The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-26

Art Union Feast Picture of the Holy Family
Gloomy Feeiirg in WaH S6eet- Foreign CONNER
eidI AdUices Encouraging Captain aud Cretc of
Yacht dnlerica returned.
New YoRK, Sept. %, 1851.
Twice year the artists of this city hold satur-
MALTA, at which they permit the miIlionaires who
purchase paintings, and the gentlemen Of the press
who critcise them, TO partake OF their reveries
and minglo freely among the modern Raphaes,
Iitians, and Claude Lorraines, whose works adorn
the walls Of our exhibition rooms. The fret of
these festivals is the annual opening of the National
Academy of Design, and the other the opening of
the galleries of the American Art Union. Nothing
can be done in New York of serious and public
nature without the aid of champagne, oysters, and
boned turkies. These comestibles have become a
part of institutions, and if they are not "glo-
rious" in themselves, they have the power to make
people feel So The feasts of artists should be in
the highest degree artistic; and TO give the two
great ne-art associations Of our country due Gre
| dit must say that have nowhere seen such per-
| feet Apician entertainments as they servo up on
| their opening nights. Ladies are never admitted
on these occasions, the cause of their exclusion
being, probably, that they exact too much atten-
ton and interfere with the nsonciance essential
to pure enjoyment, by claiming the care which oil
men must, at certain times, bestow upon them
selves, let them be ever gallant. The annual
opening Of the Art. Union took place last night and
the two large galleries OF that noble institution
werepretty well crowded with the elite the resident
and temporary residents of New FORK among whom
were the Hon. Secretary of War, and Leutzc, the
artist, who has recently returned from Germany
with his great picture of Washington crossing the
Delaware. The galleries of the Art Union are
filled with the works of art purchased for distribu-
a. t.
altogether, is pronounced one of the finest that has
| ever been opened to the public in this city. Among
the paintings exhibited for the first time is a
| Holy Family, by Page. which was painted for the
Art Union ut Florence, where the artist s now re-
siding. 1t is picture of tie highest style of exc
cution, the subject is the most exalted that can
engage artists attention. Madonnas and holy
families the most common of all subjects, and
80 Is humanity itself common; but the sentiment Of
maternity, which should radiate from the counte-
nance OF the Virgin, and the holiness of thought
which invests the child, the impersonation of God
manifest in the flesh, never become trite; and
when these lofty subjects fail to excite the interest
OF the spectators, it 10 not because they are
mon, but because the artist has failed to invest
them with the purity and holiness which they re-
quire. 1t is not necessary to be Roman Catholic
to feel the beauty and holiness of the Madonna's
character, or to reverence the inspiration which
presents to eyes the sanctiied form of her child
Mr.. Page has been successful beyond even the an.
ticipaions OF his warmest admirers in the treatment
of his subject, and has painted picture which has
the rich coloring of Titan and the divine
preston Of Raphael. The Art Union has never
offered finer work of art to its subscribers. Nearly
all our great artists, those abroad well as those
at home, represented in the galleries of the Art
k,4 Ill. Al Il
Page looms on the walls pre-eminent in its
ity, purity, tone, sentiment, and color. The land
scapes in the collection very numerous and
very excellent; the finest among them are by
Church. young man, but the most powerful and
original of any artist have yet produced in his
line.
Not much time was bestowed upon the paintings;
and when Mr.. Cozzens, the gentlemanly and good
natured president of the association parted the pink
curtains that had yelled the supper table from the
eyes of the company, and invited them to partake
of "little something did not observe any
Willingness to leave the picture for the champagne
and the speeches. Speaking seems to be
sary bore on such occasions, and was very glad
when Mr.. Conrad, who out of respect to his posi-
ton was the fret gentleman called upon. set the
example, which followed by those who came
after him, Of most -praiseworthy brevity in his
response.
The Art Union ia in very fourishing condition,
| its members being much more numerous than they
ever were before at the same season. and the num-
Der Of works of art it will scatter the country,
from the Sacramento to sacarap, are generally of
higher order than it has been in the habit of disri
buting. They will do an incalculable amount of
good by creating interest in art, and refining
the national taste Much of the success W hch has
attended the operations of this admirable institu-
ton, owing to the good taste and energetic
application of its accomplished president, who is
himself a liberal patron of art
Whether it is owing to the dismal weather which
the equinoctiai storm has been brewing the past
two days, or to some direct cause, / do not
know, but have not in long while known 80
gloomy state of feeling in Wall street as seems
now to prevail among the money changers in that
locality. The announcement yesterday Of the
| failures ofThompson Co., the great carpet manu-
facturers of Spruce street, and of II. S. & d. La
throp & Co., one of the most extensive of our dry
goods jobbing houses, had tendency to create
still gloomier feeling, and stocks generally re-
ceded from the opening prices in the morning.
To-day prices stil lower, and Erie railroad
which Ia kind of regulator for all other stocks,
fell off three per cent from yesterdays prices,
closing at 75I at the first board. Since then we
lidNC lue News Uy tne SteaIIeT washington, from
Southampton, which lie, commercially, encourage
ing, cotton having advanced trife, and lively
demand being reported. The Washington brings
one hundred and eighty six passengers, and the
intelligence that the Sultan had positively decided
! to liberate Kossuth and his companions, who were
to embark in the steam frigatc Mississippi for this
country, paying a short visit to England.
Among the passengers in the Washington are
the captain and crew of the yacht America, which,
it seems, sold for 5000 and not E7 O0O as at
| fret reported. S. X. S.
| SEEING THE PRocEssIoN.--Un Under this head the
| Boston Advertiser relates the following;
| ga number of persons who came into town from
| the country to the procession on Friday, met
with ludicrous contretemps the occasion. For
want of better quarters, they took up lodgings in
| the netc jail, where they found excellent bed and
board, in spite of stone walls and iron bars. I'M
| uhil thair kfao -,