Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-12-13


see, fairly amazcs me. look down inc reduously
at my guide-book. Yes! there is, indeed the crit
zeal authority of Lanzi quoted for nv benefit
Lanzl tells me in plain terms that behold reDre-
sened IN the picture before me- the most pathetic
story Raphael ever conceived" " and refers in proof
OF 1t, to the compassion evnced By the Apostles
look attentivey at them ALL and behold an assem-
bly, of heart-featured, bearded men, standinp. sit
tng' geshculatlng, in conventional academic atti-
iudes; tner faces not expressing naturally, not even
affecting to express articially compassion for the
suffering boy humility at their own incapabiy 10
relieve him, or any other human emotion likely TO
be suggested by the situation in which they are
placed. Ind 1t still more dIsmaving to look next
at the hgure OF brawny woman, with her back
to the spectator entreatng the help OF the Apostles
theatrlcay on one knee, with her insensible cIas-
sIcal profile turned in direction, and both her
muscular arms stretched out in the other it is still
more dIsmayng TO look at such figure as this and
then to be gravely told by Lanzi that It exhibits
'the atiiictiOn of beautiful and interesting fe-
mile" observe, on entering the room in which
the TRANSPORTATION is placed, as have previously
observed on entering the Sstine Chapel, groups of
intelligent people before the picture consulting
their guide-bOoks-lookng attentvely at the work
OF High Art which they are ordered to admire
trying hard to admire it--then with dismay in their
faces, looking round at each other, shutting up
their books, and reireating from High Art in des-
4 q
end IN following their example. We m"ubers of
the general public may admire Iamlr' ..:, Don
Giovanni honestly, along with the critics out the
two subimest pictures (according to the learned
authorlties,) which the world has vet beheld ap-
peal to none Of us; and we leave them, altogether
discouraged on the subject of Art for the future.
From that time forth we look at pictures with
fatal sclfdstrust. Some of us recklessly take our
opinions from others some of us cautiously keep
our own opinions to ourselves and some of US in
doently abstain from having anything to do with
an opinion at all.
Is this exaggerated? Have misrepresenied facts
in the example have quoted of obstructive criti-
csm on Art, and of its discourlgng effects on the
public mind: Let the doubling reader by all means
judge for himself. Let him refer to any recognized
authority he peases and he will find that the two
pictures of which have been writing are critically
and officially considered, 10 this day, as the two
masterwoiks of tie highest school Of painting.
Having ascertained that, let him next, if possible,
procure sight of some print small copy from
any part Of either picture There is a copy of the
whole OF the TRANSPORTATION in the Gallery at the
Crystal Palace.) and practically test the truth of
what have said. Or, in the event of his not
choosing to take that trouble, let him ask any IN
professional and uncrtica friend who has seen the
pictures themselves-anG the more intelligent and
unprcjudced that friend, the better for my purpose
what the effect on him was of the The LAST
OF L ue L II Cd0 only
be assured of the sincerity of the witness, shall
not be afraid of the result of the examination.
Other readers who have visited the Sistine Chap
el and the Vatican can testify for themselves (but
few of them will know them) whether have
their impressions or not. To that
part of my audience | have nothing to say, except
that beg them not to believe that | am hereto
in relation TO all works by all old masters, because
| have spoken out about the Last Judgment and the
TRANSPORTATION. | am not blind, hope, to the
merits of any picture, provided will bear honest
investigation on uncritical principles. have seen
such exceptional works by ones and twos amid
many hundreds of utterly worthless canvasses with
famous names attached to them, in
Italy and elsewhere My valet de place has not
pointed them cut to me; my guide-book, which
criticises according to authority has not recon-
mended me to look at them, except in very rare
cases indeed. | discovered them for myself, and
others may discover them as readily as did, if they
will only take their minds out of leading strings
when they enter gallery, and challenge picture
boldly to do its duty by explaining It's own merits
to them without the assistance of an interpreter.
If give that simple receipt for the finding out and
enjoying of good pictures, | need give more.
1t is part of my object to attempt to impose my
own tastes and preferences on others. | want-if
may be allowed, to repeat my motives once more
in the plainest terms-to do all | can tn shake the
influence of authority in matters of Art, because
see IldL dutnOfltV Standing uTedTHy ana perSiS-
ently alOof from all popular sympathy; because
see it keeping pictures and the people apart; and
because find 1T setting up as masterpieces, two
Of the worst of many pllpably bad and barbarOus
works of past times.
And what remedy against this | say at the
end, as | said at the beginning, the remedy is to
Judge for ourselves, and to express our opinions,
privately and publicly. on every possible occasion,
without hesitation, without compromise, without
reference to aEy precedents whatever. Public
opinion has had its victories in other matters, and
nay yet have It's victory In matters of Art. We,
he people, have gallery that is called ours let
Is do eIr best to have it filled for the future with
DictuTs (no matter when or by whom painted,) that
We can get snme honest enjoyment and benefit
rom. Let US, in Parliament and out of it, before
Inner and after dinner in the presence OF bg-wIgs
ust as cody as out of the presence of big-wigs,
say plainly once for all that the SOFT Of High Art
which is prolessedly bought for US, and which does
actually address itself to nobody but painters, crit
cS and connosseurs, is not High Art at all, but the
OWest of the Low because 1t Is the narrOwest as
o its sphere of action, and the most scantily fur
li<hed as to its means OF doing good. We shall
hock the connoisseurs ESPECIALLY the elder ones)
lreadfuy by taking this course; we shall get iG-
lgnanty reprimanded by the critics, and fatty
.Ontradicted by the lecturers but we shall also,
ooner or later, get collection Of pictures bought
or US that we, mere mankind, can appreciate and
understand. 1t may be revolutionary sentiment,
,ut think that the carrying out of this reform las
veil as of few others part Of the national bus
ness which the people of England have got to do
or themselves, and IN which no big-wig whOmso-
ver will assist them. There is great deal Of So
ial litter accumulating about US suppose, when
We start the business Of setting things to rights,
hat we try the broom gently at first, by sweep
ng away little High Art, and having the temeri-
Y to form our own opinions?