Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-19
powELL's GREAT NATIONAL PICTURE.

The great historical picture by POWELL of Cincinnati
representing the discovery of the Mississippi by HER
Soro, painted by order of Congress- being in
tended fill the panel in the Rotundo of the
Capitol at Washington, is now on exhibition at New
York One of the papers Of that city gives the following
description of it:
Mr.. Powell has selected the when De Soto and
his cavaliers from the hill got the first full view of the
broad expanse of the father of waters and if he has not
made the Of his that could be crowded into
it without discord, much mistaken. Beginning in
the centre the mailcad hero of the picture upon fiery
white horse, is stlikngly conspicuous. Behind him
his subordinate cheftans horseback splendidy capa
risoned according the Spanish warke fashions of that
day. In the midst of Them upon patient donkey in
regal harness, is white friar. The eyes Of all this
party with general expression of intense satisfaction
fixed upon the river the rar having his hands and
eyes upfted in deyout Thanksgiving Behind this group
to the left follow the mailed and helmeted warriors Of the
expedition their bristling spears and battle axes in
heightened array stretching back till lost in the misty
woods thus leaving upon the Imagination vivid impress
sion of powerful force still behind, though invisible TO
the eye
To the right upon plateau on the immediate river
bank is cluster of four Indian tents Enthusiastically tres
coed with barbarc devices By the side of these tents
stand group Of Indian warriors, in the most striking
war costumes of their tribe An old chief is reaching
forward the pipe of peace the wonderful invaders of
his lands with air and bearing of profound humility
another is looking with fixed amazement at the terri
bic intruders while younger warrior is resoutey gaz
ing at De Soto with determined stodty In front of
these warriors two Indian damse nearly naked and
finished the highest perfection Of Indian beauty re-
clining upon the ground, with some baskets Of corn
ducks and other offerings lying before them, to
the acceptance of which they yanly endeayorng to
gain De Soto for his eyes fixed upon the Mississippi
In the immediate foreground TO the right group Of
weatherbeaen and wounded soldiers gathered Some
of them placing in battery for the protec
ton Of the camp One Of these hasa white handkerchief
tied ugly cut in his forehead Another old cam
paigner is sitting down, bandagng his damaged Leg
VIII le Is
ing his helmet before his eyes while looking out upon
the great river their outlet to the and to home Next
to this group in the foreground is pile OF small arms OF
the style of that time Of the exact patterns OF which
may be in the Crystal Palace, sent from
the Tower of London by Queen Victoria These arms are
resting upon the camp chest which is almost as strongly
banded with iron of saamander safes To the
right of this is group of the ministers Of the Catholic
faith planting immense cross formed OF two parts OF
tree with the bark on with small figure Of the cruci
fed Saviour nailed upon it. The holy brothers are lift
ing the the hole which has been dug receive
it, One of them has his two forefngers upon it, while
reading from antique book the service OF the occasion
The veteran who has dug the hole is resting upon the
ground with his shovel by his side. Thus, extending
along the foreground Of the picture have the whole
story of the Spanish conquests in America illustrated in
the cannon and the the always being planted
and consecrated, the first duty Of Spanish encamp-
ment while the and the arquebus unfaiingy
| brought up the rear.
In the background to the right the ample Mis-.
sissipp with the dim unmeasured country beyond IL.
opposite green flsl-
ble while far up this side detect another village OF
the red its inhabitants apparently unconscious OF
the proximity Of the dreadful invaders Of their country
The composition Of this picture, the grouping, the
drawing of the figures and the costumes &c. the color
ing, the lights and the shades to our judgment, are
charmingly harmonious and true. We doubt not, from
the three four years Of study and labor Of the artist
that every thing including the royal banner and one
two Moorish warriors in this picture, is historically true
and true to nature. To all, the tout ensemble is full
of life spirit chiyary, poetry, and beauty There is
nothing awkward heavy strained about it; every
thing in ii is easy, though intensely graphic and spirited
In reducing his figures below the colossal size Of those
Of the other pictures in the roundo Mr. Powell has gain
ed an immense advantage in space and when we con-
slider that the picture stand only four feet from the
ground, he loses nothing in its individual effects.
The gallery Of the rotundo win be complete Its
1 paintiags, all of uniform size, will consist Of
j l. The Declaration Of Independence.
| 2 The Capulation at Saratoga.
| g. The Capitulaton at Yorktown.
4. Washington resgning his Commission at Annapolis
all by Trumbull.
| 5. The Baptism Of Poc>hontas, by Chapman.
6. The Embarkation Of Pilgrims at Delft Haven by
| Weir.
| Z. The Landing Of Columbus by Vanderlyn.
8. De Soto's Discovery Of the Mississippi by Powell