The republic., 1851-12-19

panel in the rOtunda Of the Capitol, we are
indebted to the Paris correspondent of the New
York Commercial Advertiser
PowELL's HISTORICAL PAINTING.
An interesting non-poltical election was that
which took place few years ago in Congress,
Of an artist to paint the eighth and last histo
rical picture for the rotunda at Washington,
the choice of Congress falling on William II.
Powell, who was chosen by the unanimous
vote OF the Senate and a large majority in the
House.
Nine years before, when he was boy of six
teen, his works had attracted the admiration of
the visitors of the Academy of Design at New
York. A critic, IN a New York paper. said
that the young artist deserved pallet of gold
So far from having pallet OF gold, the artist
had not, at that time, gold enough to satisfy the
wants of his palate. He has since pursued his
studies for nearly three years in Italy, and
about the same time in Paris.
The subject given him by Congress for his
historical picture is "The Discovery of the
Mississippi by De Soto"
How to represent this subject on the canvas was
the question. Ii il had been given TO a Greek or
Roman artist, he would perhaps have painted the
Mississippi as brawny giant, reclining on the
earth, under each and urn with the water
gushing from II in cascade, his head bound about
with huge wreath Of rushes interspersed with
water lilies Of every hue its tributary streams,
little urchins sporting about over the body Of tho
giant; and De Soto as graceful Mercury, in the
light costume Of cap. sandals and quiVer, and
starting back in surprise AIt the eight OF bs giant
and urchins. If the came sabject had been given
TO artist OF the middle ages, he would possibly
have introduced supernatural agency. De Soto
would have been knight in full armor, helmet
down and sword in hand, following with hesitat-
ing step, like Hamlet, his fathers ghost angel
moving hoatingy along upon small cloud and
pointing to a larger one, world of vapor, under
which we should be left 10 suppose the Father Of
OF Rivers.
But as men of the present day are neither so al
legorioal as the ancents, nor as obligingly imag-
native as their ancestors of a few centuries back,
MIR. Powell could not incarnate the idea of his sub
ject in two three figures. He was obliged to
abandon the simple machinery of the infancy OF
art, and resort to the labor giving and diff
cult, but truer and grandsr style invented by mod
crn genius. He had to take the bare fact sug-
gesed by his subject, and clothe it with beauty
a. to render it worthy of the interest and admira
ton of poeterity. moments reflection will CON
vince the reader of the difficulty of this task. Il
would have been comparatively easy TO paint
battle or any other subject which appeals any of
the great passions of the human heart. But "tho
discovery of the Mississippi essentially quiet
est. An ordinary artist would have made nothing
more of it than group of men on the bank Of
majestic river. Mr. Powell has elevated and en-
nobled it. will attempt to convey the idea of the
picture as the artist has conceived it.
On the right flows the mighty current of the Mis-
sissppi The trees on the low islands which dot
its surface are bent towards the south that their
tfsoa r4ho
TO the evidence of the violence of the tor
rent which, in past inundations, has almost the
old cypresses and oaks from their strong founda-
tions. In the distance is the low right bank; the
champaign country beyond, varied with wood
lands and prairies, fades into and is confounded
with the horizon. The broad river, primoval for
ests and uxuriant savannahs are sleeping tran
guilty under blue sky and meridian sun. But an
unusual commotion is visible among the nhabi-
tants of these still scenes of nature. Something of
extraordinary import has disturbed the apathy Of
savage life, for the Indian village of the left bank
is alive with chiefs, warriors, youths, squaws and
papooses. There groups Of them gathered In
front of the wigwans, the sides of which are orna-
mented with skins of wild animals and human
ecalps fioating in the gentle morning air. The
alarm has had time to spread, for canoes crowd
ed with painted warriors ara coming from the
opposite side of the river; they have sped like
arrows across the stream; some of them have
disembarked theiv passengers, and these are
ascending the bank TO join the principal group
in the foreground One of them totters un-
der the weight OF deer; others bring offerings
less valuable. The prineipal group is composed
doubtless of the great chiefs and priest-sorcercrs
OF the tribe. What variety of feelings are ex-
pressed in the countenances or these children of
the woods! They are evidently apresentiment of
~
distrustul another full of wonder not unmin.
gled with fear; third frowning and gloomy;
fourth disdains to look on what engages the at
tcntion of the rest; but the prevailing sentiment il
that of conscious nferiority TO the object of their
regards and the fatal necessity of submission 10
an overwhelming force. The rcd mans empire
the fioods the felds, and the forests is pass
ing at this moment into other hands A young
warrior has cast down his bow, arrows and rude
shield atthe ieet oil The new Conner; group of In
dian women shrinking with fear before the herv
eyed Arab, which they think part of his rider.
offer him the OF the fields, the khsh of tho riy
er, and the game of the forests, to propitiate the
supposed god; and polite old chief, the Nesor of
his tribe, advances to offer the calumet of peace
with deprecating mir, however, If he were not
Of his reception.
And well may he doubt the naughty bearing
OF tne superb lie SOTO WOulQ lntlnluatO more K
perenced negotator Proudly erect ON his noble
steed, the white plumes Of his office as governor Of
Cuba shading his brow-blazing with the splendid
armor Of Spanish noble of the sixtcenth centu-
ry-thc yellow banneret Of Spain and the two.
headed eagle of Austria waving their rich folds
over his head he conscious of the dignity Of
his great mission which is TO take possession of
this inland sea and fertile country in the name of
European civilization. His imperious eye does not
deign glance at the offerings of the poor Indians;
the calumet of peace ia scorned. To the former
companion of Pizarro and conqueror of Peru, the
red men are only many victims, destined sooner
or later to determination; he thinks civilization
Juggernaut that can advance only over carcasses.
His gaze is elsewhere; it is fixed on his symbol OF
his right OF possessionth the cross-which his follow
erecting the bank, under the direction Of
priests with bell and book and censer He does not
doubt his right, for has not the sovereign p)ntn,
the representative of Him who owns the EARTH con-
:.