, the patriot being represented as leaningagainst a pedestal, a cloud of thought apparently being impressed on j his brow.. He is again supposed to be delivering an address, but ‘ one of a different character to that in the first representation. The left hand is outstretched, ! and.he appears to be.appealing-more to the understanding than the feelings of.his audience. Each of the two models represents on a > small scale a statue, intended to:be ' • height; to be placed oh > a handsome l ' pedestal, ■' which, together will reach 40ft;On the '.. front and back' of;’, thepedestal' the ‘ Harp of .■ Erin is carved,-. and 'on the two sides it is - intended ‘ that’ "an inscrip'- ' > tion' shall ' be 'placed.'" -The '’third’-model .is a bust only, but. the''features, when compared with-the photograph; are most exact,.; : and in; our opinion the scuptors, so’far as i , ia mere likeness is concerned,, deserve !consi- r i derably more credit for thfc.'produc'iidn than’ -j----■the'two-previous ones.' The; clay bust of the late Agent-General; Dr. Featherston', ' which received such. general praise from the public ’ * and the press a few weeks ago,hasbeen executed ' in plaster, and the' opinions we previously ex-- s pressed as to the lifelike appearance of;.the, model are fully realised in. its second stage; ; ■ Messrs. De Vescovi and Te Said can produce ■ ah unlimited number of plaster casts from their , present model, and we understand that it is their ' ■ intention to do: so, .and disposeaofithem»k<f'! » moderate cost to those of the publicthrough-" 1 out the colony who desire • to obtain a'speakihg portrait, of .their late'fellow-colonist.' It will also be a work of art which'will nbt do dis- ’ credit-, to ; any purchaser, and doubtless tho artists will receive' a’ considerable amount of ; '! support They are engaged .upon a, model of. 'Mrs. Johnston, one'of the daughters- of the late 1 Dr. Featherston, and also on another one-of,Dr. Featherston himself, upon a smaller scale than ' the first one.' They are both capital pictures; 'and Mr. De Vesoovo hopes to receive the Carrara marble for the statue of Dr. Featherston, to be. furnished to the Memorial Committee, by • July, and then to start work at once. ' t There - ! are several other works.- of - art via - the studio, the moat chaste being a representation of the Holy Family: in bas-relief, .executed in: pure white marble, and set off by a back- ■ ground of dark crimson velvet. This is alto- 1 gother a splendid production, and is a credit to both artists. The bust of, the; Homan - Em- ' ‘ peror Vitellius, and of Augustus, the son of the Ccesar, are: also moat imeritorious speci- '■ mens. of the sculptor's art, and some fancy ■ 1 productions in terracotta are also worthy of more than passing notice. A • number 1 of i memorials,, monuments, headstones, i mantel- ' pieces, &.0., are on view, and are well worthy of ■ ' inspection. ~,;It is , the intention tof ’Mr. De ‘ ■ Veacoyo to start for, Melbourne cm 1 Thursday'- •' for the purpose of submitting his .models'of ■ ' Daniel O’Connell for the inspection of. the Memorial Committee; and ;it is to be hoped he; will be successful in bis expedition. The 1 ' r studjo is open for. inspection by visitors every': day. To those who take a pleasure in art‘and’ ! its surroundings, a visit will-not be unprofitable and-.they will be'.received with a courtesy ! which-will certainly tempt them to a second '■ ■ call'upon the polite artists.