Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-17
Hx DOLLARS PER- ANNUm.

ana nence the peculiar merit OF his copies. But
is 1t not to be regretted that an artist so capable
OF producing good originals Should waste his time
In copying at all The best copy that he could
inake even if it surpassed Titan, would be but
| copy, and as such could never entitle the au-
thor to rank among distinguished painters He
has the same broad field of nature that Titan
and all the other old artists had to base his
works upon and the path to that is direct It
need not be followed through the labyrinth of
other minds, however great, for it is open all,
ana ne approaches perfection only and best mer-
It's distinction who casts aside all preudices,
looks straight forward and pursues his way fear
lessly and boldly, confident in his own strength,
| There is only one excuse for a man of superior
talent wasting his time in copying, and that I'M
fortunately is too often we'll founded-I mean
| the necessity OF deyoting his energies to some
thing which will pay. Good copies are always
saleable; originals however meritorious, are
| certain. Whether this be the case with Mr.
Page or not 1 hope it will no: be long before he
returns to those higher branches of original COM
| position in which he has already won SO distin-
gushed a name.
Before my departure from Florence I had the
pleasure OF being frequent vister at the studio
| of Mr.. Kellogg who has some excellent paintings
in progress. One of the best things have seen in
the dellneatlon of oriental beauty is his duplicate
| OF the CTcasslan GIRL the original of which be-
longs to Mr.. Robb, of New Orleans. An en-
craving of this work was made in Paris some
years since, butt does not do justice to the orr
| glnal. 1t is well known, however, throughout
the United States, and is deservedly popular
The copy now in Mr. Kellog's studio is re-
| markedly rich in colorng, and must add greatly
to the high reputation he already enjoys for the
successful manner in which he handles objects of
| this kind. 10 give a correct idea of orien-
tai beauty requires thorough practical expert
ence of oriental life; and there are few whose
opportunities of acquiring such experience have
been better than Mr.. kellogg has enjoyed. He has
made two extensive tours through the East, one
through Egypt and Syria, and another through
the principal parts of Turkey. He spent consi-
derable length Of time in Constantinople and Bru-
sa, where some of his best sketches were made.
A sketch Of his travels, embraced in a very hand
some biographical notice, has been published in
the Florentine Journal of Art Italian literary
and artistical paper of high standing. No Ameri-
can artist perhaps has more of the vicissi-
tudes Of travel, and there few artists of any
country SO thoroughly imbued with the true spirit
OF oriental life. Mr.. Kellog's sketches of the
Nile, of Mount Sanai, the Wady Mausa, Palestine,
the Greek Islands, Turkey, and Italy, would fur
nlsh material for dozen panoramas. He is work.
Ing them up into excellent pictures as fast as his
time and health will permit. When / last visited
his studio, he had under way a beautiful View of
Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives, some views
in Turkey, painting of the Ruins of Thebes, and
a portrait of Maltese girl-to the spirit and
faithfulness of which can bear testimony, having
visited most of those regions The Maltese girl is
one of his best recent productions, giving in ply
slognomy and costume a very good idea OF the
fair of Yaletta 1t is to be regretted that Mr..
Kellogs health has been somewhat impaired this
last winter by too intense devotion to his art, and
perhaps in some measure by the and tear
through which he went during his four years. So
journ in the United States. He is now, however,
in better health and Spirits and is finishing up his
winters labors with his accustomed zeal.
Mr.. Gait, Of Virginia, has sent home his Psyche,
of which gave you some account former oc-
casion. Itwas much admired by travellers pass
ing through Florence, and will, trust, reach it's
destination in safety, and be well appreciated in
his native State. By the way, did you hear of
Galt's adventures in Austria? A friend being sick
in Vienna, wrote to him to come on from Florence.
On his arrival in Vienna, lie went with his friend to
the post office to deposte some letters. They
were watched by spy in citizens dress, and on
leaving the Office, this functionary intimated to
Mr.. Gait that he must go to prison. Unconscious
of having in any way meddled with affairs of state,
Gait demanded the reason of his arrest. He was
informed that it was for wearing white hat, made
in republican style; but other satisfaction was
given him, and he was marched off to prison up-
der guard. His friend was permitted to go, mas
much as his hat was not Of the prohibited kind
At the police office there was rigid inquisitoral
examination into the state of the case, somewhat
after this fashion: "What is your name? Gait.
| Where are you from? Florence. Where were you
| born? In America. In what part of Amerca2
| The United States. What is your profession2
| Sculptor. What are you doing in Vienna? No
| thing in particulars seeing the sights. How is it
! you speak Italian well2 From practice and
study How long were you in Florence? Two
years. Why do you wear this hata Because I
| happen to have no other Are you a republican
| Yes, STRIP This avowal was received with mark
ed establishment and disapprobation. In the mean
| time, however the American authorities were in
formed of the fact, and Mr. Gait had the good for
tune to be released, with ipjunctions from the pc
lice to buy new hat. Had his friend been ar
rested with him, there is no telling how long they
mi ght have remained in prison, for the means of
| cOn icati between Austrian
outside world are none of the best. Any body who
knows Mr.. Calf cannot but smile at the absurdity
of attributing to him designs against the Austrian
i Government. He is a quiet, amiable young man,
whose whole thoughts and interests are centred in
| his art. -
| Another case happened here in Rome few days
| since. 1t was on the last days of Holy Week. Mr..
Innes, the artist, small, delicate man, was in the
| Piazza of San Pietro, among the crowd assembled
| to see the Pope make his appearance on the bal
| cony. The very hot, and only few of
the lower classes of French and Italians who took
off their hats. saw some thousands around me,
| including the French officers and soldiers, who
kept their hats their heads, where, through their
| tacit permission, was suffered to keep mine. A
| French officer standing near lines ordered him to
take his hat off, to which lines paid no attention.
| The officer then knocked it Off lines had small
cane in his hand, with which he raped the man
of epauletts over the head; whereupon there was
terrible commoton among the soldiers, dozen OF
whom rushed to the assistance of their companion
in arms, and by force of numbers took the little
artist into custody, al d carried him OF to Jail He
was soon after liberated. l understand Mr.. Cass
intends investigating the subject, and demanding
an apology.
Rome IS pious place, l should think. Ameri-
can travellers and artists are not invited here you
| know; aud are not particularly welcome to any but
shop-keepers and the proprietors of hotels; yet
the ruins of antiquity to be regarded as COM
mon property, belonging to the civilized world,
and must continue to draw visiers, it would be as
well. think for Americans coming to be prepared
to approach Rome on their knees, which presume