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Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 27, January, 1860
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 27, January,
1860, by Various This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 5, No. 27, January, 1860
Author: Various
Release Date: February 20, 2004 [EBook #11173]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE
ATLANTIC MONTHLY,
A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE, ART, AND POLITICS.
VOL. V.--JANUARY, 1860.--NO. XXVII.
OUR ARTISTS IN ITALY.
HIRAM POWERS.
Antique Art, beside affording a standard by which the modern may be measured, has the remarkable property-giving it a higher value--of testing the genuineness of the Art-impulse.
Even to genius, that is, to the artist, a true Art-life is difficult of attainment. In the midst of illumination, there is the mystery: the subjective mystery, out of which issue the germs--like seeds floated from unknown shores--of his imaginings; the objective mystery, which yields to him, through obvious, yet unexplained harmonies, the means of manifestation.
Behind the consciousness is the power; behind the power, that which gives it worth and occupation.
To the artist definite foresight is denied. His life is full of surprises at new necessities. When the present demand shall have been fulfilled, what shall follow? Shall i