The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-11-20

tenance, cevery and rapidly painted but quite idea
cold and hard, devoid of life and reality Scarcel
knowing why, he began TO work at this, endeayor
Ing 10 communicate tot Il nllhe could remember of tn
countenance of his aristocratic sitter Psyche grew
more and more anmated the type of the young fash
ionable ladys countenance was by degrees mingle
with hers, at the same time acquiring expression
which gave It originality and character. Tchartko
was able avail himself both in the details and il
the general effect of all that he had obtained from
his sitter, and to incorporate it with his work Dur
ing several days he worked hard at his Psyche HI
was still busy with ii when he was interrupted b,
the arrival of his former visitors. The picture wal
on the easel Both ladies' uttered cry of admiration
and clapped their hands
elise Lise Oh, how like Superbe! Superbc
What exquisite idea TO dress her in the Greciar
| costume what a truly delicious surprise"
The artist hardly knew how to undeceve the Ia
dies in their agreeable mistake. He hung his head
and, with an apologize air, said, in low voice
This is Psychen
"Panted as Psyche Cest chdrmaatr said The
mother with smile, faithfully repeated by the daugh
ter "Don't you think SO, Lsel it's just the thing
for you. Painted as Psyche QueHe dee dclicieuse
But what picture Quite Coreggio! have heard
and read much about you but had not the least idea
| of your taent.n
"What the deuce am to do with them ~ thought
| the artist ''Wel, if they will have it So Psyche
shall go; y and he said aloud"I must trouble you to
give me few minutes more-I should like to add a
| few touches" II
''You cannot improve it. Pray leave ii as il is"
| The painter guessed that they apprehended some
more yellow tones and he hastened to remove their
fears saying that he was only going to increase the
brliancy and expression of the eyes. In reality he
desired to give his picture closer resemblance with
the original fearing if he did not that he should be
taxed with unbushing fatery. In spite of the ladys
reluctance the palid damseps features began to come
out more clearly amid the outlines of the Psyche.
'That will do" said the mother less pleased by the
picture as the resemblance grew closer. The artist
was rewarded for his labor with smiles money, COM
pments afiectionate squeeze of the hand, and
pressing invitation to dinner; in word, he was
| overwhelmed with recompenses. The portrait made
much noise in the town. The lady showed it to all
her acquaintance. Every body admired the skill
with which the painter had succeeded in preserving
the resemblance, and at the same time in giving
beauty to the original The last remark, of course,
was not made without slight tinge Of malice
rchartkof was constantly besieged with commits
sions. The whole town was mad to be painted by
aim His door-bel rang necessarily. Unfortunately
his stters were of class most difficult to man
enable people, who, having IN reality nothing to do,
of course far buster than anybodyese and hur-
led and impatient in the highest degree Every
ody expected good picture in less time than was
necessary TO do slovenly one. The artist saw that
Ugh finish quite out of the question, and all that
lie could do to dazzle by the facility rapidly,
md smartness of his execution He had to content
himself with catching the general expression neg
Getting the more delicate details, and attempting
70 attain the individuality and reality of Be-
sides this, every sitter had some fresh fancy. The
aides required that only their sentiment and charac-
should be represented in their portraits that all
the rest should be smoothed and softened sharp an
ses rounded off; defects mitgated and even if pos
'ible, altogether concealed. They required in short,
TO be made attractive in their portraits whether ma
lure had made them SO or not. Consequently many,
when they seated themselves in the painting chair,
ont on sMch looks and expressions as absolutely as
founded the artist. One struggled to give her fea-
lures an air of melancholy another of sentimental
abstraction third tried desperately to make her
mouth small, and pursed IL up till resembled round
dot. And in spite of all this, they expected striking
resemblance, ease, and grace. Nor were the gentle
| men more reasonable. One required to be painted
with strong energetic turn of the head another
with mplifted eyes, full of poetic insnra.~--
sign the Guards declared that he should not be sat
Sfled unless Mars was MADE visible IN his cOunte-
nance: civilian delicately suggested that his face
should be made as much as possible to express ncor
ruptble probty, mingled with imposing dignity /;
and that he should be painted leaning his arms on
book, inscribed in legible characters, Il stand
for right" At first, all these requests frightened
and annoyed our painter; there was SO much to be
harmonized, considered, and arranged and all in u
few hours. AT last he began to understand the Sc
cret and went on without troubling his head in the
least. From the first two three words spoken he
perceived how the sitter wished to be painted. The
gentleman who wanted Mars was made Mars of
he who aped Byron received Byronic attitude. As
the ladies' whether they wished to be Corinnes,
Undines, or Aspusas. he was quite ready to accom-
modate them, and even added from his own imagi-
nation, universal air Of distinction, which never
does any HARM and which sometimes makes people
excuse even want of resemblance. He soon began
to be astonished at the wonderful rapidiy and
cess of his execution. As to the sters, they were
in ecstasies and proclaimed him everywhere gent
us OF the first water.
TO be continued