7 FEBRUARY 1835, Page 19

THoM'S SCULPTURE.

Titosr, the ingenious Scottish mason, has modelled a statue of Bunn, which he is exhibiting together with his figures of Old Mortality and his Pony, and " Willie " who 0 brew'd a peck o' maut," at 28, Old Bond Street. Perhaps no head presents more difficulties to the painter and sculptor than the simple, homely, and manly features of BURNS. To delineate them, was but to portray the casket that held the gem of his genius. It was from his deep, bright, and eloquent eye, that his mental power and moral dignity shone forth. If the portraits of the poet taken in his life-time only give us the honest yeoman, how can we expect the chisel of the sculptor to produce a bust informed with living character, when the lustre of the eye has to be imitated by an indenta- tation in the clay or marble ? And such a task as a posthumous bust of Berries, which might make the master-band of a CHANTREY pause, when attempted by a self-taught sculptor, requires indulgence, for what may (we hope) be truly called a labour of love. The froet view—the profile is not so good—of Timm's bust of BURNS, is not unlike what we suppose the living features to have been ; and it is much to add, that the expression does not belie the notions we entertain of the poet's look. It is needless to remark that it does not and scarcely could come up to the original. We say nothing of the figure.

The bust of Mr. Thom, and of another gentleman, evince a strong perception of character ; and a great advance in manual skill. The mason has a great deal to learn before we can call him a fine sculptor ; but he seems in a fair way to acquire it.