Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-30


an ornament to the public grounds"
Mr.. PoWELLs PICTURE FOR THE CAPITOL
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE CINCINNATI GAZETTE
PARIs, MARCH 80.
The grand Historical Painting which Mr.. POWELL, Of
Cincinnati, is finishing for the panel in the Ro
tundo of the Capitol at Washington is destined without
doubt to lend much additional lustre to American art
This fine piece of which the subject is the Discovery Of
me Mississippi By DE Soto 1872 last Of the eight
pictures ordered by Congress Of native artists to ell the
panels of the Rotundo.
When the committee Of Congress selected Mr. p to do
This work. and when the subject indicated him. he
says he asked himself the question, How am to make
great picture out Of such subject as that? Now how
the artist is Of the opinion that no happier selection
could have been made in the whole range Of historical
events which have occurred in the West or Southwest
either for grand picture subject please the
people of the Missssippi Valleyan object had in view
in the selection of subject by the committee The dis
covery of the Mssssppi by De Soto may be said be
the starting point in the history of that remarkable
gion, which has already astonshed the world by its
growth its yigor and its vast resources and which is
destined to be perhaps less than the cta
del and centre Of the worlds civilization and the worlds
i freedom.
The picture represents the discovery taking place at
the last of the Chckasaw bluffs below hatcher De Soto
after months Of aborous travel hos just arrived on the
banks of the mighty river which is here spread in
all its beauty and grandeur and his delight vt the disco
very of the object is well delineated in
his features and attitudes by the artist His army con-
sisted of three hundred mounted and considerable
number of infantry variously estimated They were
well equipped all Spanish armies that period were
De Sotos imagination had been inaed by the descrp-
tons of the river which he had heard from the savages
the forest whom he had encountered and he had pressed
by Of Indian guides overcoming many obstacles
that would have deferred less daring spirit The for
to be hewn down for his cannon and cavalry
and the Indians had to be fought every STEP Besides
he in foreign country vast wilderness of what
extent he knew not and he had already ascertaned
surrounded by many dangers.
The picture may be divided into four groups The
principal group represents De sotos mounted on mag
ncent white horse the head Of his suite of officers
servants and standard bearers, and followed by his
cavalry which grow ndsnct in the shades Of the forest
in the distance The principal feature Of this group Of
course, is the commander-inchef Yhe second group
advance of him; and Immediately the bank of the
river, is group of naked Indians, into whose camp he
has arrived. The third group is formed Of some mis-
sonarcs and soldiers pelonging to the army,
planting croes as memento to mark the spot, and
Testimony of their thankulness the protecting care of
i u
company of men who preparing to fire salute from
beautifully-carved cannon in commemoration Of the
| event.
The group Of savages composed of the chief and his
two tall sons who coming forward to offer to the
white the first they had SEEN the pipe of peace
He stands nearly bent double with age between his two
and holds out the pipe with expression in his
of mingled fear and establishment One of
the sons looks at the gay plumage singular costumes,
and numerous appliances Of warof the corners with
evident admiration while the other has drawn himself
proudly up, with expression of disdan daring in
his which clearly proves what would be his
solution of the difficulty he had the power In front
of the chief several naked squaws kneeng of
erg presents of game and Of maize their conquerors
hoping thus conciate their favor; whilst dsembark-
ing from others bearing deer and other
gifts Other persons in the back ground surrounding
the chief made express by their countenances the
various passions which such extraordinary event might
be supposed to excite.
While the Indians presenting their peace offerings
and endeavoring gain the attention and the goodwill
Of their vsters De Soto deigns glance at
the group in front of him; but with his eyes directed
their heads the grandeur Of the that is
spread before him. the majestic river dotted with
islands and the far sweep Of country that extends be-
yond imagine he in the glowing countenance
and the sparkling eye the mind of the dscoverer carried
forward to the realization Of that future greatness in po-
puation and civilization, which is no longer mat
ter Of imagination The contemplave, serious delight
Of the chief well contasted by the waving hats and
the laughing shouts of delight of his followers
Each of the groups possesses its special merit Some
persons admire most the thoughtful devou group col
lected about the but aside from the hero Of the
picture, think the Indian group win find the most adj
mirers. There is in all, however, warmth and vigor
Of cooring deneation Of feature of expression Of
position, and Of action, which coll forth the
bounded expressions Of admiration from all yister One
easily imagine whilst looking at this great work that
the is actually Of life, and he wonders every
moment why the actors in the do not It is
living impersonaton Of living scene as art
| can achieve
THE CIyIL WAR AT BuESos AYREs.-The New York
Commercial Advertiser has letter from Buenos Ayres,
written on the LIST of February. The writer says:
"we are daily expecting assault and our situation
is far from being pleasant yet while others leaving,