Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-28
would be supposed TO have belonged to some

-
not in lis type expressing the reckless ambition
| Of the "broad fronted Caesar or the luxurious
indulgence Of the 'curled Anthony but rather
Of the better age of Rome, the Fabius Maxi
mus, Marcellus, or the Scipios.
An equestrian portraiture is particularly we'll
suited to him who rode SO well, and who was
| much attached to the noble animal which SO
oft and SO gallantly had borne him in The chase,
| in war, and IN the perilous service OF the from
tier. Rickets, the celebrated equestrian used
to say,I delight to see the General ride, and
make ii point 10 fall in with him when hear
that he is abroad on horseback--his SEA, is so
! firm, his management SO easy and graceful, that
| |, who am professor Of craftsmanship, would
go to him and learn to ride
! Bred in the vigorous school of the frontier
warfare, "the earth his bed, his canopy the hea-
vens," he excelled the hunter and woodsman in
their athletic habits, and in those trials of man
hood which distinguished the hardy days OF
| his early life; he was amazingly swift of foot,
and could climb the mountain steep, and "not
| sob confess his TOLL"
OF the power Of bis arm, we have many re-
| collections, The Rappahanock river, below
| fredericksburg, will afford lasting memorial.
Of the article with which he spanned this bold
and navigable stream, there are various accounts
| fashioned 10 about the size and shape of a dol.
lar, and which, sent by an "arm so slrong," not
only spanned the river, but took the ground at
least thirty yards on the other side. Numbers
have since tried this feat, but none have cleared
the water. IT'S the douglas cast" made in
the days when Virginia's men were strong, as
her maids are fair; when the hardy sports OF
the gymnasium prepared the body to answer
the trumpet call to war; and gave vigor and
elevation TO the mind, while our modern habits
would rather fit the youth "to caper nimby in
lady's chamber"
Who will enter the arena, "now the great
masters gone" take up his gage and prove
that the manhood Of the descendants is worthy
of the renown of their sires We tear that We
ry many will be the suitors for the athletic
proves OF the departed Ulysses, ere one can
be found who will ''bend his bow"
OF original pictures, there are four at Ar
lington House. The most ancient, and the
only one extant Of the hero at that time OF day,
is the work Of, the elder Peale, was painted in
1872, full size and three quarter length; repre-
sents the Provincial Colonel in the Colonel u
inform, blue, with scarlet facings silver lace,
and scarlet under clothes with sash and gorget,
and the hat usually called the Wolfe hat, which
from its size and shape, must have been better
oe the chapeaus Of modern times. This is
fine, expressive picture, and said, by his cotem-
poraries, 10 be The Washington in the prime of
life-the countenance open and manly, the mild
blue eye, the whole be-speaking intelligence,
the dominion of lofty feelings and the passions
at rest.
1t will be remembered that l772 was the
year of the remarkable Indian prophecy.
Next, in the order of originals, is an half
bust, by Homlon, after the manner of the anti
que; full size, and was taken soon after the war
Of the Revolution.
3d. a beautiful cabinet picture, in relief, by
Madame de Brienne, representing the heads OF
Washington and Lafayette, about the time of
Hudson.
9TH The profile likeness in crayon, by Sharp
less, in 1895, an admirable likeness, the profile
taken by an instrument and critically correct.
Ofother originals we have to notice the eques-
tran picture, by rrumbull, of 1890; now in the
City Hall of New York. For this, ihe white
charger had several standings The figure Of
the General in Chief is well described, the cos
tune, the uniform of the Staff in the War Of In
dependence, being the ancient whig eolors, blue
and buf-a very splendid performance through
out, and the objection 10 the face being too Ho-
rid not correct one. He was both fair and florid
A MIR. Williams, painter IN crayons, had
sttings about 1894, made strong likeness, but
we have no further knowledge of him or his
works.
The works of Stuart have acquired such ex-
tensve celebrity that critique from US would
be almos, superhuous. Of the great President,
the head (,ha is the head only of STUART is GER
tainly chiefd 'euvre. There are three originals
by this distinguished master-the head 6 bust,
from which many copies have been taken, the
full length for the Marquis of Lansdown, and an
original intended for Mrs. Washington The
artist has been particularly happy in delineat-
ing that gracefulfall Of the shoulders for which
the Chief was remarkable, and which is said to
constitute among the finest lines in the portrait
ure Of manly excellence The defects OF the
full length are in the limbs. There is too much
of roundness and finish, according to the rules
of art and the most approved models of taste
and celebrity. whereas the original was In him
self model for the arts. Stuart once observ-
ed, "My impressions OF his superior size consi-
derabIy aba,ed, on trying on his coat, and find
ing that the span of his body was not greater
than was to be founc in some other men,
True We repeat, that his remarkable confor-
nation was exclusively in the limbs, and the