. Great pictures, as seen and described by famous writers. us, airy,brilliant — unfaded by time; and the enthusiastic admirerof Guidos genius may be permitted to hope that this, hisnoblest work, will be immortal as his fame. Morghens fine engraving may give you some idea ofthe design and composition of this beautiful painting; butit cannot convey the soft harmony of the tints, the livingtouches, the brilliant forms, the realized dream of theimagination, that bursts, with all its magic, upon yourenraptured sight in the matchless original. It is embodiedpoetry. The Hours, that hand-in-hand encir
. Great pictures, as seen and described by famous writers. us, airy,brilliant — unfaded by time; and the enthusiastic admirerof Guidos genius may be permitted to hope that this, hisnoblest work, will be immortal as his fame. Morghens fine engraving may give you some idea ofthe design and composition of this beautiful painting; butit cannot convey the soft harmony of the tints, the livingtouches, the brilliant forms, the realized dream of theimagination, that bursts, with all its magic, upon yourenraptured sight in the matchless original. It is embodiedpoetry. The Hours, that hand-in-hand encircle the car ofPhcebus, advance with rapid pace. The paler, milderforms of those gentler sisters who rule over decliningday, and the glowing glance of those who bask in themeridian blaze, resplendent in the hues of heaven, — areof no mortal grace and beauty; but they are eclipsed byAurora herself, who sails on the golden clouds before them,shedding showers of shadowing roses on the rejoicingearth ; her celestial presence diffusing gladness, and light,. AURORA 115 and beauty around. Above the heads of the heavenlycoursers, hovers the morning star, in the form of a youth-ful cherub, bearing his flaming torch. Nothing is moreadmirable in this beautiful composition, than the motiongiven to the whole. The smooth and rapid step of thecircling Hours as they tread on the fleecy clouds; thefiery steeds; the whirling wheels of the car; the torch ofLucifer, blown back by the velocity of his advance; andthe form of Aurora, borne through the ambient air, till youalmost fear she should float from your sight > all realizethe illusion. You seem admitted into the world of fancy,and revel in its brightest creations. In the midst of such youth and loveliness, the duskyfigure of Phoebus appears to great disadvantage. It is nothappily conceived. Yet his air is noble and godlike, andhis free commanding action, and conscious ease, as he care-lessly guides, with one hand, the fiery steeds that a
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublish, booksubjectpainting
