New-York daily tribune., 1845-05-29


/ lc The essays contain the slower of the obscrya
lions of the most accomplished observer the world
has ever known and in his iavorite direction The
ran4lsiions are made with spirit fidelity and
falness Of comprehension. WORTHY the admirable
! beauty and depth Of the originals.
/ The Conversations bctwcen Goethe and Dr..
| Eckcrmann," translated some years since by tie
writer OF this notice of which -apent Editor OBJ
served at the time tha, the remarks therein con
tanned were 10 iriing he could even have wished
the fan. translator had substituted her own in pre-
ference" ts0 shallow seem depths 10 those who
never venture beyond their ownD has obtained 4
4 consideration of the most valuable kind. IL has
been read and many times read by artists literary
sacn and the thoughtful who delight TO trace the
| laws Of organization even when they have not en-
ergy to organize new forms TO all who priced that
book. the volume before us will bring yet more i'm
portant benefits But, il must be received as book
to study to be considered with deep attention; no
careless and hippant survey will be Of any avail.
The translator says in his preface, The name OF
Artist, applied to Goethe, is familiar 10 all the
world This title was owing not 80 much TO the ar
| tistc feeling and knowledge conspicuous In his
| great works, as to these admirable writings iii
which the nature of Art, and its relations TO Man
! and TO Life, are developed. In fact. in his prose
writings this subject IL rarely forgotten and il Il
shall seem to any ono that undue portion OF is
Intellectual activity was devoted Ia its devclopm2n,
to its development careful study OF hi works VIII
make it appear that Art is not with him single side
of humanity, but medium for viewing al humai
ty, core around which all knowledge all cxpe-
riencc all science all the ideal well as all the
practical of our nature which in the desultory
I quirements of men often stand in contradiction
arrange themselves into one Harmonious whole Ii
is in this view that Art as part OF cultivation, is
deserving Of that large place which he has given
TO it."
4 An essay which eucidatcs these remarks is in
/ our hands II was written by q friend, occasion
Of the Phi Beta oration which called orh the elo
qaent and indignant reply of Mr.. Calvert. quoted
by us month or two since 1t forms excellent
an introduction both TO the book and the subject
| being, indeed, fur ns we know, more searching
| and comprehensive than any thing that has been
uttered in this country upon that subject, that We
| puboin it, 1t is longer and requires more thought
| .u alteration than is desirable in newspaper essays
generally; but we believe many readers will thank
US for an opportunity ofhecomins acquainted with it,
X
In the Phi Beta Kappa oraticn, delivered at
Cambridge Mass. Inst year, the orator tooS coca
sion TO give it as his opinion that the works "t
I Goethe were not destined TO any great degree o,
permanencc that the world had IN TACT been taken
h in b. them; this opinion heing founded, not upon
B anv criticism Of tho works themselves, but (by a
mher circular process of rc,u-oninc) on the sup
posed want of morality in their author
Ii is no, NV intention to defend the aCthor or his
4 works and pcrhoaps the fierce operation oi opn-
ion upon one side of contrcvertcd subject anc
one where good and wise men are divided IN opn-
Z ion serves rather to mark the intellectual position
OF the maker of the assertion than 10 settle IN amy
degree that of his subject. Ii seems hardly neces
ssrv for us TO repeat this country the controversy
that has 50 long ragged in Germany, and we will
tus, that the best office can do will bo 10 put
| into the readers hand any means, however made
I quale of coming 10 his own conclusions.
I In my view. Art and Literature in their highest
I snsc arc one, and there are certain views OF both
! contained in the Address that seem TO mo TO paint
& with peculiar felicity n very prevalent and popular
4 mode of thinking on these subjects, and as II seems
tome an erroneous, or, AT least. confused one And
4 Is these subjects are of great Importance nothing
E can bc more necessary than Tor us 10 start with
I clear views in relation 10 them 1t is important 10
rs all, not indeed in the same degree as The Poet
Il or Artist but il depends o;l us IN high degree
Il whether they shall iucc; those tavorng circum-
stances tha, are essential To tho true development
+ OF their powers.
s And in the first place as 10 the words ar, and
& Artist:
l. was thought to be great advance. when the
same term began 10 he used 10 indicate the highest
excellence in poetry that was applied 10 the kindred
arts. il was visible bond OF union between them
all raising the ideal of all artists by showing them
that !e pcrecl their separate arts lay III region
N common 10 them all. 1t is perhaps still more I'M
a.. Qrftz
r conscious unconscious acknowl'dS me'it ot this
Tact s the basis OF all high cultivation ana criticism
r. An artist moreover means man 0t natural genus
Ewho has cultivated and acquired an art: and this
TOO thought tn have sicnicancy as applied TO
poetry. as indicating the tallacy OF the popular be-
lief tina; unculiiva,ed genius was capable oi attain
inc the highest rank in poetry. twas al once per
Eceved that the painter must have learned the OF
T. his tools mus, have learned the principles OF his
art; and though the poet works with spiritual tools
he must be master of them, bcoro he can attain the
highest he is capable OF.
Il Mr. Putnam says. that
Artist is which as applied 10 literary men lie is
sorry TO find is getting into rcpuc amongst
terra OF commendation. And ;ha; in Europe is gene
rally tern, of dspara.cnlcrt as indicating n writer
Hwhose Inspiration passes through the heart and
Hwbosc lofty sentiments have no home in his own soul
3 and no expression In his life.
\ So Ear as any observation OF European literature
goes this cannot be maintained But if il were
iN.IS
ercproach, word which in It's original application
indicates the hiebes, excellence Man is capable of
sachcving
1 The term Art does no, apply 10 literature gene.
sraly but to works constructed on certain 2,riaci-
spje; for instance Drama is work constructed
according to certain principles and II is the know
edge oi those principles united 10 The power 10 ap
bply them that constitutes the Dramatic Artist This
shakespeare was ndhe highest sense
Mr.. Putnams subject is the necessary 6 con,
aexion between intellectual and moral culture
But in the sequel j, appears that BY this term IN
selectual culture he means all that man accom-
phshes in literature, including poetry.
I His course OF reasoning seems 20 be.
LIST Truth the ono legitimate object of all intellectual
l endcavurs
I I'd And for the best success in the pursuit OF any
oelect there must be love Of the object itself
Sd A love and reverence for truth in literature rs in
4 IAs mora sentiment, demanding moral culture, and
such is prime condition Of the best intellectual
l Success
ih. In some departments of literature moral culture
necessary because the moral is IN itself The
ogn'&n from which the in,clcc, derives lis bee, male