New-York daily tribune., 1843-05-26
-.,;.,.1 academy of Design.

bic connoiseurs, ieisurcly loungsTs ana cuiios.s!
hunters. Which class predominates II might MOI
be easy to say;-and get clear answer TO the
question would 60 far towards defining the arts'i-
cal taste Of our citizens. Many. we DOUBT not,
no 10 see the paintings.-rnore i; rlay be TO gaze
st and admire the tqbleaur rirHntS: and most o.
I'll nerehance. to be seen themselves. But the
-ooros at all events. are reasonably well filled
whatever mar be the motives othose who frequent
tben: and as this point is, with those most nearly
interested, the one Of chief Importance we pre-
SINE thev care not to inquire with too much
nicety into The purposes and motives OF their visit
ants. We have visited the rooms, and have been
generally pleased with the paintings. We have
presented no detailed criticism Of the several pro
ductions. partly because we have not found leisure
10 examine them with the requisite care, END
partlv from lacl. Of confidence in our own Judge
r1cnt# concerning an art Of winch VIC know bat
little. The exhibition on the whole seems quite
equal to that o. former years. though perhaps
t,re are no paintings Of quite equal merit 10 some
y.hich have been heretofore exhibited. Few
VIII forget ALLsrox's Vision OF the Blcodv
Hand and none viii find It's equsl N the rooms
this year. The same great artist has IN the pre-
sent exhibition only one picture. and that cabinet
s;zcd sketch from the large picture of st Peter
hbcratcd from prison BIZ the Angel" which he
oaintcd fo- Sir George Beaumont 1t IL probably
iolero- to the other, but it still bears the stamp OF
ais genius and one can see at glance that no
other artist certainly Of those who exhibit this
wear. could possibly have made it. There IS the
mark Of pocer upon it-such power as few but
the old masters have ever shown. CoLERlpcE
said. as recorded in his Table Talk, that ALLsToS
was by far the greatest and most gifted painter
America had produced: and the remark seems as
clearly true now as it was when first made.
The Return Of Columbus in chains to Ca
dz, BY LEUrzE seems universally recognized IS
the finest printing in the Exhibition. 1t took the
first prize at an exhibition in Brussels, and IS
worthy, so far as NC can Judge, of all the praise
that has been bestowed upon it. The figure and
port of Columbus are most digni6cd and lofty:
nor Go VIC see how even the least Of the subordI-
nate figures could be improved. The artist is very
Young and now abroad He bids far 10 stand
at the head OF American painters lie has also
a picture Of Sir Walter Raleigh and his wife on
the morning of his Execution. The subject seems
less suited TO his genius than the other, but It is
admirably handlcd.-Of the Portraits in the Ex-
hibition those By PAGE seem to have borne away
the palm. Some of them are capital those OF
Lowell and himself we think the best and most
striking HUNTINGTON fully sustalns his reputa-
ton, and his g Portrait Of Lady" No. 80 IS
most admirably done. IMAM seems not to have
aimed at surprising his previous ctforts-nor need
he do it. His portraits have always been among
the best exhibited 1t is :aid that he and Hun
tington arc about to sail for Europe. PAGES
Eccc Homo" we think, merits more praise
than it has received. The expression OF the
countcnance, to which exception has been taken,
is certainly marked and lofty; and if there are
upon it indications of mental suffering, the
crown of thorns should not be forgotten.-
There is something of sublirnity in the grief ex-
pressed and the picture, though not faul'less. is
one of extraordinary merit. The English Har
r;crs' bv J. W. AUDUBON is an admirable pic
tnrc-admirablc. Of course, for its truth and ac
curacy OF Representations.
But we did not intend to notice the different
paintings at any length but only to say that
among them are some of a high degree of merit,
and greater number, might be expected, de-
cidcdly wretchcd. We cannot admire any OF
Rorssr>,;'s or indeed see clearly how they were
allowed place upon The walls. HIS pictures Of
Anne Bocyn' and Fanny E!lsler IN her cos
tune OF the Cachucha." arc decidedly inferior to
thc Fashion plates IN our Monthly Magazines
though the resemblance in style is very exact
We are happy to learn that the prospects Of the
Academy are highly encouraging and the nsti'u
ton is likely iobc productive Of essential benefit to
American Art.