The Walt Whitman Archive
In Whitman's Hand
Manuscripts
About this Item
Title: Sculpture
Creator: Walt Whitman
Date: 1850s
Whitman Archive ID: duk.00148
Source: Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Transcribed from digital images of the original. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of manuscripts, see our statement of editorial policy.
Editorial note: Edward Grier notes that the "writing seems to be that of the early notebooks; thus the date might be in the 1850s" (Notebooks and Unpublished Prose Manuscripts [New York: New York University Press, 1984], 6:2033).
Contributors to digital file: Kirsten Clawson, Janel Cayer, Kevin McMullen, Nicole Gray, Kenneth M. Price, and Brett Barney
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Sculpture
—then sculpture was necessary—it was an eminent part of religion it gave grand and beautiful forms to to the gods—it appealed to the mind, in perfect harmony, with the people, the climate, belief, times, governments, aspirations.—It and was the true ^needed expression of the people, the times, and their aspirations.—
It was a part of architecture—the temple was not stood unfinished without statues, and ^so they were built made with reference to the temple—they were not made abstractly by themselves.—
———
give a similar dash at painting
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