New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-12
BelshazZar's Feast /;

II
o,Iy q mental sketch wac bought and sold by anti
c;ns,iop-bow the weight of obligation thus incur
,ed probably even more than the obstacles and dit
scoes that besei his course, hindered 1t from COM
nIe,;op-hoy it lay boxed up for years, and how,
when at last having erected near bis house aeui'a-
bic painting room, he was again with animation
engaged upon it, Death came, one night, to snatch
the pencil from his hand.
To those who venerated in him the noblest arllft,
the purest representative of the realm OF beauty
who has ever enlightened our country, the unhn-
isbed picture, whose history was 80 interviewer
with that of his more shadowy days, to whose COM
ple,on he looked as a more full expression OF his
Inward life than be had elsew here been able to give,
which bore the last touches of his hand and the re-
Elections Of the last sun that shone upon bis earthly
career, was haowed as if upon an altar In lie
Mr. Alis,on was consecrated object TO all VINO aP
preached him. 1t not merely the dignity ana
singleness of his devotion to art In youth and age
The same so that with him, at least the artstiife
unsulIied by vanity base irritations, or any alloy OF
mercenary motives, had vulgar side, nor the pu'
ry of his life, the elegance and sivery iustre Of
bis manners and conversation, which at the moment
turned the neanest poorest hooks into the Italy OF It
ay and gave 10 the poor little paror the dignity OIL
q Grecian temple Ii was with him no one or TWO
noble qualities or attractions, but an unity an III
tegrity of spirit and nature, that pervadeo his
works, his aspect his manners, with one expression
Of dignity, loneliness, and holy tenderness and
shed through every thing he looked or said, or did,
CLEANS of that pure beauty for which our souls
yearn and thirst often and so much IN vain
I IL: ahAIrN Mo
,ure there mingled with regret that 1t should be
unfinished deliebt and awe at being admitted, as
it were, to the secret stages of growth and develop
men, in the mind whose completed works had done
30 very much for u.s. And we never felt more In
innate approximation TO the secret OF genius than
through imagination and sympathy, through spir
Mual sense Of him who is not dead but sleeping
was given in the silence and loneliness OF the room
In which we were admitted 10 contemplation OF the
unfinished picture.
No one dreamed of any other hand being compe-
tent to finish out this work II is true the greatest
have often employed their pupils 10 paint
large portion of their pictures. But they did en-
ploy their pupils who had become intimately &c
ouaip,sd with .aeir methods of composition and
coorng. and on subordinate parts Of the work. re-
mopy and full effect to the design
Mr.. Alls,ou had no pupil; nor did any person ap-
proach him as to coloring or finish. Beside, bis de-
sgn was left unfinished and confused.
Under these circumstances the request OF Mr.
Spear 1--WE speak from common report, not from i'm
med late intelligence with the friends of MIR. Allston
and owners of the picturel that he might be permit
ted TO copy what was already existent on the can
vass and carry out the design as he conceived IT,
was naiur ally refused. The peculiar but
Of course did not stand the footing of permission
10 copy completed picture. There was danger OF
tampering with the fame Of Mr.. Allston, and subst
tu,ng to the public carcature for the ideal presen
oes before his mind.
Mr.. Spear, then having no open access 10 copy
the picture, was in The habit of drawing from it
privately his hat. till he had all the parts before
him in little He carried with him the composition
asa whole in his mind eye and has studied out the
subject for himself and painted it according 10 his
idea of the intentions of the painter
If this report Of The case be correct 1t would
seem that most persons would feel il contrary 10
their sense of honor thus 10 usarp an inheritance 10
which the great painter had not elected them and
run the risk of substituting their ideas for his on
ground which he had thus enclosed and set apart
The case, as we said before, is unique and we find
not rules or precedents. Ii is not parallel with
the attempt 10 finish Coerdge's Christabel. for
instance; late folly Of very good sor, OF man,
because in that instance the new does not mix with
or dis6gure the old. But taking it as new case
We must say, it is thing We would not have done
for worlds, at least with any view 10 public exhibit
ton. Ii is thing, Of course, which any arts.
would have right TO do as study for himself
alone But if Mr.. Spears motives were purely or
chiefly mercenary, We deem the act objectionable.
We think, at any rate, he should never adver.
tse the picture as ALston'S Beshazzars Feast
He ought to acqusint the public that it is not All.
stems but only his own view of what Allston in
tended. And he ought TO let US know by what
right he iusti6es TO himself this act. Was he haunt
ed by a feeling that he could really bring out the
ideas of the great painter with due torce7 Did he
wan, delicscy 10 perceive the objections to such
enterprise Or was it with him simply and coarse
y means Of getting reputation and money with
out respect 10 those rules OF conduct winch need
The more carefully 10 be studied thai they belong TO
region refined that they cannot be exactly
va
Suppose, however, that Mr.. Spear has reasons
that justify his proceedings and that the facts as 10
the production of the picture now on exhibition
here be every where made known, we are, for
ourselves much pleased to see it. The degree
Of success is such as to justify the attempt
The conception of the artist shines out very visoy
not With the etfalsence his own hand would have
Bestowed. The canvas is rich with motion. con-
snrs,ed though, and the fuliness of forms We
90 not describe it, because people can see it for
themselves and work Of art is always It's own best
Interpreter. To those who are disappointed in the
prophet We must say tina, the work of Alls,on did
mol promise much more. That central form is no
Prophet: no heir of Moses worthy to be marshaled
oy toe pillar OF cloud and the pillar of fire. 80 elect
o. God whose eye Of majestic faith could tame the
ions in their den, but in all save the beard not
sore powerful in expression than the elders and
minister's Of our modern synods. The force of the
design is in the sstonished figures of the vouptu.
cas- and reckless court, with its unworthy allies