Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-06-19
nDeath ON the Pale Hor,e.n

"Death ON the Pale HMse."
A correspondent Of the Ptilad. "Times"
Of the ll.h inst, in lengthy notice Of the
Spring Exhibition of the Academy Of Fine
Arts. makes the following remarks:
The paintings Of this grea, artist Benja-
min West. are SO celebrated. and pos.
sessing, as they do. oil the elements Of the
art be, ond the reach Of criticism, that
they are passed BY now as L" things crea.
ted for immortality" With US, the name
Of West is intimately connected, and we
may add endeared-for Pennsylvania gave
birth 10 the man whose talents we neglect-
ed, whose genius we sighted, but whom
George ILL.,, and the British nation patro-
nized. BY that monarch he was employed
to embellish Windsor Castle and Chapel,
and he received from the princely munifi-
cence Of his august patron, Tor various
subjects, upwards Of $1,000 pounds.
Death on the Pale Horse" speaks the
mastery production Of great mind, it
bursts upon US in all its startling beauty.
the beauty Of the art, warmed. as it were,
into seeming life BY the power Of genius.
As very general criticism and description
of this painting is 10 be found in the Cata.
logue, we simply give our opinion without
daring to question its arlistical greatness,
or slupendous conception.
Well, this is strong praise !; and if it
had only half foundation in truth, it
might be suffered 10 pass sub silsntio.
But, to say nothing about the sincerity or
critical capacity Of this writer. we think
he must be troubled with an uncomfortabIy
large bump Of venera,ion, and in state
of morbid activity at that, for on no other
principle can we account for the superlative
laudations thus bestowed on the works ol
this ar,is.-unless, indeed. he be merely q
penny-a-liner engaged in putting the wares
of his employers, or rehearses s.ereotyped
encomiums because it has become fashion
able 10 do so.
The Academy Of Fine Arts is delight
iul place OF resort, for visitors to the Qua
ker city, and is eminently worthy all the
encouragement and patronage American
citizens can extend TO it. 1t contains rich
treasures OF ar, and many scenes and forms
Of beauty in painting and sculpture, tha,
will leave an undying impress upon MEM
ory. But it also contains productions Of
inferior merit. some by obscure artists, ..and
others Of scarcely higher order, that attrac,
the attention Of the visi,er on account oil
:heir connection with q great name, and
because their praises had been loudly trum.
pe,cd beforehand.
We can not speak Of Vests productions
in general. having never seen any Of them
excep, the one named ut the head Of this
article. and which, we believe, is considered
the crowning effort Of his genius. But
caa1Dr compels the acknowledgment tha,
when an opportunity was ut length afforded
US. some years .ince, to stand with eager
expectation 5efore "Dea.h on the Pale
Horse The predominant feeling in our mind
was that Of blank disappointment. and
every subsequent visi. has cnly served to
confirm our first impressions. And this is,
we believe, ,w,hou, exception, the experience
Of every person within the range Of our
acquaintance. who has made pilgrimage
10 its shrine. There is certainly much
'perspicui,y' 10 the dry, hard anatomy Of
some Of the principal figures. and a resPec-
table 'proprie,y Of composition generally
manifested that carefully avoids extremes,
either Of meri, or demerit. But j. is an abso-
Lutte misrepresentation to say that it speaks
the masterly production Of d great mind
unless in connection with the catalogue in
your hand-nor does it, by any manner Of
means. burst upon the spectator in start
ling beauty Its essential and remediless
defect is that it is not warmed, as il were,
into seeming life by the power Of genius
|, doubtless possesses some individual ex.
cellencies peculiar to West, bur, taken as a
whole, Is as little awe-inspiring. and as
utterly fails almost, 10 inspire in the behol.
der those emotions Of beauty, and terror.
and snblimi,y. which such subject fitly
conceived, and as fi!ly executed. should
awaken, as il il were carved in wood, or
Gu. out Of pasteboard. The highly wrought
descriptions which are constantly kept
before the public, are enough TO kindIe the
dulIess imagination. and make ones flesh
well nigh creep; but when you come into
the presence Of the original, it falls immea.
surabIy short Of the printed representations.
West is certainly entitled, as is every
man. to the full measure Of a just fame,
however moderate it in reality may be. We
should be sorry to detract improperly from
his reputation. or wrongfully tarnish the
laurels he has won. Our national and State
pride is, Of course, gratifed by the success,
SO far as il may have been deserved, of a
native Of the old Keystone. But we are
sfronUlv inclined IN tho belief thar he vainod |