American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-10-28


MEsSEs. Eplors,-i have also visited the
great painting Of Christ Healing the Sick, and
while sitting before the picture, several other
designs Of the great artist Sp:ang up before me-,
and | was led to inquire OF myself, what man
OF mere mortal mould could cope successfully
with Benjamin West il displaying the icrrors
oF Mount Sinai, the imprisiou of Satan iiom
heaven, the opening of tho Seventh Seal, the
| Final Resurrection, and other scenes of a sim
| liar kind which the bold presumption Of West
did not hesitate to portray. Subjects OF such
magnitude and grandeur, which might well
daunt and deter even The almost suprrhuman
force and genius of an Angelo, were familiar
things to the greatness OF his ambition and the
confidence of his power. Yet with scenes OF
such tremendous ma Icsty and sublimity, he did
not eullrciy fail. And If he has left an exam
pic Of VAIN and Prescriptions daring III the
mad rashueSs Of his wild asplrIngs, he has leIt
| also mperishable proofs of the greatness Of his
mind the fertility of his invention, aud the at-
nucnco Of his skill.
Ills Chris, Healing the Sick is n production
Of wonderful ability, and exhibits Il grasp OF
mind, power of composition, and felicity OF
expression that would alone establish his claim
to the superiority of genius and to a high place
among the first artists of modern times.
We Will take upon us the agreeable duty Of
prasing the parts OF the painting on exhibition
in this CITY, which most particularly pleas
ed us-and the first of the principal figures, the
Saviour himself We want words to express
eur admiration of this presentment Nothing
could be more happily or truly conceived. The
attitude Is at once natural and noble, and suit
ed both TO the character and occasion. Dign-
ty without pride, humility without meanneSs,
confidence without assurance, and grace, ease,
openneSS and kindness are all expressed in the
attitude and appearance of this almost divine
creation. The CoumtcnanCc Is that OF a SORROW
ing Saviour OF God man Jesus, as described III
the gospcli calm thoughtful, pensve, without
trace Of earthly passion, but wild, intelligent,
meek, benevolent, tngcd with Il shade Of mel
anChoIy, and beautiful with holiness, it is in
deed the face Of very Christ Of the Son of
God. No one can look upon this picture Of
the Saviour without emotion nor without being
soltcncd and rcpruycd. Yet there is no rcproof'
on the Sayiuur's lip nor in hi, down cast eve,
but in the heart and conscience Of the observer
who sees purity he ought 10, bat cannot feel.
Oar limits viii not permit oar speaking as
We could desire Of the many striking character
istlc cXccIcuCos Of this noble painting. The
heads Of Peter, OF Judas and of the Chief
Priest require study to do them any thing like
Justice. 7 he flank, ready, aud somewhat too
forward zeal OF tie apostle Peter, and the mean,
insdnuS and malicious cunning Of the arch
bctraycr, and the h'ggo,tcd, pha,sac and ma
Ijgnaut cnmity Of the Chief Priest are finely
imagcd. The eye of the latter almost chlls
one to look upon its deadly gaze of hatred
The Sick Chld, and the beautiful ,Icwcss, its
mother, form one OF the most interesting and
touching groups that could be conceived. So
natural and truthful; the child weak, helpless,
and relaxed, is perfect picture of the prostra-
ton Of disease. The Sick Man, seemingly at
deaths door, Thin haggard, nervelcss and trem-
hlingly eager to see il his hope can be confirm
cd, and has wiie's appealing look of sohcjtude
and entreaty arc faithful and pathetic delnea-
tons. The Blind Girl and her father and the
Rickcty Boy, are all truthful and touching re-
presentations, and merit far more extended
notice than we are able 10 bestow upon them.
We have not room TO say more Of this magni-
fccnt painting, and have already too much en-
cecded the space we had intended to devote TO
il. We cannot dismiss The subiect, however, (
without earnestly recommending all who have
not paid it a visit, TO do so speedily. II Is in the
contemplation of the great works of oXtraor-
binary genius that our highest and purest plea
sures are to DC found, and the man who shuts
his eyes and his heart against them is blind and
dull 10 the truest sources OF rational enjoy
ment.