Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-06-17

,.',na in those various modes OF misery
and suffering, which flesh is born an heir
to in word, to combine into one com,
Desition the dispersed miracles OF our horu
in healing the lame, giving eyes to the
| Hind. and ears to the deaf, seemed to re-
c,lire nothing less than the experience OF
half a century in the Art Of Painting
deep insight into the human character
and perspicuity, and precision oil mino'
which belong to no other professor oil the
art but Mr.. West.
In the composition row before us, MIR.
West has brought together, and seeming
" rallied for one great effort, all the en-
eryies of his genius and the requirements
of his mind, as they have been exercised
both in labor and observation, near fifty
wears ofhis life. lie has amply succeed
ed. and produced Picture which will DO
honor to his country, and raise the Arts to
their highest point of elevation.
The scene Of this Picture is laid in
colonnade of the Temple,-Christ is rais-
ed above the crowd upon small emf
nence. He is accompanied by his Apes
ties, and behind him are groupes OF the
Seribes and Pharisees, watching, even in
his miracles, for matter to accuse him.
There are three principal grouPes OF
sufferers: behind are various characters
women passing through the Temple with
baskets of doves, for merchandise and
much of the magnifcence of the sacred G.
difice is shewn in the perspective.
The centre groupe is that Of man,
wrapt up in the appendages of disease,
pallid, and wasted by distemper. He is
supported by two slaves, and, with coun-
tenance in which hope is finally expressed
shining through sickness, he is presented
to our Lord. The feebleness Of his figure
his incurablencss Give may so express iD
otherwise than by a miracle, is finally de-
picted. The slave, who principally sup
ports his master is a character admirably
conceived, and the manner in which 1t has
been treated is perfectly new, and reflects
high credit upon Mr.. Vests knowledge
of human nature. This slave appears
wholly unmovcd by the scene of suffering
around him; without sentiment or passion
and seemingly incapable of being affected
even by the awful presence of the Deity.
He is lost ia the degraded state ola slave,
and almost every virtue and feeling of the
human creature are extinguished and sub
dued by the habits and sense of his con-
dition.
So true is the observation of the poet,
that the day of slavery robs man of all
his worth. The figure Of the young wo-
man who is born blind, the mother with
her sick and dying infant, all old man in
helpless imbecility, are rendered with the
most exquisite pathos and refined delica-
cy.
In the right groupe is a woman afflicted
with palsy, which has distorted her
frame, & is even then agitating her limbs.
She is supported by two vigorous & mus
cular soldiers, which afford fine contrast
| with her emaciated figure. Her son, with
outstretched arms, is advanced before her,
and seems to implOre the most speedy at
| tentim Of the Saviour to his parents suf-
ferings. There are numerous other figures
and appearances OF sickness, which we
do not think it necessary to particularize.
The character Of our Lord is divinely
| executed. lie is Shewn without art, with
| out affectation, perfectly simple and digni-
fed. Whilst all eyes are directed to him,
his impartial benevolence distinguishes
none in particular. The divine placidity
OF his countenance, in which all peace and
charity reign, forms beautiful contrast
| with the maleYoience Of the Jews behind
him, and the agonized sufferings of the
groupes of sick and diseased round about
| him.
The character Of the Disciples is like
| wise very impressive. Their minds seem
steadfast, and made up in their faith
They have no anxiety as to the event of
the miracles. They are perfectly assured
of the divinity Of their masters powers.
Mr.. West has shewn very great skill in
the grouping Of the various figures, which,
We should think, are nearly one hundred
in number. The coloring is suitable to the