THE ACANTHUS- THE ARTS

 THE ACANTHUS (A. mollis)- THE ARTS 

IT is related of CallimachusM a famous statuary and architect but of unknown country, that passing by the grave of a young lady, he drew near to scatter a few flowers upon her resting place. The young lady had died some twelve months before. She was on the point of being married. and the intended union promised much happiness, of the enjoyment of which she was thus deprived. Callimachus' commiseration prompted him to pay a tribute of regret, but he found that his offering had been already anticipated. The deceased young lady's nurse. collecting the flowers and the veil wherewith her mistress was to be adorned on her wedding day, put them together in a small basket. This basket she placed near the grave upon an Acanthus plant, and covered it with a large tile. In the following spring the leaves of the Acanthus grew round the basket, but they being checked, by the edges of the tile, were forced round and grew towards its extremities. Callimachus struck with the beauty of this rustic decoration. which appeared as though produced by the Graces in tears, conceived the design which has ever since adorned the capital of the Corinthian column. This possibly suggested to our immortal Milton the introduction of the (3 B2) Acanthus as an ornament of the bower of our first parents in the garden of Eden, for he says:- 

"The roof 
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade, 

Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew, 

Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side 

Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub. 

Fenced up the verdant wall." 

The motto of Callimachus, if he ever adopted one, must have been with reference to his art, "Excelsior," for he never satisfied his own ideal by the work he produced, but was ever aspiring after something of greater elegance and beauty than that which he had achieved. 

The Acanthus delights in a hot climate, and to grow on the banks of large rivers. From a French writer we learn that it is found on the shores of the Nile;"le Nil du vert Acanthe admire le feuillage;" yet it thrives well with us. Pliny says that it is wonderfully well suited for a border plant and an ornament of our lawns. Chasers and carvers among the ancients. whose taste is very remarkable. decorated furniture vases, and the most valuable dresses, with designs suggested by the foliage of the Acanthus. The poet Virgil speaks of the robe of the fair but frail Helen as being bordered with a garland of Acanthus wrought in relief; and when he wishes to praise works of art of much value, it is the Acanthus with which they are decorated, 

"Alcimedon duo pocula fecit, 

Et molli circum est ansas amplexus Acantho;"

 4 

and these bowls were made of beech, a wood which suits the craft of the turner, and affords great facilities to the carver. 

This elegant model for the artist has become the emblem of the Arts. It may also be regarded as the emblem of genius, for if any obstacle opposes the growth of the Acanthus, we see that it yields, and, turning aside its forces, vegetates anew with fresh vigour; so genius raises itself and grows by the very difficulties which it cannot subdue. It seems to say as if in the very words of a remarkable bishop of one of our antipodean dioceses, "I do not know what failure means." 

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References:

1. THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS OR FLORAL EMBLEMS OF THOUGHTS FEELINGS AND SENTIMENTS By ROBERT TYAS MA LL D FRBS AUTHOR OF FAVOURITE FIELD FLOWERS FLOWERS FROM THE HOLY LAND ETC ROBERT TYAS MA LL D FRBS AUTHOR OF FAVOURITE FIELD FLOWERS FLOWERS FROM THE HOLY LAND ETC 

LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS THE BROADWAY LUDGATE NEW YORK 416 BROOME STREET 1875 

2.ALDEN'S MANIFOLD CYCLOPEDIA OF KNOWLEDGE AND LANGUAGE WITH ILLUSTRATIONS VOL 1 A TO AMERICA 

NEW YORK JOHN B ALDEN PUBLISHER 1887