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FORTIA’S TRAVELS IN SWEDEN. 419
own eftate of Chriftiernholm in 1785. He had a fine library, and in courfe of a long
refidence there, compofed this work. At his death, he confided to Mr. Giceurwell the
manufcript and edition. He had travelled a great deal, fojourning the longeft in Hol-
land; he married a French woman at the Hague, Marguerite Janicou, daughter of a
minxf{ter of the Landgrave of Heffe Caflel, known by his letterson the United Provinces.
His library confifted of fix thoufand volumes; thofe which regarded hiftory were bought
by Mr. Giceurwell, who has augmented their number.
Guftavus III, an enlightened protector of the arts, invited artifts of great merit to
Sweden; it may be boldly advanced that the kingdom is indebted to him for the
pofleifion of a Sergell, a De/prés, Ma/rellier, &c. What clearly verifies this affertion,
the Swedes themfelves, far from attracting great artifts, did not even profit by their
prefence, or give them any encouragement: they were never employed by any but the
King ; and we have no doubt that tince his death they will have abandoned a country
which will no longer afford them any refources, a court which, from its fyftem of eco-
nomy, (certainly well imagined,) will look upon, as foolifhly expended, thofe fums re-
quifite tor the recompenfe and encouragement of genius.
We fhall now take a view of the artifts of Stockholm, whofe talents appear to us to
lay claim in a greater or lefs degree to public efteem.
Mr. Sergel/, a Swede, is the moft celebrated {culptor of the prefent day; Canova, a
Venetian, being the only one in any degree comparable to him. This artift is in high
eftimation ; the King frequently reforts to his work-fhop, in which he is imitated by the
nobility, and even the ladies ; but thefe vifits have become fo tirefome that his door is
frequently clofed ; fo that it will not be amifs for any one defirous of feeing him to ad-
vife of his intention before hand. He is employed on the ftatue in bronze, defigned by
the citizens in honour of their King: the model of the proportions of which was fhewn
to us; the King is upright, as if walking, his left hand leaning on the rudder of a fhip,
(an attribute which accords equally with the fpecies of vi€tory obtained by him, as with ~
his having the conduct of affairs fince the revolution ;) and in his right hand an olive
branch, the fymbol of peace: it fronts the church on the fide next the cattle, with its
back to the fea, very near to which it is placed ; thus wearing the appearance of being
juft landed and bringing peace to his people. The height of the ftatue is to be eleven
feet ; the fculptor has varied as little as poflible from the Swedith coftume, which,
thanks to the cloak, has a very good effect ; he has only taken fimall licenfe in altering
the manner in which it is faftened. This ftatue, which he expeéts will be finifhed in
1796, is full of grace and life. In his work-fhop we faw the group of Cupid and
Pfyche in marble, large as life, defigned for the King, who means to place it at Haga.
This is one of the fineft pieces of modern fculpture; Pfyche is on her knees before
Cupid; the poignard and lamp by his fide defignate the inftant chofen by the arti(t.
At firft he intended that Cupid fhould have turned his head afide in repulfing Pfyche ;
it would have rendered the work more eafy ;_ the expreflion of his countenance as look-
ing on Pfyche, however difficult to give, was preferred, and is adinirably conceived by
Mr. Sergell: Cupid regards Pfyche with a cold and tranquil difdain, fuch as is fuitable ~
to an offended deity. ‘The two figures are naked, and the whole of the group poflefles
{triking beauties; it is a mafter-piece which well deferves minute attention ; it was ori-
ginally intended for Madame du Barry. ‘The fame groupe was executed on a {mall
{cale tor Baron Armfeldt, to whom His Majeity made a prefent of it, and for the Duke
d’Infantado. ‘The price of the {mall work is 1000 rix-dollars. Mr. Sergell had alfo
two beautiful bufts in his fhop, the one of Guftavus Vata, the other of Guttavus Adol-
phus, ordered formerly by the King of France; not knowing any longer to whom to
a 2 addrefs
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