The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-15
pAGUERREs MAGICAL PICTURES.

Mn. EDITOR: through your valuable paper 1
will give, for the benefit of the public, an mper-
feet description Of the above pictures was led to
suppose, before / saw them, that they were some
catch-penny; indeed, there are many more who hold
the same opinion. Yielding to the persuasion OF a
| friend went to them, and think that all per-
sons of taste and refinement ought to avail them
selves of the only opportunity they may ever have Of
beholding the grandes specimens of the art in the
world.
THE FIRST PICTURE,
Which is painted on canvass % feet square, repre-
sents the interior of the church st. Ettienne du
| Mont in Pars-the hour midday. The execution of
the perspective painting and general effect Of claro
obscure is beautiful that you cannot conceive that
you are looking upon picture, but every thing
spires to make you believe you standing at the
trance and looking up the aisle of the most magn-
| cent church in France. Every thing appears as
| large il do 5 in nature. There no benches
nor pews in the church chairs are used exclusively
which scattered all over the aisle. After suf-
| cient time has elapsed for viewing the picture, a
modification Of light commences, the daylight gradu
ally diminishes into twilight and soon the rays OF the
pale moon are seen streaming gently through the
windows, illumning the edifce with its slvery light
The clock tells the hour of midnight, and in the dis
lance the illumination of the church commences
mass is about to be celebrated-now the heavenly
tones of music heard on the ar-the part of the
building in which the mass is being said is filled
with brilliant light, and everywhere within its in
huence may be seen crowds OF persons, some on
their knees praying, others standing and all the
chairs which before empty are now occupied.
This effect produces holy feeling, and is almost
incline to fall down and worship with those before
him.
The wonderful effect Of double light is now pro-
duced on the picture. On the pillars and in the up
per part of the church is the moonlight effect, and
the candle-ght below AS soon as the music
ceases, the lights extinguished the people disap
pear, and the church is silent and alone. Daylight
gradually dawns, and the church has the same APP
pearance when you first it-havng undergone
all the notifications of light which actually takes
place in nature during the twenty-four hours.
THE SECOND PICTURE
Represents the Valley of Goldau, in Switzerland
On either side of which are two mountains upwards
OF seven hundred feet high In the distance is the
lake Of Zougi and three villages occupy the several
parts of the Valley at the base of the largest noun
tain. In the foreground of the picture is large cot
tage around which are trees OF the most luxuriant
growth. This Valley was considered the most fertile
spot in Switzerland You the picture by daylight
effect and one can imagine nothing else than he
Is looking out of window the most lovely and
romantic landscape. A modification of light com
mences, and the ay-light is impercepibly lost in the
embrace OF the sable goddess Of ighl-the clouds
appear hot and lvd, and there is every indication Of
storii-the picture is illumned at intervals by the
vel berales through the air, growing louder and
nearer-the rain falls fast and heavIy-the storm is
its heighl-a terrible crash Thunder now fills the
air, and now the Storm luils, the lightning becomes
less vivid the rain ceases aud the heavy clouds break
away, revealing the beauteous moon clothed with her
svery garments, rejecting her soft rays on lowering
clouds and the landscape below cold shudder pass
through your frame when you look the dire elton
where the valley stood only few hours ago. The
mountains, during the storm, had crumbed over
~ pln in thaIr fha wills "a.
of six hundred souls, and filing the valley with huge
masses Of rockthe cottage in front alone escapes
general Tun-in 1t you can see candle burning
which throws its rays on number of figures in the
foreground-they some of those who live in the
vicinity, and are looking appalled, at the awful
spectacle. Gradually the day begins to dawn, the
moon and candle light is lost in the more reulgent
oro OF day and the picture presents the charming and
beautiful Valley OF GoIdau.
THE THIRD PICTURE
Brings to your view the Ducal City of Venice with
its palaces, cahedrals, and hotels Of the greatits
grand canal and vessels its custom-house and stores
and wharves boats filled with produce are moved
alongside the latter and the whole view seems SO ma
tural that it is impossible that any other thought
should occupy your mind than that Venice itself
stands before you. change almost imperceptible
takes place in the picture, and the MONDAY sun sof-
tens into the shades of evening, the moons rays soon
acquire brllllancy and force, and the beautiful city is
lllumned by moonlight the soft rays rest quietly on
the silent dolnes and sleeping waters and the clouds
are sublime beyond description. While you are adj
hiring the picture you pei ceve that the palaces and
hotels are being brilliantly illuminated, the boats that
by day light were filed with produce, &c. are now
converted into the most beautifully decorated Condo
las, containing Masqueraders in fancy dresses and
musicians about to embark on the voyage of amuse-
ment and verify the grand carnival has commenced
and the whole city seems to participate in its gay
cites; soldiers are seen in the act of promenadng,
and the whole scene one of the greatest interest," and
cannot fail to repay the spectator an hundred fold for
the trouble he might take to go and it, The car
nival over, the lights die away and lost in the
coming morn--the figures are no more visible-the
rising smiles again the glorious city, and the
silence and beauty which now rest it, contrast for
chilly with the revelry and confusion of the last hour
These dioramas or magical pictures surpass any
thing of the kind, and can form no conception of
what he is going to see until it bursts upon him in all
the truth and beauty of coloring and perspective.
A VISlTER.
From the LOlpeU Courier