The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-17

And o, may nations guard that name
With filal power and pride.
.
From Blarhpoods Mdga.ine tor October.
THE PORTRAIT.
A TALE: ABRIDGED FROM THE RUSSIAN OF GoaoL.
ny THOMAS D. SHAW. l-
CHAPTER l.
BY none of the numerous objects of interest in the
busy city of ST. Petersburg the steps of the saun
tering pedestrian more frequently arrested than by
the picture shop In the Stchukin Dvort True il is
that the specimens Of art there displayed are disn
guished rather by eccentreity OF design and rude
ness of execution, than by striking evidences Of
genius. The paintings are for the most part in oil
coated with green varnsh, and fitted into frames Of
dark yellow nsel. winter-piece with white trees,
ferociously red sunset like the glow Of conhagra
ton, Flemish boor with pipe aud dislocated-
looking arm, resembling turkey-cock in rufiles
rather than human being-such are the ordinary
subjects. Beside them hang few engrayings; por-
traits of Khosrev Mrza in his sheepskin bonnet and
Of truculenf generals with cooked hats and Crooks,
noses. Bundles Of coarse prints, on large paper
broadsides, are suspended either side the door.
Here have the Princess Miliktris Kirbitierna II
yonder the city of Jerusalem its houses and churches
smeared with vernilion which gaudy color has also
llNdutu part O the uTUunu ana n Drdce OF RuSSlan
pigrms in huge fur gloves. If these works of art
find few purchasers they least attract throne Of
staiers, drankon ragamufiin lacqueys on their way
from the cooks shop, bearing piles Of plntes with
their masters dinners which grow cold whilst they
cape AT the pictures; coated Russian soldiers
with penkniyes for sale; Okhta pedlar-women witt,
boxes OF shoes Each spectator expresses his admi-
ration in his own peculiar way peasants point with
their fingers; soldiers gaze with stolid gravity; dirty
footboys and blackguard apprentices laugh and ap-
ply the carcatures TO each other; old serving men in
frze cloaks stand stless and agape indnging their
propensity to utter idleness
A number of persons answering to the above des-
cripton were assembled before the picture-shop,
when they were Joined by young man in thread
bare cloak and shabby garments He was painter,
named Tchartkoif, as enthusiastic in his art as he
was needy in his circumstances and careless of his
dress. Pausing before the BOOTH he smiled as he
glanced at the wretched pictures there displayed
The next moment the expression of mirthful con
tempt faded from his thin ardent features, and he
fell a-hinking. The question had occurred TO him
amongst what class of people could those tawdry,
worthless productions find purchasers? That Rus
sian myks should gaze delightedly upon the Yerus-
Ian La-areriiches on pictures of Ptoma and YereDa
Of the heroes Of their tales and legends was quite
natural the objects represented adapted to pop
uar taste and comprehension; but who would buy
those tawdry oil paintings, those Flemish Doors,
those crimson and azure landscapes which, whilst
pretending to higher grade of art served but 10
prove It's deep degradation? Not one redeemnp
touch cond be traced in the senseless caricatures
whose authors clumsy hands the mason's trowc
would assuredly have been better adapted than the
painters pencil 1t was the very dotage of incapac
ity. The coorng, the treatment, the coarse obtrn
,bn., oh A.
constructed automaton, rather than Of a human
painter. Thus musng, our artist stood for som
time before the vile daubs that excited his DISCUS,
gazing at them long after the train of his reflection
had led him far from them; whilst the master of tn
shop little, gray, ill-shaven fellow in frieze cloak
chartered and chartered and bargained as indefatga
bly, as il the young man had announced himself
purchaser.
swell now" said he, for these mujiks and th
landscape, IN take white note, There's painting
1t hurts your eye IFS bright; just received frol,
the Exchange; yarnish hardly dry. Take the winter
piece. Fifteen rubesl Frame worth the money
There's winter, there's snow for your
Here the eager trader gave slight flip to the can
vas, as II he expected the snow to fall of.
Take the three. III send them home at once
Where does your honor livel Boy, a cord p
:" Not so fast my friend cried the artist startled
from his revere and perceiving the brisk dealer abou
10 tie up the three daubs His first impulse was "a
walk away, but he felt ashamed to purchase nothing
nfter standing 50 long before the shop and causing
the hungry looking old salesman SO large an expend
iture Of breath. ''Wait lttle,p he said. 81 will
see If you have anything to suit me-" And, STOPPING
down, he turned over number of battered dusty old
pictures heaped like lumber upon the ground. They
were chiefly old fashioned inmily portraits. likenesse,
of unknown and Insignificant faces, with torn can.
vas and frames that had lost their gliding. Never.
iheless Tcharikoff carefully examined them, thinkine
Il possible he might pick up something good. Ht
had more than heard stories of pictures of III,
great masters being met with amongst the dust and
trash Of such shops as this. The dealer perceiyjnf
he had probably nailed customer, ceased his bust
ling Importantly, resumed his stanton at the door
and recommended his appeals to the passengers
He shouted chartered, and pointed to his wares, bu
without success /; then he had long chat with al
old clothesman, whose establishment was on the op
posite side Of the aey and at last recollecting tina
all this time there was a customer in the shop, h
turned his back upon the public and walked in.
" Have you chosen anything, sir?'
The artist stood immovabe before large portrait
whose frame had once been richly gilt, although /
now scarcely retained few furnished vestges Of ii
former spendor The subject was an old man, hi
face swarthy and bronzed, with furrowed brow and
hollow temples and sharp high cheek bones a ply
siognomy on which the ravages OF time, and climate
and suffering were plainly legblc. The figure was
Kind Of bazaar perpetual mark ell where
furniture old books and pictures earhenwarr and Other
cheap commodities are exposed for sale In small oper
booths
parsonage who figures, like two or three others afer
wards alluded to- the popurr legends aud fairy tale.
Russia. .".