The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-09-24
The Fine AFss.

LOCKWOODb LAST JupohinI.
This PAINTING Of the large proportions OF IL feet
vide BY 81 feet high within the frame it the work
of young American artist Rembrandt Lockwood, in
which he has aimed to achieve the su5me.t subject
within the range of human Imagination in the grandest
style, consistent with the teachings Of revea ion the
truths Of history the requirements Of nature aud the
rules Of art 1t is the product of eight years OF
travel and observation and study and labor and s now
on public exhibition in the block of the Metropo itan
Hotel, Broadway.
The following is the description Of the painting
given in the explanatory pamphlet in behalf OF the
artisI:-
hind under types OF the FIVE great races-the Cauca
sisn the Nepgolap, the Indsn the african, and this
Masy.n. The Caucasian (hghest type) embraces tbs
Ncpgoan Il 10 yer type in acknowledgement OF the
equality Of the races 1T the Last Judgment On the
left otihe picture 10 represented the grave with the An
gel Of Death sitting at its 'front.' costing from her labors
At hsr feet the emblenac scy the lies broken denotDg
inst death 10 more. From the opened grave issue
forth al ranks and rsdes. hing ana me oeggas the
leaders and Of men, t. great movers OF the hu
man mind the priests Of Egypt, Greece and Rome and
and pa siDg to judgment by common path, with
fp Of the grave Ard Of ete nifty In font Of
group es tbs form Of Iespossm, with chain and
fcourse lis broken pea OF his iot power In
es the noble form OF WAshir gon as the type
Of Liberty Near him is the figure OF slave Ia the
essituds Of IL the hysical and mental
preston incident to state Of oonrage while the figure
ypi. Of liberty is full Of life and ygor An ags' snp
ports the slave and watches the returning lite as IT
beams through her dark lus,rous eyes Sdingy up
to the Saviour. The angels receiving these figures
sTe intended to teach that God tender care a over
To the right Of this group is pictured the re- union OF
holy family-ons Of the sweetest and most ossinl
Of the Christians faith he awaiting the
t fruition Of joy, are gathered happy kin irsd aoa
S,iends Crced around he Arohangel Raphael are tee
Patrisrchal Father Mother and Ccildren Raphael is
represented as the guardian angel of humanity Above
this group their good deeds' rising 10 judg
nent. 1heIe is Christian Unity typded by the twinng
Of around each other; Long Suffering, wearing
old, torn robe through the rents of which is the
cross, embematic Of those who bear the crosses and
of the gronp angel stoops show again that 1t
the humble in heart and not the proud and lofty who
finally exalted Near by is penitence, with her
hands cssped Charity bearing alot the sweet emblems
Of Love- and Faith Hope above Is seen the wn
ineo the saints and martyrs with glory and the asaump
In the upper part of the picture sits the Saviour in
Judgment, full Of Divine Majesty breathing forth the
sacred Tores Come ys blessed Of my Father
ties, circlng above whom, like food of glory
ranged the angels Of the passions bearing the Kobe Of
SPEAR and the Chalice the emblem of the saYours
undyDg love- On the right Of these groups sits the Angel
of Life and the left the Angel of Justice illustrating
the passage-Weghed in the balance and found want.
Below is represented Michael the Archangel driving
Lust and Crime with his BLOOD stained hand Beneath
these groups is the hfend Satan, represented
arClQngel, stamped
our nature He entbroped AMBITION represented
BY prostrate king, grspDg crown and sceptre, and
surrounded by the low vices Of msnkndDespar Drunk
sented by the miseY contemplating his gold the tempt
ing seemingly full to his eye but in reality broken
tory us are earthly the
miser is crouchng figure. typical Of Procrasnation,
too late rePtnt,nt and sloh indifferent to Its fate,
caring only for 90 little more Sleep"
Above these distant figures typical of the
sciences-Gaeo enting astronomy Pascal mathe-
Dante poetry; M,haei Angelo, Raphael and Titan tie
ane arts-Mchael angelo the epic Raphael the Drama
tic, and Titsn the voluptuous In the group to the
tight sacred art through the figures Of
the early Christian painters Fra Angelica Fra Bartolo
meo, and Plantels Nelh, who translated and taught
Gods word through their orks, before printing
vented. On the tabet which Piantsia holds Is repra
septsd the Clucifxop the Ny st,ry of the
OF Mankind, of which the Last judgment is the
nation.
cursory examination of this massive com plex and
comprehensive work. will hardly justify an attempt at
deliberate critical review The frst full sight OF it
upon entering the inner eoor cannot fail of producing
upon the eye and the mind Of the spectator profound
and, to say the truth, peasurabe sensation The pre-
vaiing attributes Of this Judgment are Mercy and
Justice shorn of the heather qualities OF malice and re-
venge
The atmosphere Of the picture is soft and sprtuszed
there Is nothing aring, hard garish or violent
y abrupt in its contrasts of light and shade There is
depth, which secures the desired illusions Of natural
perspective and background iimitabe in extent The
various groups Of the artsticay bestowed
the general combination requires time study to un
derstand It. Not inch Of surface IL thro va awsy
but on the other hand hero and there appears to be
overstocked or uncomfortably crowded.
II there is feature in the scene suggestive of iucou.
guy it is in tie falling of the three condemned spirits
most conspicuous to the eye From the apparent iue
OF their descent they coming headiong to the earth
again, from which they have just been called to judg-
ment and one Of them will strike terra frma hard by
where the immortal Washington has just emerged frsm
the grave The dea perhaps Of the artist is that these
condemned spirits in front of the sound scene and
win fall clear of dsmantled planet into the yawnnx
gulf of perdton But had there been visible chasm,
dark and unfahomabe reserved for the descending ne
Of subjects, the effect would at least have been more
impressive to the spectator Tale, for example, those
three principal falling fg@es out Of the way, and
though much Of fine individual anatomy will be lost the
general harmony and consistency Of the picture will we
thini, be vastly improved
It is said in behalf Of this work, that /. is neither
Catholic Protestan-that it Is above ali sesta.iap
ISM and that in this respect it stands alone tbs last
judgment. This may be SO; but vie we'd as work Of
ART We care not to inquire into the particular school of
theology sustained BY The artist lie has ende.vored
" PVAHdy o Nsst 1hu comphcAtel luea VI the last
judgment upon enormous surface Of canvass; and
in the general composition and in the details Of the
grouping, the drawing, the cooring the dcneaton Of
virtues, vices characters passions angels fends, and
men, subject to exceptions In the conception
more than in the execution OF the details, we
think he has succeeded to . wonderful degree. He
has had the biunders of those old humbugs the old
ms sters,' to him, the lights Of modern art to
guide him. and the principles of chastenel and soften
ed Christianity to encourage him.
1t is quite possible that this picture may make .
greater sensation in Europe than in the United States
but . production Of American genius, enterprise,
perseverance, and steady labor it Is surely worthy OF
deliberate judgment from the American public.
First District Court.
Before Judge Green.
WHEN BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS ARE EVIDENCE.
SRrr a. William Passenger against George W.