Washington sentinel., 1855-02-24

the liberties of the people. Itshould therefore
be fostered and strengthened the funds of
a supsrabundant treasury should be applied to
an object SO truly worthy of our pride and care.
--<sOS~-
THE PAINTING OF DE sOTO-Mr.
POWELL, THE ARTIST.
1t is not often that the -artistical world has to
record the success of painter not yet thirty
years Of age, in the exceedingly difficult task Of
historical painting. The young man who goes
successfully through the perilous ordeal is GER.
tainly entitled to the attention Of the enhght-
ened community, and to the encouragement Of
| the masses. Such is the case with Mr. Powell.
His picture Of the Discovery of the Missis.
sippi' by De Soto, executed at an age when
the immense majority Of painters do not rise
above the portrait or landscape business, shows
better than any commentary what this country
must expect from an artist who, still in the
prime of life, has already done SO much to
elevate the art of painting in the United States
This consideration alone were there no other
| pleading for him, would be sufficient to re-
commend MIR. Powell to his fellow-citizens and
to the patronage Of those whose duty it is to
reward them.
But Mr.. Powell is not simply man of great
| promise. He is more. He is a man of achieve
ment in his art. Certain portions of his paint.
ing prove it. As a general thing, the drawing
of his personages is good, his subject well dis
posed, and the various groups scattered here and
there, have an air Of truthfulness very remark.
| able. difficult thing in the art of painting
is to harmonize the oountenance of the actor
with the act he performs, and to unite each of
these acts with the ensemble of the composition.
This is certainly one ofthe greatest impedments
of the art. Let us say, in praise of Mr. Powell,
that, Notwithstanding his prediction to seek
and encounter obstacles, prediction which
the numerous and various groups he has placed
upon his canvass, sufficiently proves he has
happily avoided the danger Of diyerting the
attention of the spectators from the main idea
he intends to convey. We believe, however,
that his painting would have gained much had
he been more sober in his composition.
The multiplication Of personages necessitates
the most part of the time multiplication of
incidents injurious to the unity of the subject.
Painting is like romance. II you expand
single history through many volumes, you are
compelled to fill your pages with extraneous
matters, hurtful to the object upon which you
desire to attract attention. Hence the dryness
of certain writings, literary and political. Con.
densation is in literature and arts, in polemics
and science, in moral teachings, as well as in
legislative speeches, the highest accomplish.
ment Of the artist, the politician, the lawyer,
the minister and the writer. II is the talent
TO compress many ideas in the smallest possible
space, so that the people may either see, hear
or read with pleasure and profit.
The great defect Of Mr.. Powells painting is,
in our opinion, the dilution Of the idea. When
the eye embraces the canvass, il is attracted
by so many bright colors, interesting counte.
Hances, historical "reminiscences, that il finds
some trouble to make selection. 1t but by
close scrutiny that he finally arrives, to dis.
cover one after another the hidden beauties Of
purely artistical order-such as the Indian
group, certain expressive faces among the
followers Of De Soto, the man loading the
cannon and the Spanish soldier dressing his
wound. But suppose for an instant that the
number Of personages and animals had been
reduced, then the talent Of the artist, confined
TO narrower scale, would have bestowed
much more force on each one Of its characters;
the composition would have gained in simpli.
city, in harmony, in unity Then each part Of
that immense canvass would have afforded rs
an interest similar to that awakened in us at
the sight Of the wounded Spanish soldier,
composition in itself sufficient to give reputa-
ton to the painter who conceived and exc.
cuted it.
| great deal is TO be said in reference TO
many other parts Of the work. All we in.
tend to say, however, at the present time, is
TO call attention to the fact, that Mr.. Powell
has given us but sample Of what he can do
hereafter. That sample is sufficient, in our
estimation, TO induce Congress to trust to the
hands Of the artist another work, and to let him
have the choice Of his subject, the conception
OF his characters and the distribution Of his
personages. IL there is way TO encourage
national arts, il is only that which consists in
patronizing the artists, especially when, like Mr..
Powell, they unite 10 the talent Of the artist the
Accomplishments Of the gentleman and scholar.
II UTcn HERRrNG.-ls kegs. 1854, yoll.o.