The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-10-08
TCoMMUNICATEp.l
A new LnndsCaDe by

new Landscape by Henry j. Brent, esq.
Our citizens will, we are sure be pleased to learn
that new picture, from the easel Of Henry j.
Brent, esq, is now TO be seen at the bookstore Of
Messrs Taylor s. Maury, where il has been de-
posted by the artist for sale.
In noticing this picture, we cannot forbear re-
cording como reflections concerning native art and
artists, which were suggested by looking at it,
The remarks of Mr. wornum, touching the false
connoisscurship which has contributed to rcprcss
native talent in England, arc no less iorcble and
true when applied to this country. This false con-
nosscurship has prevailed to such extent that many
a sincere patron Of native talent. and who, for his
own qualification, would not hesitate between the
new and the old-who would even give twice the
price for a capital piece by one Of our favohte
painters, that the best market specimen Of any old
master could draw from him--woud, nevertheless,
not dare to recommend tho purchase of one OF thesc
native productions; If he could venture far as
this, would not give more hundreds for the new
than Inc would thousands for one Of these old OK
amples; for which, if the truth were known, nc
really cares little nothing At all. Such Is the
tyranny Of prejudice. II would be well, however,
ifhe mischief ended here. The great evil is, that
n man OF wealth and position has thousand imi
tators among the mass, who, by como extraordi
nary fatality, initiate only his foibles, not his vir
tues The consequence H., that, faithful TO their
model, while thousands arc thrown away upon the
foreign imporaons Of the dealer tho purse strings
arc comparatively but seldom opened for the re.
ward of the native artist and then only for tens or
twenties, some such insignificant amounts.
"In curious pictures I'm exceeding nice,
And know their several beauties by their price;
Auctions and sales constantly attend,
But choose my pictures by skilful friend.
Original and copies, much the same,
The pictures value is the painters name"
This is the portrait Of bygone age, and yet
what fair resemblance il bears 20 the present
Our artists produce annually hundreds of pic
lures, which they dispose Of with great difficulty
while the dealers, on the Other hand, find ready
market for FIVE times the number Of so-called old
masters, imported from the continental store Of
publishing copies of spurious originals; for at least
four ffhs of these foreign mportations nothing
better All this IL the force Of bad example, the
result Of the spurious connoisseurship Of the last
century, steunchly ridiculed by IIogsrth. Bot
however much the Wanted superiority of the cold
masters" may have been substsntiated by the
homogeneous productions in subject) of that
time, tho assumption Of the same superiority over
the totally different efforts both in matter and man
ner of the pre- sent day only exposes the ignorance
or subscrviency of those by whom such pretcnsions
arc advocated. They reason, apparently, in this
fashion, the great masters are old masters; there
fore the old masters are great mssters-snd, &C.
cordingly II picture has but the requisite of age
it must necessarily be the production OF great
master. Q,lod evnf dsmonsrandum.
"Picfur,, like coins, grow dear ss they grow old,
II IL the rust we value, not the gold. y"
This appears plain enoughj but nevertheless we
will venture to dispute the position, and pu, II thus