Page:Charles Grafly, Sculptor, an appreciatiative note, Trask, 1910.djvu/6

 made to give semblance of life by almost mechanical means. Each success stimulated new endeavor and the summer studio is now rich in decorative panels, beautiful in light and shade, and filled with suggestion; but more important than this was added knowledge. Something had been learned of the possibilities of expressing continuity of form by the exactly correct placing of mass with mass. The student had learned another lesson. Skilled hands again had taught the mind.

Deeply intent always upon felicity of expression, Mr. Grafly's works have, to an unusual degree, that evasive and indescribable quality which we call distinction. Yet his constant effort for the seductive effect of style leads to no hollowness, but rather to a deep sincerity of sentiment.

The two-figure bronze group, "A Symbol of Life," is no mere academic study of the nude. Filled with that grace which is an integral part of power it is a strongly emotional presentation of the instinctive forward sweep of man. Its grip is vital, its message big.

Another bronze, which in a relaxed moment he allowed some misguided babbler of words to first catalogue as "In Much Wisdom," has in it the same wordless sense of fundamental truth. Freed Rh