The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-17
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Washington.
Correspondence OF the Hersli
WASHINGTON. June Ill 1871
Arf;sfs ;n IEosbin oto.

Correspondence oil the Hereld
WASHINGTON, June IL, 1914.
| Arts and Artists in TTashin gton
AS your other correspondents fur nIshes YOU with
all political news OF interest," shall IN this, devote
myself 10 description a some Of the principal
works OF art IN and about the capitol; and If, in so
DONG, venture 10 prest nj opinions al variance with
those entertained by many persons, do go with
convection that am actuated neither by i'll will or
prejudice, but tor the simple purpose OF doing JUS
ce TO some of the first artists of our country First
as the most conspicuous, the most abused, and in
our mind the most beautiful work OF art in the CAPT.
o, we VIII refer to Persco's group OF statuaIy
1aSs ba IN yey imposing ade
elevated, globe, intended,we presume to represent
the new world which he has just discoveTed--at
his right is the iisure OF young squaw, who asto-
| nished at seeing white man, has rushed forward
to behold his face, and In doilg, the loose drape-
ry IN which she was developed, has fallen from her
person, presenting TO the spectator sweet, chsse,
and SIMPLE representative OF nature. We have been
| much amused hearing the remarks made upon this
work Some have one suggestion 10 make some
another-some think the figures too large, others
| lumbus had been so long without seeing a woman
1t would be more natural were his attention dire CT
ed to the female figure. Another said, "faies but
| lis all wrong; hod Scotnan done IL, he oud how
| mad fon ship in It, aud covered that part over
with rog-Colunbus cume over in ship, an thot
ought to be seen furst" And with such criticisms
have the arts IN this country to contend, and by
! such blockheads are The feelings OF artists to be
wounded. Werecoect some years since, when
bill was introduced into the House of Representa-
tWes, making appropriation 20 have The remaining
four pannes IN the rotunda OF the capitol filled by
paintings, TO be executed by the best American ant
lists, one OF the most Intelligent members from the
| eastern States opposed it, on the ground that there
were no American artists capable at painting n
good historical picture The gentle man too, if we
| mistake not, was personal friend Of Wash ngion
| Also on, who Was then living, and he must have
| known that many ut England's best painters were
| Americans, who through neglect and want of en-
cOuragement were compelled to cave the ir coun-
Try, and seek among strangers The rank and respect
heir talents enii,le Them TO. West, Copey, Tfum-
| bull, Leslie, Newton, and many Others oil whose
superior abilities there can be DO doubt, were Of
| that number John Vanderlyn at the very time the
bill was opposed, was IN this country, American
| by birth, had but a few years previous received
rom the hands OF Napoleon gold medal Tor The
best historical picture ihen exhibiting III the French
| academy and yet in The mind OF he Hen, mem
Der OF Congress, there Was no painter competent 10
PANT an historical picture. We must vltli shame
confess the arts IN this country are but little indebi-
ed to the patronage Il government. Previously TO
the appointment of Mr.. Weir, to fill the vacancy
| occssoned by the death IT The professor o. painting
| ., West Point, Charles r. Leslie was urged and
induced 10 accept the situation, with an eApr, ss
understanding in relation TO terms ard privileges.
Mr. Leslie came over from Europe with his fam-
Iy-comlnenced his duties, land requested in accord
| ance with The agreement entered INTO by the 60
| vernment, that " sludio' IN gh be built for him.
| The small amount necessary was refused ,and he In
| disgust returned To England. The bill OF which We
| were speaking, NOW outstanding the opposition 1t
ret with, passed, and $4,000 was appropriated to
the purchase Of four historical paintings OF hmerl-
can subjects, "The Embarkation OF the Pienms,'
| 4" The Bgpsm OF PocaLontas," The Emigration
Of Daniel Boon into kentucky," and we believe
. The Landing OF Columbus" 10 be executed by
Weir, Chapman, Innan and Vanderyn. The two
first are already completed and placed in the capt.
tol. The embarkaion Is "a picture that would do
honor o any age or any country, and Mr.. Weir has
proved satisfactorily the strong claims of American
artists to the confidence OF their countrymen The
other tour pannels are occupied by hltonca paint,
lngs executed by the late Col. John Trunbull. OF
| Grenoughs statue Of Washington we can say but
lttl. as from Its peculiar position, OF Its beauties
or defects 1t is impossible TO Judge. IL is placed in
The centre OF the park, which fronts the capitol, and
| rs covered Oor what purpose we cannot imagine,)
| with temporary frame building, hunorousy, and
with too much reason styled cow-pen--conse-
quently the object of interest is kept out of sight,
and as the figure Is colossal, and as The only view
that be obtained of II must be from the interior
Of the building, the effect Is altogether lost. $50 eco
was the price paid tor the statue Of Washington.
GTenough we understand isat present engaged exc
cutting group TO occupy The lett side OF the steps
cf the capitol, and which is Intended match TO
Persico's work While upon this subject, il is wor-
thy OF note that some Of the flint mechanical gent
us America has ever produced were painters. Ro-
bert Fulton studied portrait painting IN London I'M
der Benjamin West, and prosecuted II Tor length
Of time. The engraved likeness OF Joel Barlow in
the National Portrait Gallery, is from picture by
Fulton. Samuel F. Il. Morse, well known 10 the
public through bis wonderful Electro Magnetic Te
legraph, was fellow student with Fulton They
since been proved, thought together. Mr.. Morse is
at the present time and has been since its founda-
ton, President of the National Academy OF De-
sign. The application of percussion caps to fire
arms was by landscape painter OF Philadelphia.
Artists al present in Washingtoa ar Bingham,
Cranch, Clover, Fenderck and King. Clover came
on to paint the President Cranch and Bnghsm m
have each executed very successful likeness OF j..
10. Adams for some OF his friends ARIEL
WHITE MouNrArNs--The Portsmouth Journal
tl.a k,.sA
Mountains that il snow on Mt Washington all last Mon.
dsy night and till O'Clock Tuesday morning, when
covered like mid winter for some iour miles down
the summit The father Of the Crawords is constructing
for horses from his house on the south side OF Mt
Washington to the summit which he says with the sx;
cepton Of about 40 rods will be good canerng ground
| the " hole distance from his house 10 the summit
YANKEE TRIcx-A successful speculation was
entered upon in our city few days since, OF some
what novel character. man visited large number
Of families oring for sse plants which he was pleased 10
call spendid velvet Geranium, all well rooted, and
which he had just received from New York, to which
city they recently been imported The plants were
vigoros and appeared beautiful and were and
bad by brought so lar that the good women could not
resist the inclination TO purchase he price wos cheer
these pans ~ eminent place in their collection and to
Introduce TO the notice OF their friends But almost
each ser had equally fortunate in having secured
par of The plants and all appeared alike. Suspicion was
at length excited and on inquiry IL was discovered hat
the velvet Geraniums were wd plant, growing ~ great
| tongue = Bangor Wig. nateIt
PnvATE MArL.-In the Circuit Court, this morn
ing before Judge story ind sprsgue in the case 81 The
government Us Hale 90 Letter Express Oh" decision
1t the District Court confirmed -Boaos Pgp,r J''e
10
WHEAT CRop IN MARyLANp.-lhe HaV'rstown
Torchght Of Thursday that the Wdsn
ngton county Is finer than has been int many years,
and ha, rpened 80 rapidly in consequences OF favorable
weather, that msny farmers intended COMMENCING "e'i
harvest during the present w.ch.
| COMM M ALTON
To rpr Fprrop or Iut Nov bonx nihs u1, ~,