Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-06-27
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FINE ARTS

u Il
Historical Pictures rated by tie CONGRESS-
Of AmcricG to adorn tie Capitoi.-''7 The
| proposition OF commemoratii2, on the Isl
| ot january, the Independence tof Ameri-
| ca, by adjoining the Capitol with four
great Historical Pictures, representinp
The four great leading points of the War
that secured their Freedom, was passed
through Congress by triumphant maio-
trity, and the President was empowered
TO employ the President of the Nem-l'oyk
Acadeng TO paint four pictures, eighteen
feet by twelve. and limited to no pri e /"
This is an Eafyact ofa letter from Nev-
Yorh, Fec. II, upon which the Editor of
ihe Examiner makes the following lust
complimentary remarks to the liberaIlv
of the United States.
turn her back with stupidapathv AGAINST
all propositions for the public coninie,D-
Grafton OF great events by historic al
painting ? Has she nothing worthy TO
commemorate And even now. when
there IS an opportunity 10 employ the ge-
mus OF the country To illustrate its great
ness by pictures of the Waterloo and Ira
taigar monuments, il is on the point of
beng decided that senseless column.
ana more senSeiess tower, are the most
tit objects on which genius can DISPLAY
itself 10 illustrate such great events.
The American Congress have done
themselves honor by their energy and de
clsion: and if they wish to do good TO
their country, they must not end here :;
they must not be content with one vote
OF four pictures, but persevere and adorn
IN succession all their public buildings bv
successive votes, so that the young Anne
rIcan artists, studying in this country aud
in nj Al.
certainty of being employed, IF thew dis
play genius Oh their return home. The.
American congress have done more for
Inc arts of America, by the confidence
this single vote will give, than if they had
founded academies ia every town, or sent
100 students to Europe for improvement.
Success attend their energy and sense
Not all the examples in France and in
Italy, to which our nobility crowd for re-
hnement, and where every church and
hall and public building is filed with pic
lures, have ever had the least effect IL
II not strange that they will return home
without ambition 10 help their own Olo-
rious country, or 80 rival such examples ?
No; they leave their taste behind. and
when they come TO England, content
themselves with filling their drawing
rooms with the boisierous bestiailics of
bhlcn Doors. = ~ moi strange that men,
educated with the utmost care, delicate TO
pitch OF pain-pOllte, sensible, accom-
plished, informed, spirited and bonora-
bic, should hang their walls with the
drunken vnigarilics Of Duichmcn Have
they no desire to see the deeds of the
country which they adorn developed by
painting Have they no wish 10 rival
Italy or Greece Not all tlie advice. not
all the pufrpatN not s.li fine .rru,,o,,te -
all the enlightened pat Of tie country
have ever had the slightest effect ON tie
British government to protect painting ::
and now Amerca. with a foresight and
energy worthy OF Greece, has set Them am
example, 1t should have been their glory
TO set her.
In contrast 10 this promising state Of
american patronage, let as lust sta Sc
tire consequences 0i The pasi ai.i present
and probable continuance of English en-
enlargement. see St5fkari, with lis