Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-02


water, the alarm OF the passengers but rather
to imagine himself in such position, and de-
scribe the feelings which would agitate him
then. Had Haydn, indeed, received such a
counsel, and followed it, he would no doubt
have composed better work than the one he
has left. hastatire music is seldom much less
than ridiculous; descriptive music which is de-
signed to represent scenes that are not per-
ceved by our sense Of hearing, must neces
sarily, to be true, be the expression of the
feelings which possessed the composer at the
sight of the object he describes, and on that
account, most of the pieces considered by
artists as holding the FIRST rank among the mu-
steal chef d9cres belong to that order.
Beethoyen's descriptions of scenery are, by
no means, inferior to the finest paintings of
Claude, Lorraine, or Poussin. The shepherd
and shepherdesses which people his world, are
the same as those which Virgil describes in his
Bucolics. The great composer, the poet, and
the painter, take us into their private world.
We see them dancing, fighting, running for
prize match. AT the setting of the sun, mys-
terious cloud will be spread rendering us invi-
branches of yon oak, the youthful couple which
is to prolong, late in the night, its sentimental
twaddle.
Descriptive music is, perhaps, superior to
painting and poetry, as it gives to the magma
ton wider field, and translates without imi-
tating.
The painter is no more bound to copy ma
ture seriously, than the poet or the composer;
he must see in it something more than lines or
color; he must be gifted with new faculties,
which afford him to see the soul of that nature,
the living spirit which reigns over the creation;
he must understand her language, sympathize
with her secret pleasures and pains, be the
confdant of her love and passion, and his duty
is to initiate us into those mysteries. His work
must be the expression of the thoughts, emo
tions and feelings which agitated him at the
sight of the scene which he has represented.
He is priest whose mission is to teach US the
divinity whom he serves.
Let us now consider what the work of the
copyist is, when he is engaged in the repro
duction of another's composition.
With him inspiration disappears to make
way for innumerable lines, a constant mixing
and comparing of colors. He has to follow,
feature by feature, the work Of another. That
nose, which had been created by few touches
of the brush of the master has to be rubbed out
to correct its bridge which is sixteenth of a
line too high. Here inspiration yields its seat
to patience and other mechanical virtues. The
work of the copyist is that of slave, who ex-
poets no praise, no glory no reputation, as the
reward of his labor. His creation is lifeless,
soulless body, that can inspire passion no
longer. With Hamlet we can but say: "Alas,
poor Yorickp' s
| have known students who being aware of
this, and at the same time DESTROYS of studying
the works of the masters of the art, had adopted
a new way to reach the end they had in view.
Tbav otpJiad {ha L., Il
produce, they spent hours and weeks in the
contemplation of the work, and when their i'm
aginations were strongly impressed with its
beauties, when the spirit Of the creator had in
some way passed into them, they would retire,
each to his private study, and begin the in
tended work. / have seen such productions
that were worth place in any gallery of paint
ings. One can recognize in them much of the
inspiration of the first artist with mixture Of
the originality of the copyist. ! would recon-
mend this way of studying to all beginners who
are not strong enough to fly with their own
wings.
l have read several French translations of
Shakespeare, They are all ridiculous, wretched
looking like the grin of dis.
figured dwarf trying to initiate the noble fea-
lures of some Don Juan of his acquaintance
At the same time two celebrated French artists,
Delavigne and Hugo, have left to us pieces that
have evidently been written under the impress
sion made by deep study of the English
writer. Those pieces will pass to the latest
generation and have their place in every well
selected library. A translator is always cramp-
ed, his attention is attracted by word which
prevents his Selling the full meaning of the
phrase or by phrase which withdraws his
attention from the period. The imitator on
the contrary, may be perfect master of the
language, and if it obeys as a faithful servant
ought, it will reproduce his thought with origi.
nality and strength.
Two very different agents give birth to the
existence of work of art one Of them is
purely intellectual the other is entirely me-
chanical. They answer to what we call in
literature thought and style. Both are indis-
pensable. The artist ought to aim at the per-
ection OF these two agents, but they are not
equal. Thought holds the first rank and the
,ther is but his servant.
Mr.. Editor: | am now bachelor, but hope |
o be one day husband and father. One Of
he duties that will think myself most bound |
o perform at that new stage of my existence |
will be to teach my son the love of artistical |
pursuits. / will send him 10 a drawing school. |
,ut before he goes, / shall, as a good parent |
address to him few exhortations:
My son send you to what men call, very |
drawing school. They will teach |
ou how to copy with precision and purity lines |
# every description. Acquire in that me- |
hanical art as much skill as is in your power,
nut do not think if you succeed in that opera
ion, do not think my son, that you are any
nore of an artist than the stone.cutter who has |
arved the capital OF column of Corinthian
rider. Ifyou cannot create yourself, you are
mt mechanic; and, should you never reach
higher stand, it were better for you you had
ot begun. Try to become master Of your
encil, that, he being a faithful and obedient
ervant, may accomplish with fidelity the work
on trust to his hands; never let him take with
on any liberty, for he would soon be your
eader, and very deceitful one he would prove
During your vacation, we will visit together
be country; whilst wandering under the boughs
shady tree, we will frequently stop to gaze
the spectacle nature offers to our eyes. Full
admiration for its beauties we will try to
'ansmit them to the paper. See how grace.
ally the branches Of that tree incline towards
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