第2部分(第2/7 页)

ets　the　imagination　of　an　artist　which　he　has　embodied　in　a

sculptured　form。　Although；　pared　with　the　life…warm；　mobile　face　of　a

friend；　the　marble　is　cold　and　pulseless　and　unresponsive；　yet　it　is

beautiful　to　my　hand。　Its　flowing　curves　and　bendings　are　a　real

pleasure；　only　breath　is　wanting；　but　under　the　spell　of　the　imagination

the　marble　thrills　and　bees　the　divine　reality　of　the　ideal。

Imagination　puts　a　sentiment　into　every　line　and　curve；　and　the　statue

in　my　touch　is　indeed　the　goddess　herself　who　breathes　and　moves　and

enchants。

It　is　true；　however；　that　some　sculptures；　even　recognized　masterpieces；

do　not　please　my　hand。　When　I　touch　what　there　is　of　the　Winged　Victory；

it　reminds　me　at　first　of　a　headless；　limbless　dream　that　flies　towards

me　in　an　unrestful　sleep。　The　garments　of　the　Victory　thrust　stiffly　out

behind；　and　do　not　resemble　garments　that　I　have　felt　flying；

fluttering；　folding；　spreading　in　the　wind。　But　imagination　fulfils

these　imperfections；　and　straightway　the　Victory　bees　a　powerful　and

spirited　figure　with　the　sweep　of　sea…winds　in　her　robes　and　the

splendour　of　conquest　in　her　wings。

I　find　in　a　beautiful　statue　perfection　of　bodily　form；　the　qualities　of

balance　and　pleteness。　The　Minerva；　hung　with　a　web　of　poetical

allusion；　gives　me　a　sense　of　exhilaration　that　is　almost　physical；　and

I　like　the　luxuriant；　wavy　hair　of　Bacchus　and　Apollo；　and　the　wreath　of

ivy；　so　suggestive　of　pagan　holidays。

So　imagination　crowns　the　experience　of　my　hands。　And　they　learned　their

cunning　from　the　wise　hand　of　another；　which；　itself　guided　by

imagination；　led　me　safely　in