The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-25
A Card.

10 the Superintendent and Manager of the Me
hopolitan Mechanics Institute Fair q
GENTLEMEN: The eminently successful man.
agement of your Exhibition, just closed, the
admirable arrangement of the articles deposited,
and order maintained, afforded the thousands OF
visitors who daily thronged the magnificent hall
to examine the various articles, much pleasure
and delight, and drew from them the warmest
expressions of commentator and agreeable sur
PRISE" H.
TO meet the entire wishes of all, in making the
awards, would of course be impossible But that
it has been the aim of the judges to act impartially
no one can deny.
For one who has annually, during the last
eighteen years, been attending, as an exhibitor
the FAIRS held in large cties, allow me to say
that, in my opinion, one of them has been 80
admirably conducted or has given more general
satisfaction to visitors, depositors, and all con
cerned, than this exhibition of the Metropolitan
Mechanics Institute.
For the award of the highest premium silver
medal for the superiority of our specimens in Pho
Biography, Talbottypes, and Daguerreotype por-
traits and miniatures, exhibition, please accept
my grateful thanks. 80
1t would have been gratifying. however, to me,
and no doubt interesting to the community, to
know tchat was made, in the minds of the Judges,
the standard of ercsllence
Whether the mechanical execution, the high Dol.
ish and superior finish of the plates or the beautiful
Sse"ssS~'
OF the production; or, whether considered in an
Grttstico point of view, (not too large or maeni-
ned several times beyond the power of the instru-
ment,) or the happy arrangement of drapery,
roundness; the correct disposition of lights and
shadows; or the ability and tact manifested in Sc
Letting the most favorable view of the face, and
securing an Intelligent, cheerful and life like ex.
presslon or the countenance-such portrait in
deed, as TRUE ARTIsT would approve of, or friend
value for its truthfulness to nature?
II the Judges on the fine arts-who are presumed
to be artists, or amateurs, eminently qualified, and
highly competent to discriminate and decide Judi.
clousy upon all the requisite characteristics which
constitute superior production of the Photogra.
phic art-had examined and compared, carefully,
the specimens of the several competitors in every
point of view-mechanically chemically, and ar
tistically-it would have been gratifying to many
who feel, and hare, interest in the progress of
this wonderful art, if they had stated, and publish
ed in their report, for what merits the award was
given; and to whom belonged the credit of having
attained the highest degree of excellence in the
Photographic art, the greatest skill in directing
this Magical Pencil of Light the only truthful
mode when rightly handled, of securing the Inca
ture,'' yet discovered. q
A moments reflection will satisfy any one that
upon the decision of the judges appointed by this
institute, rests the opinions of many who yet
""educdted In works of art; and if Judgment be
rendered as above spec fled, correct ideas may be-
come disseminated favorable influences spread
abroad. the art improved generally, and thousands
VINO might otherwise be led into error, disappoint
ment ana regret, would be induced to obtain Dor.
traits or miniatures of themselves, families q
friends which would not only be pleasing as work
OF sun painting. but truthful, satisfactory, and
valuable as portraits or miniatures and cherished
such in after years. -" - - $3.50.
regard this art, or Photography, as yet in it's
infancy, and deplore the degraded condition to
which 1t has been brought by the abuse Of hun
dreds who have made it their calling, without ca
pacity or respect for an art interesting and use
full to the community; yet trust the time ia near
when artists will give it their attention, and help
to elevate and bring it before the public one Of
the useful arts. = F,t.ss,s 80
From those who take pleasure in examining
the thousands who admired our pictures with 80
much interest when at the Fair, and from the cit
liens Of Washington generally, whether desiring
pictures or not, visit to our gallery, PennsyE
yania avenue, Seventh street, is respectfully
solicited, by their obedient and humble servant,
FEkEE STA M. A. ROOT.