Palmer, the
American sculptor.
The history of his career, his origin, his process of study, his choice
of subjects in all his great works, his rise and triumph as an artist,
all entitle him to this distinctive appellation. He commenced life as a
carpenter and joiner, but, while practising his trade in Utica, N. Y.,
his eye accidentally fell on a cameo likeness, and as the dropping of an
apple suggested to Newton the laws of gravitation, so the sight of this
little trifle was the talisman that revealed to Palmer the artistic
capabilities of his genius. Being thus led to attempt the portrait of
his wife upon a shell, he executed his task--which was in a twofold
sense a labor of love--with such fidelity to nature, such bold outline,
and delicacy of finish, that connoisseurs detected in it the hand of a
master. Thus encouraged, he for two years made cameo cutting his
business, and followed it with remarkable success, till, his eyes
becoming affected by the exercise of this talent, he was obliged to
relinquish it, with the expectation of returning to his old trade. But
happily he was induced to try his skill at modelling in clay, and then
he discovered what was in him. Taking his little girl for a model, he
produced a bust, styled the 'Infant Ceres,' which, when finished in
marble, immediately took rank as one of the gems of art.
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