The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-02

The Painting OF Dc Soto, by w. III. Powell.
A short time since notices OF this work appeared in
.inasas Magazine and the Evening Post These remarks
submitted in reply TO the positions AID
sf those articles
Long before the paiu,ii reached the United States the
beat judges Of art in France and England visited the
sado Of Mr. Powell in Paris aud many criticisms appear
ID in foreign journals and reviews ncerning it.
1t Ia . fact well known that the French critics are
among the in the world in all matte relating to
at Yet the Archives of the Men of the Day. (Achve
ass Hommes du Jour- tie Review of the Fine Arts,
(Revue ces Beaux Al ts) the French Gazette Gazette
- France, and the Josraal of Debates Journsl des
Dsbats' rsps asdy pronounced in its favor in critical
articles Of some length.
The "Iondon Art Journal in criticism ON American
art Il speaks of it we have been much grstded,
while passing through Paris, by the sight of painting
BY American artist me Idea
having been merely studied in his country, Mr.
Powell came to Paris to execute this large work
ne abundaI materials CT all sorts museums, mo-
Sels prints libraries and information Of all kinds which
abound in his CITY, make convenient locality for the
execution of large works of art" After giving descrip
sion of the picture the editor concludes-Indeed the
whole shows powerful execution, good observation
knowledge of historic art excellent drawing and brilliant
eoloripg-the lat wall mellow down by age We but
sopgratuats Mr. Powell his successful effort and are
most happy to find the American government holding
rth to native art and genius BY honor and
liberal payment"
Many Of thsse articles repubshed in this coun
y-ther elevated tone and high praise naturally raised
the expectations of the friends Of the United States
Whore this the usual result is disappointment
There are cases however, although very rare shsn it
does not follow, and this ID OF theufor al al
vsed when that nearly all who have visited the
picture have be en- most sgeeaby disappointed. 1t has
E surpassed the expectations OF those who have
only the European critical articles but the lluatoJ
tees that have appeared since arrival in New YORK
II would be very strange indeed II the artist Ind
decided in pleasing every especially
who are, to be, dssai,hed with thing The
articles referred 10 seem to emanate from hush; for
Of them is introduced By ridiculing Bunker Ril
Monument, the Smithsonian Institute tae Gerard
college styling them . defe mites q architecture"
Greenough Clark Mills o-capitased al one s,r,ke
Of the pen and doubtless lie buried he unnnu.
nents OF Washington aud Jackson; and in conclusion
the works of Trumbun Chapman Weir and vanderln.
very inferior that the unworthy the crit
sism OF one Of the wrerhim self the while claiming to
DO architect, sculptor and historical painter par
oHec With these branches Of the articles
ing to do, further than TO observe the spirit which
they written
In looking the effort Of the artists genius 1t viii be
srved that the hsures represent six distinct classes of
the time. The priesithe cavaier--ths page-the horse
man foonan-laborer besides these, Indian men ard
women their costumes varying from the mailed cavalier
down TO the almost Iat ed laboer Are they ruthuly
represented and will the competition OF the picture
comparison with facts recorded in the pages history
h ali questions Of fact in order fully the
sta OF the case We must resort 20 the eyid snse
Mr. Bancroft who Is conceded TO bs good authority
thus speaks of the expedition Of De soto:-
No sooner was the design of q expedition publish
ed in spain, Than the widest hopes we're INDUCED.
How brilliant must be the prospect since the Con
great Of his namel Adveuturers assembled as vouu
tssrs, many Of them Of noble birth and good estates
H0uses and vineyards lands for lage and olive
trees in the of Seville sold in the times
Of the crusades to obtain the of military equip
Ment. The port of San Lucar OF Barrsm crowd
Cd with these who hasten TO solicit permi sion 10
nhAre In the enterprise Even soldiers of Portugal de
stree TO be enrolled for the service muster hell
the Portuguese appeared in the gtering array Of bur
nshed amor; and the Castlians brilliant with hopes.
we're very eallsn., with silk upon silk a.
