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57
Signor Smitthe unearthed the most remarkable ancient statue that has
ever been added to the art treasures of Rome. It was an exquisite figure
of a woman, and though sadly stained by the soil and the mould of
ages, no eye can look unmoved upon its ravishing
beauty. The nose, the
left leg from the knee down, an ear, and also the toes of the right foot
and two fingers of one of the hands, were gone, but otherwise the noble
figure was in a remarkable state of preservation. The government at
once took possession of the statue, and appointed a commission of art
critics and antiquaries to assess its value and determine the remunera-
tion that must go to the owner of the ground in which it was found. The
whole affair was kept a profound secret until last night. In the mean-
time the commission sat with closed doors, and deliberated. Last night
they decided unanimously that the status is a Venus, and the work of
some unknown but highly gifled artist of the third century before
Christ.
"At midnight they held a final conference and decided that the
Venus was worth the enormous sum of ten million francs. In accor-
dance with Roman law, the government being half owner in all works
of art found in the Campagna, the State has nothing to do but pay five
million francs to Mr. Arnold and take permanent possession of the
beautiful statue. This morning the Venus will be removed to the Capi-
tol, there to remain, and at noon the commission will wait upon Signor
Arnold will get five million francs in gold."
Chapter VI
(Scene – Roman Capitol Ten Years Later)
"Dearest Mary, this is the most celebrated statue in the world.
This is the renowned 'Capitoline Venus' you've heard so much about.
How strange it seems – this place! The day before I last stood
here, ten happy years ago. I hadn't a cent. And yet I had a good deal to
do with making Rome mistress of this grandest work of ancient art the
world contains."
"Oh, Georgy, how beautiful she is!"
"Ah, yes – but nothing to what she was before that blessed John
Smith broke her leg and battered her nose. Ingenious Smith! – gifted
Smith – noble Smith! Author of all our bliss!"
58
Exercises
1. State clearly, in one sentence, what the reader learns from the
first chapter.
2. What is the sculptor's opinion of himself? Quote his words.
3. What is the grocer's opinion of the artist and his sculpture?
Quote the actual words of the grocer.
4. What makes the poor artist exclaim in despair: "Alas! Woe is
me!"?
5. Who is John? What does he promise to do and what does he
make the sculptor pledge before he undertakes to help him?
6. What is described as a "grotesque nightmare"?
7. What is the effect of John's energetic efforts on the artist?
8. Where do you think John took the broken-legged Venus?
9. How is the reader made to understand that the artist is still
penniless when the six months are up?
10. What does the artist expect to happen at any moment?
11. How do you account for the strange behaviour of the boot-
maker, the tailor, the landlord and the grocer?
12. Who is the only person who knows nothing of what has hap-
pened? Why?
13. What does John Smith actually do after he has carried the
statue away from George's studio? (Explain briefly, in no more than
three sentences.)
14. What is the unanimous decision of the commission appointed
by the government?
15. Why does the State pay the sculptor five million francs?
16. Why is the statue called the Capitoline Venus?
Signor Smitthe unearthed the most remarkable ancient statue that has Exercises
ever been added to the art treasures of Rome. It was an exquisite figure
of a woman, and though sadly stained by the soil and the mould of 1. State clearly, in one sentence, what the reader learns from the
ages, no eye can look unmoved upon its ravishing beauty. The nose, the first chapter.
left leg from the knee down, an ear, and also the toes of the right foot 2. What is the sculptor's opinion of himself? Quote his words.
and two fingers of one of the hands, were gone, but otherwise the noble 3. What is the grocer's opinion of the artist and his sculpture?
figure was in a remarkable state of preservation. The government at Quote the actual words of the grocer.
once took possession of the statue, and appointed a commission of art 4. What makes the poor artist exclaim in despair: "Alas! Woe is
critics and antiquaries to assess its value and determine the remunera- me!"?
tion that must go to the owner of the ground in which it was found. The 5. Who is John? What does he promise to do and what does he
whole affair was kept a profound secret until last night. In the mean- make the sculptor pledge before he undertakes to help him?
time the commission sat with closed doors, and deliberated. Last night 6. What is described as a "grotesque nightmare"?
they decided unanimously that the status is a Venus, and the work of 7. What is the effect of John's energetic efforts on the artist?
some unknown but highly gifled artist of the third century before 8. Where do you think John took the broken-legged Venus?
Christ. 9. How is the reader made to understand that the artist is still
"At midnight they held a final conference and decided that the penniless when the six months are up?
Venus was worth the enormous sum of ten million francs. In accor- 10. What does the artist expect to happen at any moment?
dance with Roman law, the government being half owner in all works 11. How do you account for the strange behaviour of the boot-
of art found in the Campagna, the State has nothing to do but pay five maker, the tailor, the landlord and the grocer?
million francs to Mr. Arnold and take permanent possession of the 12. Who is the only person who knows nothing of what has hap-
beautiful statue. This morning the Venus will be removed to the Capi- pened? Why?
tol, there to remain, and at noon the commission will wait upon Signor 13. What does John Smith actually do after he has carried the
Arnold will get five million francs in gold." statue away from George's studio? (Explain briefly, in no more than
three sentences.)
Chapter VI 14. What is the unanimous decision of the commission appointed
(Scene – Roman Capitol Ten Years Later) by the government?
15. Why does the State pay the sculptor five million francs?
"Dearest Mary, this is the most celebrated statue in the world. 16. Why is the statue called the Capitoline Venus?
This is the renowned 'Capitoline Venus' you've heard so much about.
How strange it seems – this place! The day before I last stood
here, ten happy years ago. I hadn't a cent. And yet I had a good deal to
do with making Rome mistress of this grandest work of ancient art the
world contains."
"Oh, Georgy, how beautiful she is!"
"Ah, yes – but nothing to what she was before that blessed John
Smith broke her leg and battered her nose. Ingenious Smith! – gifted
Smith – noble Smith! Author of all our bliss!"
57 58
