The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-17
uOpNINc CATT-Or of,

Cy A MORNING GALLON one of the beauti-
full golden mornings of this week. during stroll on
Main street, stepped into the studio of Mr. ohm
b. Martin fthe Richmond Artist to hom we referred
Yesterday in the basement of the EdgemoDt
House. Here we saw such evidences of the ability
OF one OF cur ewn Virginia Artists, as to fill us with
wonder that such professional merit had not attract
ed more attention in a city where the re is much
cultivation of talent and appreciation of true excel
lence.
Surely the admirers Of one of the noblest of the
Fine Arts cannot require that Painter should first
bring with him the prestige of being foreigner
from Northern State, before he can command the
patronage of the Richmond public 1t weuld seem,
however, that even among US, little Northern repu
taton gives more brightness to the coors ard soft
ness to to the shade Ofa good painting for
Mr. Martins return from his successful visit New
York, his room has been more popular, and his ser.
vices in demand than they were be fore he
back from Gotham, bringing with him hyperborean
honors! As stated yesterday, one ofthe most ad-
mred pictures exhibited at the Crystal Palace
his portrait of Chief Justice Marshall 1t well de-
serves the attention 1t receives for work of Art
it possesses much of the harmony, simplicity and
osentatious power, which characterized the eminent
man it presents Such Mr.. Martins success in
New York. that he proposes to return to that city this
winter in case his engagements here dc not conine
him during the whole season. We would suppose,
however, in population like ours there would be
need of the constant services of more than such
Artist. 1t has been said that the cheapness and fa
cility with which daguerreOtype lkenesses taken
puts portrait painting at discount. But this is n
erroneous idea. A good daguerreotype picture of a
dear friend is indeed treasure, with its minute and
faithful rendering of every lneament and its accu-
rsey in causing the hairs of the head to be all
nernbered. But the daguerreotype should be the ac
companime and not the substitute for the Portrait
With the faithful shades of the one, let us have the
warm glow, the lfe-ike flush and bloom ofthe other
Let have the nmltable outline of the one, with
the beautiful cOloring of the other, for we want to
sec the complexion, of our wife sweetheart
whether it be the milky opal, the sunny brunette;
want the very hue of her eyes, whether they be
of raven black or bewitching blue. All this must
come, not from the camera but from the pallet aud
give us both, the dasuerreotype to lie on
tire table, and the Portrait to hang in tho hall. Mont
gomery, in his eloquent lecture English Ltera-
ture when contendins that poetry is superior
sic, painting sculpture, declares that I'm portrait
alone can painting claim the advantage of poetry ::
because then the pencil perpetuates the very fea-
tures air. and personal appearance of ths individual
represented; and when that individual is one ofem-
nence-a hero, patriot, orator,-itis the veh-
Gle of the highest pleasure which Art cOmmuni-
cate and in this respect portrait painting however
disparage6 is the highest point of the Art itself be-
ing once the most rsa intellectual, and imag gina
tive"
Mr.. Martin win remain a few days longer at the
Edgemout House, and if our friends will do them
selves the pleasure to call, them that If hit
portraits do not speak they will at least show tor
themselves.