dear
Lieber,—You ask for my first sight of ‘
Orpheus.’
It has been most melancholy.
I am glad the artist, who has brooded over this
chef d'oeuvre for five years, was not with us.
Greene says he would have gone into hysterics.
With the assistance of a carpenter two boards were knocked off (
Greene,
T. B. Curtis, and myself being present), which revealed the head and breast.
The impression was dazzling, and I almost caught the word ‘
Eurydice’ from the marble lips.
A small bit only was broken from the lyre; and we congratulated ourselves on finding it in such beautiful order.
Two boards were next knocked off which covered the feet, the dog, and legs.
It was truly distressing to see the chaos there.
Both legs were broken above the knees and at the ankles; and the dog was broken in two pieces, the rent running from the back to the belly.
By looking at the picture you will see the present condition of the statue.
We have made arrangements with
Dexter for its restoration.
I think it can be restored so as to please the
connoisseur as much as ever.
The workmanship and spirit of the piece seemed more beautiful than ever.
We are putting up a little building on the lawn by the side of the Athenaeum to receive it, and
Greene is to pay us a visit, in the course of a fortnight, to superintend its restoration.
How this accident occurred we cannot tell; but it was a great mistake to send it to
Boston via; New York.
It undoubtedly suffered by the transshipment.
I cannot doubt that it was rolled over on the wharf, like a cotton-bag. . . . Adieu.
Ever thine,
C. S.
