New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-10
THE FINE Arts
VEIIJs DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.


executed for the Government and TO be placed in the
tunda Of the National Capitol but claims TO belong
rv high range Of art and to have gained tho approval Of
IL most distinguished masters Of the French school, 10
whose vicinity it painted Indeed long before the
work reached America we orewarned By numerous
soumunettiors which cheernlly received into the
columns Of The TRIBUNE from correspondents friendly to
e artist that the picture Of the best order Of excel
bnce and required be judged by very STANDARD
We have accordingly studied il as something admitting Of
no spoogy snd asking allowance for any Deficiencies
and now proceed to speak of It with the frGnkness il de-
msndS
We have observed with some surprise attempt made
to bully the critics who object this picture and impose
on the public with the statement that the subject
proved by an rusirious Committee Of Congress and that
those who presume TO differ from the ilusous Senator'S
Representatives must be mistaken Now ii unfortunate
y true that the judgment of Congressional Committee IS
exceedingly falbe oil questions according to the quan
hy Of oysters and champagne administered ana tha on
questions Of a II is generally composed in about equa de
pres of ignorance and bad taste To say that such Com
miite has approved Of design for picture docs not 81
enoe criticism but strongly fofes the presumption that
the design is bad But how with the subject chosen by
Mr. Powell aud Congressonally Approached Is it a sig
pifcanf inercstng and picturesque subject Does en-
body an important significant and controlling incident in
the history Of the country Thee are the points which
must determine whether the idea Of this work is bunder
or success and whether it is really conception Of genius
or not And this something for to decide
for ITSELF irrespective Of Congressional Committees and the
reported admiration Of no matter who.
Now there are historical incidents which contain story
ard have dramatic interest Of their OF such may
take os familiar instances Washington Crossing the
Delaware, the Embarkaton OF the Pilgrims, or PENIS
Treaty with the Indians These not only important
events which history he's planted deep in the affections of
the people but what Of more consequence to the artist
they have significance themselves. They are rePieo
with purpose their personages not merely move and act
but act from elevated feeling and for great historical end
This renders them peculiarly suitable forpctoal rpresen
taton At The same time to depictthem successfully requires
genius and high executive ability for the artist has not
merely 10 paint groups Of figures in action but also to
produce the inward feeling and dramatic power Of the
To this class Of works Mr. Powes clearly does not belong
represents the discovery of river and that is all The
highest feeling that possibly animate the discoveries is
one of wonder at The bgness Of the stream and the most
exciting action is that of coming up to its shore There is
no moral interest in the 70 grand heroic purpose in
IFS characters consequences flowing from It
TO render ii memorable Thus it is utterly wanting in the
best clements Of pictorial effect and in those intellectual
features which would render ii attractive to genial and
poytrful artistic mind 1t is inferior subject and
only be raised from medocIty by supreme excellence in
the conception arrangement and execution of its parts.
respect also the artist have been pursued
BY the same evil genius which governed the choice Of the
subject He has overlooked the really picturesque and
intellectually impressive features of the event. to seek
for lower ard poorer sort OF effect and has adopted an
artificial and eretrcous method of treatment instead of tho
true and natural ore The historical fact that De Soto and
his companions set out from Florida in quest of interior
knedom which they had heard of Astounding in gold and
precious stones After many months of weary travel in the
wilderness fighting their way against hostile tribes and
UNDERGOING oil the suerDgs incident TO such expedition,
they finally reached the Mississippi We imagine such
body Of men, selected for hercapacy bear fatigue and
their indifference danger all bronzed and stained with
weather with toll and with battle, dressed 10 rags and
the skins of beasts with which they had supplied the place of
tleir worn out civilized costumes suddenly approaching
this vast river spread out like obstacle in their path
Here certainly theme for effective picture OF it, class
marked with all the fierce expressions of human char
aeer proper to band Of brawny and reckless adven-
urers But the simple natural and manly suggestions Of
the story Mr. Powell has neglected in order TO convert it
into fantastic sort Of hodayprocesson with embroidered
doubets snowy pumes and velvet surcoas all as fresh and
fine as though the pracal gold seekers were dandes -four
shing in the of Spanish city. Thus an inferior
subject is still further degraded by weak and frivolous
treatment In saying this, however, are far from hold
ing the artist to literal and exact fidelity to the historical
event he paints He may depart from the precise verify
4
era effect and bring with greater power the spirit and
meaning of the scene But when this departure has the
opposite result IT is culpabe II not absurd.
We have now to inquire whether there be such
excellence in the composition and such perfection in the
execution Of this picture will allow il to take rank as
work Of art in spite of the defects have pointed out As
for the composition there DE Soto horseback in the
center in the right upper flows the broad Msssp
ri with group Of Indians the bank gazing at the in
trudBg strangers; in the right lower group of
priests and laborers setting up following DE
Soto young blood in blue velvet hourhing his cap
IL 10 give three cheers while his horse in such way
that any live seed would be in danger of tumbng over
backward and monk mule whose hands are clasped
and his eyes turned mp pous gratitude for the great dis
covery and behind these figures ride troop of knights
in nice new armor who ell the left background the left
foreground is occupied by group omen who are engaged
in wheeling about for some purpose which does
clearly appear In all the grouping of these figures
there nothing which above the level of the
place
Nor can find much to praise in the conception and
treatment of individual characters in tho picture They
are generally barren unmeaning, and eebly executed De
Soto is most insignificant parsonage looking banky into
the distance without single suggestion of hercism power
or great qualities of any sort in all his features The Indians
who frown at him have nothing aboriginal but their com
pltxon while the Indian the ground who cover
away he passes them, simply PsTisian models
unmis,akaby French in face and person with reddish
panty skn and very poor specimens at that Besides it
Is bunder TO put them in such conspicuous position on
occasion Of negotiations or otherwise meeting the whites
the Indians always took keep their out of
the way
The best part Of the picture is the foreground portions
Of which are painted with free and vigorous hand