New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-07-12


we read in the Boston journals, with the deep
est grief, that WASHINGTON ALLsroN died at his
residence in Cambridge on Saturday evening last.
He has suffered from hcalth for several years,
but his death was sudden and entirely unexpected
even to his family.
Mr.. ALLsToN stood confcsscdlv at the head Of
The Painters OF his time He was native of South
having spent his preparatory term by the advice
his physicians, at Newport, X. |. He was dis
1inguishcd even then in both the fields Of his sub
scquent lofty fame, and being sHlittcn with the
love of Painting, for which he had a strong nat
ural genius, embarked for London in 1901 with a
brother artist, and spent three years stu
dent Of the Royal Academy, of which WEST WAS
then President. In 1904 Inc went with VAN
DEaLYN to Paris, and thence to Italy, where he
remained four years. Returning 10 America in
1909, he married at Boston sister of The late Dr.
CHANNING, and in 1911 sailed again for England
Ills reputation now well established, both at
home and abroad and his picture Of the f" Dead
Man raised by Elislla's Bones I" gained from the
British institution where the most famous artists
hundred guineas; the picture was'aterwards sold
to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for
$500. In 1913, just after his own recovery from
severe and dangerous Illness the sudden death
of his wife cast him into the deepest depression
and melancholy. In 1877 he accompanied Les
lie to Paris, and in 1918 returned TO his native
land and took up his residence, where it has ever
i,I,
he married sister of Mr.. r. IL. DANA who has
survived him.
MIR. ALLsToN was man Of rare genius, and
IL noble ornament Of that class, Of whom, not
our Land alone, but the Age stands highly in
need, who love the Art to which their souls arc
welded, not for the wealth or honors it may com
anand, but for its own high sake, and who find in
it--as Coleridge found in Poctry-its own 'cx-
ceeding great reward He has come but seldom
Especially of late ycars-beiorc the public;
but his life has been given to his Art, and his
Art will give Immortality to his fame. With
DEVOTION unexampled in tho present, age
$50 far as we are aware he has spent the last ten
or fifteen years of his life mainly on one great
painting Bclshazzar's Feast, or the Handwri-
ting on the Wall"-a theme worthy of his &C.
MUS and one which he cannot fail to have treated
with original and creative power. Nearly all
his subjects were chosen from tho Bible, and
have been treated Ill a most lofty AMI worthy
style. His spirit was as grand and religious as
the themes upon which he wrought; his genius
was most at home in the other world, and nc has
embodied ideas of the supcrhuman and divine
with unequaled and majestic skill CoLERIDGE,
with whom when in Italy he formed close and
intimate friendship which endured till it
cred by DEATH pronounced him by far the greatest
genius, artist, America has ever produced
This, from SO high source, is no unIncanlng or
worthless compliment.
Though Painting WAS undoubtedly the art III
which he most cxcelcd, Mr.. ALLsroN was well
and widely known as most accomplished
scholar and a writer of great power and the
incest taste. In the earlier years of his life
he wrote several Poems OF great and enduring
merit, of which the "SylPhs of the Seasons
The Paint King" The Two Painters The
Tuscan Maid" and Others will readily recur 10
the memory of our readers. He has given TO the
world but little prose-" MoNALpl" beng his chief
publication. This was written as early 1922,
but never published till lS4l. Though protesting
to be simply a Tale ii evnccs dramatic power
and philosophic knowledge of human passion
possessed by few writer's of any age We have
reason to believe that, though devoted mainly to
Painting, his pen was not idle--and that he has
lett behind hun u rich treasure of which, ere long,
wo trust the world may enjoy share. Essays
on various subjects, and series of DiscouIScS on
Fine Art, we believe may be looked for among
his Remains As a Painter, as he has SAID of
Monaldi, he differed from his contemporaries no
less IN kind than III degree If he held any thing
IN common with Others ii was with those of ages
past-with the mighty dead of the fifteenth cen
,,,r> : from them he had learned the language OF
his art but his thoughts and their turn of express
sion wero J. rs own" Among his principal works
were the Aug, Iibcrating Peter from prison, .
of which a small Gov was recently exhibited in
this CITY; Jacobs Dgca,." now in possession OF
the Earl Of Egremont Elpeh IN the Desert y
purchased by MIR. Labouchere, OF tie British far-
iament 1.-THE Angel Uriel in the Sun" belong
ing TO the Marquis OF Stafford; Saul and the
Witch of Endor = "Spalatros Vision OF the
Bloody Hand - Gabriel setting the Guard of
the Heavenly Host : " Anne Page and Slen-
der - (" Beatrice" and other exquisite produc-
lions held by gentlemen of Boston.
MIR. ALLsToN died at the age of sixty-four--
closing at that ripe time hte of serene and quiet
beauty, distinguished not less by its enduring un-
swerving Christian faith, than by It's lofty devo-
ton TO creative Art. lie sought his reward, no,
In the honors or emolumcnts of the world, but in