Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1855-07-26
Powell, the Artist.
PrcTuREs IN THE RoruNpA N WAsHlNe.


PIcTuREs IN THE RorUNDA IN WAsHING.
Some fifteen or more years ago, al
stranger in CINCINNATI, if he had turned
from Main street into Fourth street, south
might have observed, three or four doors
from the corner of Main, a bonnet, ana
some little articles of millinery in the
window, and passed on-nothing convey
ing to him the impression that anybody
belonging to the race of artist habored
there. Yet, had he opened that humble
door, he would have discovered delicate
boy artist at his easel, laboring away so
intensely as at first not to be aware OF his
entrance.
When made aware Of it, the visitor
would have been struck with the manly
countenance Of that dinutive youth, and
his pleasant tone and his engaging man.
ners. Ifhe were an observer of coun-
tenance, the well developed forehead Of
one SO young, and his clear and animated
blue eve, would have attracted his notice.
Perhaps he would have found the artist
engaged in finishing the likeness of Mr..
Longworth, a wealthy gentleman Of Gin
cinnati, who has encouraged several young
artists in their first attempts-artists who
have since become distinguished.
The name of this youth--boy- artist
we migh5dlAll .in-is William Henry
Powell, $50 is now aboard, putting the
finishing touches on his picture of ''Ihe
Discovery Of the Mississippi by De Soto.
in 1912" In this house, his mother and
sister carried on little millinery G, ant
lishment, up stairs. The whit As, min
mated their locality, white .ss. the
youthful artist needed no indlc..,on, as
there were none except his personal friend
aud admirers who sought for it, as he had
not yet become an artist by profession.
and was, in fact, boy. it,=.f
Soon, however, his pictures were talk.
ed about, and the press noticed him
and in the progress of events, and in the
development Of his genius and resources,
he was enabled TO 60 to the East, and sub.
sequently to Europe. ilss5, Ne ~ q.
When the choice came to be made as
to whom should paint the picture for the
last unoccupied pannei in the rotunda, he
was selected, through the influence of the
western members of Congress. 80 s-4as
This picture is spoked Of in the highest
terms-and these high terms comes to us
with such ENDORSEMENTS as TO satisfy us that
they are not the mere eulogy Of friends.
Mr.. Bryan Of Philadelphia, a connoisseur
in such matters, who has a large collection
of pictures, speaks Of it with high praise,
and SO has Count D'Orsay. De Soto is
the chief figure, and there are many others
prominent on the canvas-we fear too
many, from what is said Of the picture.
The Indian figures on the canvas contras,
strikingly, in their wild costume,l with the
steel.cIad warriors Of De, Soto; and the
priests planting cross as the sign Of
possession, furnish another contrast
There is a figure Of horse in the picture
which is said to be excellent.
We rejoice in the success Of Mr.. Pow.
ell. To say the truth, the pictures in the
Rotunda are remarkable for excellence.
That Of the 'sPiIgrims," by Wier, is the
best. .'The Baptism 1of Pochaqontas'
has very little merit. And that Of the
.Signefs of the Declaration ST Indepen.
dence," from the various exhibitions Of
legs in it, was justly called by John Ran.
dolph the s.shin-pisce."
But everything must have beginning
and VIC like this encouragement Of on,
American aPowelPs picture will do him
great credit, and reflect honor upon the
Great West, which has already given Pow.
ers to the world Of Art.-[F. W. Fiona,
Sketches. ..5 6. .e .,.s .. {.