The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-10

TEE ART UNION REvvAL.-This is, par err
eelltnee, the epoch of revivals We have just
had the revival OF the whig party, nd Of Will
liam 81. Seward as its leader and prospective
candidate for the Presidency in 1856. And we
have had the revival of the Van Buren, dynasty.
with the consequent evils which it naturally
entails on the democratic party of the Union.
Other social political and religious revivals,
have also taken place Of late, and among them
up comes again the American Art Union. We
had thought that the management Of this in
stitution had reason to be perfectly satisfied
with the share of public contempt which fell to
their lot within the past year or two. But it
seems they were not, and SO, after short in
Permission, they again come forward with new
and stronger claims to popular odium. These
are the circumstances
Mr.. VIM. 81. Powell young American artist,
recently arrived in this city from Europe with
a magnificent painting, destined for the decora-
ton of one of the panels Of the rotunda in
the Capitol at Washington. This picture re-
presents the Discovery Of the Mississippi by
the celebrated Fernando de Soto, in 1912.
The other seven pictures in the rotunda-o of
uniform size with this-being illustrative Of
historical scenes which had occurred east Of
the Alleghanies it had been decided that the
eighth panel should be filed with representa-
ton Of Western scene, and that the execution
of the painting should be confded to Western
artist. Mr.. Powell undertook the task, for
which he was to receive from Congress ten
thousand dollars. Having devoted between
three and four years to the study and COM
position Of his work, and expended some eight
thousand dollars upon it, he finished by pro-
ducing most splendid masterpiece Of art. No
such magnificent painting has ever left the
atelier Of an American artist as that Of the
Discovery of the Mississippi. He brought it
to New York week or two ago for the purpose
Of placing it on exhibition for short time,
with few others Of his paintings, SO as to give
our citizens an opportunity Of viewing it be-
fore it was removed to its destination, and that
he might derive some emolument from it. The
management of the American Art Union. at
first appeared DESTROYS of promoting the inter-
ests of art aud offered to give Mr.. Powell, free
Of charge, place in their gallery for his paint
ings. He availed himself Of the apparently
kind disposition on their part, and had, at
some expense, his paintings placed in suitable
position. In few days, however, he was I'M
deceived as to the real character Of the mana
gers of the institution. They notified him of
their intention to charge him for the privilege
allowed him, and demanded no less than at the
rate Of $1,000 year for permission to exhibit
his picture. This, Of course, Mr.. Powell in
dignantly refused to agree to, and, in reply to
the outrageous demand made on him, he wrote
the following letter =
New York, OcT. G, 1853
G. W. AUSTEN ESQ, Treasurer Of the Art Union,
Sill yesterday evening received your tie, in
which you request me to meet you to-day to sign the
following agreement:-"I agree to hire from the
American Art Union portion of their Gallery for
the purpose Of exhibiting my painting De Soto"
pied by the painting of Washington Crossing the
Delaware" partition, to be placed at my ex-
pense. AID to be removed by me at the termination
Of the exhibition, feet from west end of the GAL
lery--the exhibition of the same to close on the
fifteenth day Of November next On which day
agree to remove the painting and partition, and to
pay fog the use Of that portion Of the gallery and
passage to it from Broadway $50 for the term
above named. Dated, Oct !, 1882
have no words at my command to express the
profound establishment with which have read this
proposed agreement When you will have run your
eye over the following narrative, feel assured, sir,
that you will bot be surprised at my promptly de-
cDing to put my signature to any such paper, if
indeed, you ever really supposed that would do 30.
! arrived here with my painting for the gov
eminent De Soto's Discovery Of the Mississippi
on the fourteenth OF September, in the steamer
Franklin. bad expended, in order to make it as
perfect work OF art as i was in my power to pro-
duce, $4,000, which is within 900 Of what am
to receive from the government for my work.
am poor, and that painting is all have in this
world to depend on. hoped that by placing it be-
fore the New York public for short time that l
should make for myself little money towards de-
frayiDg my outlay wished to get place where
could EXHIBIT it to good advantage. Icaled, accom-
panied by brother, Gen. Powell, OF Ohio, upon
Mr.. Warner and yourself having been informed that
you were the two active members Of the Art Union
Committee, You told me that could have por-
ton OF the room, and agreed to let me run par
titon across such portion Of it would answer for
the exhibition OF my picture, and portraits of La
MARITIME, Eugene Sue, Alexander Dumas, and others,
and you said, I'VE do no. wish to make money out
of you. We shall not, probably, charge you anything
for the space you WANT and as there is Q new gas
company which lights up the whole gallery every
they viii probably make no charge to you, for the
reason that they will light up whether you are there
OF not. So send up your pictures, and get your
penter to work. 1t will bring US people to see our
paintings, Wnlcn die W NC soiu " auctiOn IN De-
cember."
With the most grateful feelings towards your
self and Mr.. Warner, and the whole Of the
committee, ! did precisely as you suggested,
and opened my picture to the public without
delay bit icing CAREFUL asked you in presence of
your brother, Mr.. John Austen, whether there was
no danger that the other members of the Art Union
Committee might not object? 90 no !" was tn re-
ply; whatever we do they will concur in. So
bring on your picture and put up your partition" I
did so, lt cot me S24 49, and about $50 more To
get the painting ready for exhibition.
Now sir, having spent what is to me in my pre-
sent circumstances o large SUM Of money, / am in
formed that my picture must be taken down, and
put far back that really space ut all will be
left to view it. The picture must thus be sacrificed
ard so far from having the room 70: nothing, must
pay $50 for about five weeks, and must agree to
leave the premises at time when my picture will
but have made itself fairly known TO the public.
do think, sir, this 10 cruel.
In your first note you tell me that the Asphalt Gas
Company will shut off the gas If I do not immedi
ately make terms with them; and last evening. on