HERR KELLER'S LIVING STATUES.
Herr Keller has come from Berlin with a " troupe -plastique " to exhibit Jiving personations of antique statues and groups of modern sculpture. What we saw of &rehearsal of these representations, at Vauxhall, on Thum- tay night, impressed us with a high opinion of Herr -Keller and his statu- esque corps. Clad in stage "fleshings," and occasionally wearing coloured draperies and glitteringarms, they posed themselves in attitudes and groups representing classical and mythological subjects and'heroes of antiquity, an a circular platform, that revolved so as to show every aspect of each group or figure. The effect was very striking, regarding it as a popular exhibition only; especially when the light and shadow were rendered vivid Idly the reflection of coloured fires. Some of the compositions were more elabo- ante in their arrangement than effective in an artistic point of view. The simplest are the best: those composed of two or three figures are preferable' lint single statues pleased us most—perhaps because they were personated lay Herr Keller himself. He is the most intellectual of living models: his taste and intelligence give expression to the head and spirit to the pose of the figure: he animates the statue with the true Promethean fire—mind. His physique is fine, the upper part of his form especially. The muscu- lar development of the trunk and arms is beautiful, and evinces an elasticity 'of fibre that'is perceived in the delicate markings of attitudes of perfect re -pose, as well as in the more vigorous contours of energetic action. His as- sumption of the " Fighting Gladiator," followed by the " Dying Gladia- 'toe," and of the Boxers," showed a thorough mastery of the character as well as the pose of 'those statues. The integuments that covered his nether •man veiled the musculation of the lower limbs more than was desirable; and the draperies were too gaudy 'In colour and harsh in substance to represent sculptural forms. Some !such texture as Chinese crape would -probably be the best. And colour Should be abolished altogether in representations of sculpture: it reminds wire rep 'flame Tusaand's wax-work, and distracts attention from the forma. Miaow when be gave his famous poses from the antique made himself resemble a marble figure ; such as the statue-spectre in Dan This -critical Objection, however, would probably be overruled illy popular opinions and .it does not lessen our admiration of Herr Keller said his troupe.
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