The native American., 1839-05-18
From Blaek2ood's Magazine for March
NEW DISCOVERY IN THE FINE ARTS.
THE DAGUERRoscoPE.

"Ffench Discovery-Pencil Of Faure-Who
has not admired the splendid and wonderful
representations in the camera obscura Images
so clear. so full of life, so perfectly representing
every object in nature. These living pictures,
BY trayersing lens and mirrors, are thrown down
with double beauty on the table OF the camera
obscura by the radient finger of light The new
art has been discovered to fix these wonderful
images, which have hitherto past away volatile
evanescent as dream-to stop them, at our will,
on substance finely sensible to the Immediate
action of light and render them permanent before
our ewes, in traces represented by tns IN perfect
harmony ON each point with different degrees of
intensity. We must not, however, believe, as
has been enormously reported to the public with
respect to these (Parisian) experiments, that the
proper colors of objects are represented IN these
images by colors: they are only represented, with
extreme truth, by light and in every graduation OF
shade; as an oil painting is given by perfect
engraving consisting OF black Ines or, perhaps,
more akin to design made with mathematical
accuracy, and in aqua-tnta; for there are no
crossings of lines in tile designs by the pencil OF
nature red, blue, yellow, green &C., are render
ed by combinations OF light and shade-by demi-
tints more or less clear or obscure, according to
the quantity of light in each color. But, in these
copies the delicacy of the desi gn-the purity OF
the forns-the truth and harmony of the tone
the prial perspeclive-the high finish OF the de-
tails, are all expressed with the highest perec-
ton. .....,
The formidable lens which often betrays mon
strosities in the most delicate and arlal o! our
master pieces, may here search for defects III vain
The creations of nature triumph. Ear from be-
traying any defect, the highest magnfer only tends
to show more clearly its vast superiority. AT each
step we find new objects to admire, revealing u
us the existence of exquisite details, which es-
cape the naked eve, even in reality Nor can
this astonish us when the radlent hight. which can
only act according to the mmutable laws OF ma
ture substitutes its rays for the hesating pencil
>or the artist NJ. Daguere has represented, from
the Pont des Arts, and in very small space, the
whole bank of the Seine, including that part Of
the Louvre containing the grand gallery pictures
Each line, each point, is rendered with perfec-
ton quite unattainable by all means hitherto used;
he has also reproduced the darkness Of Notre
Dame, with its immense draperies and, Gothic
Sculpture He has also taken the view of build
ing in the morning at eight O'clock, at midday,
and at four O'Clock in the afternoon, during rain
and in sunshine. Eight or ten minutes at most,
in the climate of Paris, is sufficient; but under
more ardent sun, such as that of Egypt, one
minute will suffice. To artists and Swans, who
often find it impossible to prolong their stay at
interesting places, this process must be most
welcome The French journals, and reports of
proceedings, however, admit that these admirable
representations still leave something to be desired
as to effect, when regarded as works OF art 1t
is singular, they observe, that the power which
created them seems to have abandoned them, and
that these sUorks Of light want light. Even in
those parts the mostlighted there is an absence of
,n1 &c 10 he al of
amidst all the harmony of their forms, these views
appear subjected to the sober and heavy tone Of
color i'm parted by duh Northern sky. 1t would
appear that by passing throu h the glasses Of the
optical arrangements of Mr.. Daguerre, all the
views are uniformly clothed with melancholy
aspect like that given to the horizon by the APP
proach of evening. Motion, it is obvious, can
never be copied; and the attempt to represent
animals and shoe-blacks in action, consequently
failed Statuaray is said TO have been well defined,
but, hitherto, M. Daguerre has not succeeded in
copying the living physiognomy in satisfactory
manner, though he does not despair of success.
It could not have escaped chemists that various
chemical products are sensbiv affected by light
Some gases may remain together in the dark
without any effect, bat ray of light will cause
instant explosion. Other bodies, such as the
,chloruret Of silver, are modified liz color. 1t at
This property would doubtless have suggested
the idea Of applying it to the art of design But,
bv this method the most brilliant parts of the
object become dscoored, and the darker parts re5
main white. This produces an effect contrary to
fact; and, again, the continued action of light
finds to render the whole dark Mr.. Talbot's
method would seem 10 be based OH the use of the
salts of silver, with the addition of some sub
stance or covering to prevent the further action of
light after the design was complete This dis
covery will doubtless make great revolution in
the arts of design. and in multitude of cases,
will supersede old methods altogether inferior.
The temporary interest of many may at first be
affected; but whatever has the true character OF
good, cannot essentially do mischief. The in
venton of printing soon gave employment to
many more than were employed copyists.
Even in our own time time the substitution Of
steel plates for engraving, instead of copper, al
though fifty times many copies may be taken
from them, has, by the substitution of good en-
cravings for indifferent ones, SO extended the
'tiemand, that more steel plates are now required
than were tormely used Of copper.
We must add few words with reference 10
science. This newly discovered substance SO
4 Al