Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-08-18
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.


PANS, July |, 1853
MY DEAR Srn,-A description Of one city II
Holland serves equally sell FOR all. The sam,
general characteristics prevail every where
Tho level suriace-thc numerous canals border
ed with rows of trees and filed with curious
looking vessels, having PROV and stern turned ul
alike and as round as tub. The same tall hou
SEES Of chnker brick, with all their corners paint
ed white. The painted gables, with end to the
street.-The little mirrors placed IN front Of TIC
windows, that the Industrious housewife may sec
what is going on in me street without the trouble
of getting up to look out and even The undera.
ker is not without his pecularties -he dresses
much after the fashion of the revolution, long
back coat with standing collar, long vest, small
clothes and silk stockings, shoes with buckles, a
three cornered hat, from which is suspended a
yard Of Grape, and having also yard Of very
wide satin ribbon hanging down his back. lie
gives notice of the death TO the relatives and
friends of the deceased, invites them to the fu-
neral, and moves about the street with the same
elastic sep that he does at the house of the de-
parted. All these are distinguishing features in
city Of Holland not found ese~ here. Still
each city has some attractions peculiar to itself
Harlem is celebrated ilr It's old cathedral and
powerful organ, which stood unrivaled for near a
century, but modern organs have rpasscd it -
There also is a statue to Costor, whom the Dutch
claim to have been the inventor OF printing, and
there was the great centre of the Tulip specula-
ton which was carried some years since to a
more orazr extent than even the Eastern land
speculatons, and they still have many fine spe-
cImens. Leyden Is distinguished for its immense
Museum Of Natural History. While Hugue has
Its Picture Gallery, in which is a painting by
Potter, called 4" The Young Bull" though in fact
a representation of farmer with his herd about
him, and for true delineations and perfect color
ing to nature, have seen nothing to equal But
Antwerp Is the great school of Dutch aud Flem-
ish Artists. The gallery is extensive and con-
tains many fine ptciSrsai but the most celebrated
are two in the Cathedral, "The Descent from
the Cross" and " The Elevation of the Cross"
by Rubeps, and are considered as his master
pieces. He was undoubtedly the most celebra
ted painter of his time, and his reputation is
worldwide Connoisseurs have criticised but
to praise still frankly admit have never been
pleased with his paintings. have no intention
of writing a criticism on his works, but | will
briefly state wherein | am not pleased with Them
His delneations are very good, and the positions
of most of his personages are admirable, and his
colorlng brilliant, but to me- he does not seem TO
color to nature, but for effect. His pictures are
brilliant, yea, gaudy but he represents scenes
for effect and no. as facts. Who but Reubons
would ever have thought Of representing Mary
Magdalene, that humble follower of Christ, as
being present, aiding IN the descent from the
cross with golden hair floating in the breeze and
dressed in the richest of Persian silk, with
trail that might belit queen at a grand recep-
ton. Such a figure makes gaudy show in the
picture, but there Is nothing atural. lie might
with equal propriety represent farmer at his
pillow dressed in the robes and cap Of cardinal,
because il would make handsome picture. Reu-
bens painted but little besides scrptural pieces,
end 40 those he was extremely fond OF introdu-
cling imaginary beings and especially angels,
whose chubby baby faces seem to fill up the can
yass and make glowing picture. Client is