THE LOVE OF NATURE. 271 



Michael Angelo among the moderns. Statues are not only 

 formed with the chisel from marble, and carved in wood, but 

 they are cast in plaster of Paris, or other matter of the same 

 nature, and in several metals, as lead, brass, silver, and gold. 

 The process of casting in plaster of Paris is as follows : the 

 plaster is mixed with water, and stirred until it attains a pro- 

 per consistence ; it is then poured on any figure, for instance, 

 a human hand, or foot, previously oiled in the slightest man- 

 ner possible, which will prevent the adhesion of the plaster : 

 after a few minutes the plaster will dry to the hardness of 

 soft stone, taking the exact impression of every part, even 

 the minutest pores of the skin. This impression is called 

 the mould. When taken from the figure that produced it, 

 and slightly oiled, plaster, mixed with water as before, may 

 be poured into*it, and it must remain until it is hardened ; 

 if it be then taken from the mould, it will be an exact image of 

 the original figure. When the figure is flat, having no deep 

 hollows or high projections, it may be moulded in one piece, 

 but when its surface is much varied, it must be moulded in 

 many pieces fitted together, and held in one or more outside 

 or containing pieces. This useful art supplies the painter 

 and sculptor with exact representations from nature, and 

 multiplies models of all kinds. It is practised in such per- 

 fection, that casts of the antique statues are made so pre- 

 cisely like the originals in proportion, outline, and surface, 

 that no difference whatever is discoverable, excepting in co- 

 lour and materials; 



Questions.— 1. What is said of the origin of sculpture ? 2. How 

 does sculpture differ from carving ? 3. What is said of this art as it 

 existed among the ancient Greeks ? 4. Define the word statuary in 

 both senses. 5. How are statues formed .'* 6. What is the process 

 of casting in plaster of Paris ? 7. Of what use is the art of casting 

 to the painter and sculptor ? 



LESSON 124. 



77ie Love of Nature. 



Whkn the mind becomes animated with a love of natui^e^ 

 nothing is seen tha does not become an object for curiosity 



