RIVAL BUSTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 8

RIVAL BUSTS.

. TO COMMEMORATE THE LATE . I'REMIER. • The bust of tho'lata Promier, executed'by Mr.', Nelson lllingworthj'to thb'brder;of.the Government, has arrived in ' Wellingtoiij.and will : be on vie\v' verj. sooiv. iii the studio ]of Messrs. :"^'right and; Co., Lambton Quay; ,Tho modern. sq'ulpt6r ''dcies : not gcner. : : ally chip'the 'features'; .of" bis - subject from tho' obdurate >riiar;bl©.' 'His fingers shape , the growing'..face -'•in'.-- the^-soft,'clay,. 1 impressing by sub'tlo: touch® the 7 expression' of ;'the original ~ ■ The '.clay bust' is -put into plaster,, and the. plaster : likeness is - put' into marble by purely mochanical : means. An 'instrument has been ■ driven by: electric' powerj of! which.one party.tra'versfes every -li'no and feature- of'the', piaster' bust, - while'aitbthor part' cleaves''the. same, result, with mathema-r tjcal; exactness,' from -the 'block 6f marble. Tho.'art-.bf.. the {sculptor %;.not lost; 'justs-'so much art. as lie convoys into the-plaster must ibe-unfailingly, reproduced in .the finer medium.'' Mr.;'lllingworth,': following.■ this method of'.'.work,' sent liis plaster. " bust :to Italy,- whence its marble, facsimile ; has just been .'received; ."/'■ / ...

If Mr! ' illingworth : 'bad: done. no ■ otlior work, . this • bust . would stamp 1 him as a genuine :artist.' : . Ono' is- impressed iess, by the fidelity with which the actual features of' I>he'' late Mr.-Seddon- have -been .'reproduced ithan-.with the; character,.-the. suggestion;.of, dominance, .which :'he lias .conveyed into -the work?:' "Divinely, 7 through all hindrance," ho has : ''found the maiip';' and • the late Premier''"being dead, yet speaketh" from this',monument.': The. .bust is mounted' on -a podcstal.'-of dark : green granite, bearing'the 'one. word,. "Seddo'n.". I; , Curiously eiiough, a-second ;bust of Mr. Seddpn, -,also executed, to tjie.- order 'of-.the Government,' has; lately arrived- in -.Wellington,- and: is . at .present- -in the, Government Buildings; i'awaiting Cabinet inspection' and approval. Mr. ■ Illingworth was given his commission as. an artist of ostabliSied . reputation. 'Mh'C.l?ids6n,' of Chris.tchurch, was ontrustod' ;.with'- a similar, commission as ; a Npw. Zoaland artist -who. is.fast, establishing a reputation, - Thus,' nobody can say. that justice, lias,, uot. bfeen done ; to .local talent; Mr. Kid son's bust, which' is' also in marble, is - a . vory •• faithful .likeness .of . the,; "late Pi'omior,' and isian achicvoinent, fully worthy of'its autiior's.'piist'record;, .At.present, Mr/ Eidsoii's .bust : is" not..mbunted; ■ Cabinet .has. uot 'yet officially' viewed either bust.'