New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-12

Ancx<sker the brass brse gets 70 be night ~ers d
heavy ssaKty, and we wish ourselves clear Of it.
A yssne gentleman in cur company remonsrsted 81
fAese wmek ks when made, and said he liked the work
- the better for srictures that the sta meant
sviasBtly 10 Illustrate the character OF Old heko'y
vho wsud when 20 pleased disregard al ia"e-Dnoss
sf rrayaation included but added, he thouSht II
vou u have been as illustrative and far more original
sAs hsrs. had been represented kicking up instead
.s s,sayry. and then the old heros legs eonld have
xs.u stuek back 90 showing the disregard oflaws Of
svsvtaton and carrying cut the hickory clothes-pin
isea before mentioned Let the artist consider the
clothes pin motion is very pretty motion; and kick
hc brass horse an article unknown a. yet in the
sals Of art.
We entered the retunda and found huge mass Of
tnbers occupying the center The new dome is in
preeea Of construction. We went the rounds Of paint
izgs very goodnsturcdly determined to be pleased.
And here again compare these 70 the miles Of canvas
so be in Versailles, and we have nothing TO com
plain Of bat they tn be set out as gems TO chs
knge admiration. We ali concur in considering the
old paintings as worthy attention on account OF the
aaguerrso;ype fidelity. True, this clam 10 faithful
psss II somewhat staggered observing, in one Of the
meet elaborate paintings a group representing TWO
Bttle girls with fire hands between them. Why this
show OF hands, Whence that fifth hand' Hard TO
answer unless one is willing to consider it the hand Of
Fate that would in.
By far the worse painting in the round is the last.
mean Powelps discovery Of De Soto and the Missis-
sippi Ones first impression, looking at it, is that
Of huge litboTsph badly coored, snd fat az the
feeble imagination Of the artist To work out an IL
lusstop Of this subject recognizes the necessity
of two obiects-frst De Soto, secondly the hisss
sppi. We search in vain for either Instead Of De
Scto, we have fat, gaudy, theatrical original, in
forced meo-dramatic attitude, on a wel'ed, sleek
circus herse, fresh from tie stables. Were these two
really near the Mississippi, we should wonder how
fbey came there. But the Father Of Waters Is not
before us 10 suggest the question. We look in vain
for the great fearful ood of waters which carries
tnsnfs to the sea- and the parent of American
eomme cree. 1t ia not on the canvas, and we feel
thankful; let the failure be in keeping
How il angcrs one to see so wrotched conclusion,
when success was 80 attainablel What we wanted
was evidences TO the eye Of the heroic qualities OF
the noble leader who struggled through so much TO
Immortality at last And these lay under the painters
nose Why could he not paint the facts as they were
Why not give us the little band, after their long and
dreary march through unbrOken forests, swanpy
marshes and hostile Indians and show us the ndomi-
table will conquering physical obstacles and control
ling fate The ragged, homely sufferings Of leader
ard men would have shown this. But medocnty
strains after absurdity while stumbling blndly over
the sublime. Mr. Powell turned up bis small nose at
the facis--he could not paint the Mississppi-SO he
gives US French general parading the banks of
the Seine.
If from the more important points we turn to the !
lesser we find failure running through all Indians
wunld make a very appropriate feature in the scene.
But here, too, Mr.. Powell msconceiyes his work. lie
was rot called upon TO paint Indian group, az
Mr. Catlin, any other artist, might see and depct
but he was required TO place before our eyes fair
representative of the race-the race as we recognize
h-proud, silent and brave. Mr.. Catlin may have |
found an Indian who sneak, or another who |
wrhkled up his brow and looked unuttered thunder,
but Mr. Powell was not called TO pant them in this
veuld-be historical effort. l am getting into bad
humsr, 80 will dismiss Mr.. powe's discovery.
Why could not Congress purchase Leutze's great
ponting Of Washington crossing the Delaware will
not call il historical picture for the artist has unfor-
iunately left out the principal personase-l mean
Washington. We recognize the features and form OF
he hero but not his character in the rather exagger
ated yc ing man in the bow Of the boat. But il is
great wok Of art worthy the possession of eur Gov
ernme Mt and would do much toward improving the |
taste Of people. Or, why do they not employ |
Healy to paint for his magnificent picture of |
"Franklin pleading the Of the Colonies at the
Court of Louis XVI" have heard the painting he
alnest threw upon canvas in two months, for the Ex-
hibition at Pans severely criticised But the sketch,
uipce elaborated and now in this country is an ex-
suisite thing How beautifully he contrasts the ear
pestness Of Franklin with the voty of the courtiers;
hsw wonderfully the republican simplicity Of the old
man eloquent comes out from the burst Of oourtly
magni6cence. 1t looks like eagle before the SUM-
Let us pause before the bas relief above the door.
We are told that it represents Boone in combat with
fearful savages Ii is teTifc-Rumerous Indians are
down and dead About this there be no mistake
they are full of bullet holes-largest sized bullets
The most finished surgery would give up before such
wounds. Boon is coming at the Survivors. He Is
evidently in earnest He wishes 70 be considered,
and gives the survivors 10 understand that the sub
ject is not open TO discussion. 1t is fearful.
80 much for art and fearing while oriticise that
you may suffer The fate OF the Indians,
remain yours sincerely, T. b.