X. Sculpture in the Nineteenth Century.* The influence of Canova was felt throughout the length and breadth of Europe. He and Flaxman revived the art of sculpture at the time of its deepest humiliation ; and their lessons, combined with the liberal encouragement they were ever ready to give to true genius, had most important results. Foremost amongst the immediate followers of Canova we must name the celebrated Dane, Bertel Thorwaldsen (1770 — 1844), who produced many beautiful statues and bas-reliefs. His talent received early recognition from Canova, who was at the zenith of his reputation when Thorwaldsen came to Rome an unknown man. Thorwaldsen s first work of importance was a statue of Jason, which excited universal admiration. He appears to have had a special predilection for mythological subjects, as is proved by his groups of Achilles and Briseis, Ganymede carried away by the Eagle, etc. ; but that he was also able to do justice to the ideals of Christianity, is seen in his great works in the cathedral of Copenhagen, — Christ and the Twelve Apostles, St. John preaching in the Wilderness, The Procession to Golgotha, etc. The series of bas-reliefs representing the Triumphal entrance of Alexander into Babylon, in the villa of Count Somariva on the lake of Como (repeated for the Christianburg Palace at Copen- hagen), is considered one of his finest works, in which he combined the severe simplicity and strict beauty of form of the Greek style with an easy grace of execution peculiarly his own. Of his monuments, we must mention
- Casts of nearly 300 modern statues, and an excellent Handbook
by Mrs. Jameson, may be consulted in the Crystal Palace. EHA T
