Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-07-27
From the Alexandria Gazeiie, July li,i
Death Of WASHINGTON AIision.

The shafts OF death fly thick, as The
melancholy records OF our columns 10.
day bear testimony. Anong others, the
Eastern mail of this morning brings Us
lhe unwelcoIEe tidings OF the death OF
Washington Allslon-a proud name IN
the histo,y of American arts, "src"nd
only" according To Dunlap, ''lo that ol
his great master, West, TO whom, if 10
ierior in the facility of composition, he
was superior in color and equal ia draw
ing" Nor was this all To his eminent
talents, and aitanmeuis in the divine art
were united ''ihe virtues "t The man,
and The accomplishments Of the scholar
and gentleman.
Washington Allston was n native OF
South Carolina, born 10 the year l719
|, was early discovered that the climate
was not suiled io his con sIltriion, and
he was sen, to Newport, r. l.. then the
iav"li,e ,rsoli Of :he Southern gentry, to
20 houl, where he was fitted i"r college
entering Cambridge University IN
1896. The natural tendency Of his
mind for the fine arts was early dayrlop-
ed. His fist rude drawings IN the sand
were observed at The early age of sA
years, and his taste for poetry, music,
landscape gardening, painting and sialn'
ary-wnh love for the wild and mar
velIous- tales of wltchcralt and terror
was at the same time manifested 10 nu-
,ncr"us fanclul ways. lie constructed
Tiny cottages, laid out and planted NINA
tuIe pleasure grounds, copied pictures,
aad painted originals, nt ii very early
aga storing his mind with ,ales and
traditions, related TO him by The say"
negroes Of his Ghhe!'s plantation. II
was " lille at schoo, IN Newport that he
formed nn aiircilonato acquaintance
with Malbonc, the artist, ailrrward set
tied in Boston.
Allsion had painted in oil even before
entering college. During his freshman
year he tried his hand repeatedly in
miniature, but made decided failures
feeling them to be such. Many years
anG Of these cif";ts was
shown to him, and instantly condemned,
he having no recollection Of being the
artist | lis leisure hours during his col
lryc course were devoted to painting
figures and landscapes. His Iavor,c
compositions were cunnerted with the
lives aud qnarrrlS of handi,ii, aud he ie.
lie l!aied hlinscli, much before leaving
college, on his success in cutting throat
the bandits Of the piece beng engag-
ed in y quarrel among themselves over
ihe body Of m.ldered traveller for
the booty. lie was graduated in 1900,
and returned to South Carolina, where
he painted the head OF Peter hearing the
cock crow ,and another of Judas Iscariot
In the following year he cmbarktd
for Eng gland with bis friend halbone.
lie had friends who offered t" assist him
in financial way, on his emharkailon
to Europe, one of whom, a Sco'chman,
having seen and admired his head oi
Peter, pressed him I" accept from him
the SUN of one hundred pounds . year
while he should reside abroad. All
these offers, however, were declined,
and the young artist sacrificed has ancts-
iral Inheritance, in pursuit Of TIE profess
sion lac had chosen. ilo arrived in
London iH June, I8Ol-was received
kindly by WeA-was 50 successful jp
his first drawings ns to atiract attention
-aitl an the following year exhibited
three pictures in Somerset House.
We have not time to sketch the sub
scqucnt brilliant career OF our gifted and
accomplished coun,ryman. Suffice II
To say, hc was cinineD,ly successful, aud
during j residence Ct eight years abroad
contracted friendships with the mos,
celebrated scholars aud artists, and gain
cd reputation high and honorable for
himself lie travelled extensively
through Europe, cspecia!!y in Italy, the
lans Of poetry aud sHIg, studying all
that was beGpt,ipl and sublime in nature
AMI drinking deep from .hc tue
fountains OF inspiration. His own mind
was highly poellcal, and his descriptions
IN letters TO his friends, "f the feeling
and admiration with which he was won!
To gaze upon the works ol the greatest
masters, are oloqnently aud powerfully
written.
Returning To his own country in 1909,
he married the sister ol DR.. Chan.
ning but again visited Europe three
years aiiciward-- taking with him IA II
pupil our friend aud irllow-chizru Pro
lessor $. f. B. Morse, President of the
New York Academy "i the Ats ol DE.
sign. u, suning his labor with his pen.
ell, his greater works were painted dur.
ing his second residence in Europe the
first heing The restoration of The dead
man to l,lo by the contact of Elisha's
bones Ills atcnniulnucr with Guile
ridge was renewed, aud he painted u.
porlrnii OF him, although p"'ra,i paint
Ing was no, his passion. ltwas in 1918,
uhIle in Eng gland, that he proved to the
world that poetry and painting are KIN.
drcd arts, by TIE ppblicalion al his parii-
cal works. Ills nrkt picture was la.
cob's Dream.
Rich III honor, aud 10 ilc esteem of
the great and good, Mr.. Allsion rrlurn
ed I" The InIled States again IN 1918,
and settled down ~ the Immediate vicini.
" oi Boston, where he has resided rv-i
pnr-uing the nri which he loved
with nsslduiiy, but with an ambition I"
excel m few pictures, rather than IT,.
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