Mr.. Irving in his Conquest OF Florita the same
paint renaIks:-"As De Soto day in the gallery
q his house at Seville, he brilliant baGi % ca,s
lsrs enter the court yard and fastened "a The foot 81
the stairs to receive them. Th.~ s p.n,,asa h;dai
sos lee BY Andres &c V.conceos several Of them hsa
~" In =. With tbs Moors the African froa
Boto joyfuly accepted their offer. muster be-
ing called Of all the troops the spanisrds appeared in
splendid and snowy attire, with siken double and
sosks pinksd and embroidered The Portuguese. the
contrary, came in solderiike style, in complete ar
When this gallant company disembssAed shores
Of the Bay OF Spiritu Ssno the cavalry numbered be
tween two and three hundred, ma he infa
ting TO me account q vess-au'ons.si TO thousand
(3) To eve priests be des other eccesia t-s
with the on ard carefully provided with
uants such used al the service of az IL
universally the IN the fifteen h and seeuth ceua
mas for all expeditions q discovery xploaton the
6Panis, d 70 Be- accompanied b. ecclesastics L
the pee liar spFt Of tina. sge the lust for 1.-THE
spirit o. adventu Zeal for he aa enth
for the cross went hard in hafd Whilst the
being erected up.u .he shore of newly dcove ed
country, the incense from the arose, mngins
with the smoke Of the caluon.
After many months OF wandering De Soto forw.rl
exploring par who discovered the haSor OF Psasaco
h. from wht sent 70 Cuba. dem adding
thai supplies should be tor~ared to that ps tn.
lowing 51 The company At last arrived At Msv.a,
the present site Of Mobile There they had terrible ba lie
with the Indians FIRE occurred witch consumed the
rous collections that D- Soto had made To ascertain
how far Mr. Pc veil is correct In his figures md
aooessores Of his picture, quote singular instance
nsntoned in The Portuguese Relation" Of Indian
chief who stole away from tais town carrying with lin
scarlet cloak and other Ct the Christians goods
as he was able to carry away. The company becoming
alarmed De Soto cred arqusouss 70 be shot of (6
AZ -h.
hNarch. l54l just previous 70 the discovery Of the Mis-
appi De Soto Of the chief of the chickasaw
two hundred Indians TO the baggage of the compa
n.y. at the ,ame time taking possession Of their village
The dem and refused and in the darkness of stormy
night they assaulted the Infatuated Who
st nre to the houss, which constructed Of
aad straw, and consumed The Spapiards
sspt in his doabes and hos. that he bs prep.rs
tor such emergencies ella ped his casque drew
tout Of quilted cotton three fingers in thickness tbs t
asence against the arrows Of the sayaos AMI selling
bucklsr and lance united HE horse and charged fear
Isssly into the midst of tbs enemy.
Many horses Jerished because their COM
psed to secure Them at night ~ih iron chains they
FESTIVE from high feeding ana they could not b.
oosed go terrible Was the assault large body Of foot
soldiers became terrified that they fed Nuno robar
rushed after them, sword in hard his coat Of mail left
unbnckled in the hurry Turn soldiers turn ~ cried
he Whittier are you flying Here is neither Cordova
Seville to give you refuge" At this moment thirty SOL
disrs fro part of the village which The flames hal no.
reached to intercept Of the fugtiyes (s Soon
after "Andres &c yssconcels with twenty four chosen
cavaliers of his comp any, all Portuguese hdalros most
q whom had served horseen in the wars on the AZ
rican frontier, charged the main b95y Of the epeny
he wac accompanied by compsny OF foot solisrs oom
.anded BY Nuno Tobar the Indians could not withstand
ne fury OF their onsct and dispersed This ia the
asasous battle referred to by the critics Many lives
wore lost swine med and clothes saved fro the
mes OF Mobile destroyed (o) The from Irving
hero quoted refute most fully the position that all the
sethes Of officers aud destroyed and that they
were compelled to wesr skins and mats of ivy In the
account Of the expedition by Hernandez de edaa who
Gs present At the time published in i64i) nothing
whatever 10 said o. the loss oil clothing We have no
doubt that some had their apparel de. troyedt would
% quite natural Imposition, considering the circu
stances-but that they all left entirely naked after
tho hIe . grossly absurd Cor slider for moment the
position taken BY the critics referred TO- s,ting IN
guAhneey that Mr. Povels picture is not historic lily
correct "fof by the fire OF two weeks previous the
n'erds lost all their olohes and we're naked as the
Indiana