The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-07-23
WASHINGTON AND PEALE.


taken from. a paper lately read before the
New York Historical Society, by the VEN
cradle artist, Rembrandt Pealc.
Mr.. Pcalc commenced by stating his SUBJ
jcct to be Washington and his Portraits" !"
and after a brief description Of some Of the
characteristics Of tlesepicturcs, quoted the
words Of ChautauGriand, who remarked, on
beholding one of ,l,em, which was taken to
Europe, that there was virtue in the looks
of such n man." Notwithstanding every
body was satisfied that Washington was
Jealous in the cause Of Liberty, and self
sacrificing lero a man Of mental and NOR
al greatness, the rising generation wish TO
know his peculiar look, as well rs his histo-
ry. What can be more gratifying in car
rying back the feelings than looking on the
portrait Of Washington. Henry Clay said
if he had his wish, portrait Of Washing
ton should decorate every room in the
Capitol. Every Englishman rcveres the
name Of Shakespeare, and every one who
can Secure it, has his portrait. If such pa
'triotism is shown by Britons for the Nations
poet, with how much moro should Ameri-
cans reverence the man who has perpetua-
ted something greater than language-Lib-
crty and Union. SS,Applausc.) Among all
the portraits of the Father of his Country
Mr.. Realc urged he had some claim, If not
merit, at least for the spirit Of veneration
and love Of the subject in which it was
painted. Gen. Washington, said Mr..
Pealc, was G feet in height, weight 2eo
pounds, had Aorid complexion, blue eyes
aud dark brown hair. Mr.. Pealc's fathers
portrait of him, painted i'll 1872, was full
length, with short neck, sinewy limbs, slop-
ing shoulders, rather corpulent, with an
erect, easy and majestic carriage. wash
ington's personal appearance was calculated
TO captiyato the eye. Mrs. John Adams
declared to her husband that she never be-
sfeld person so dignifcd, easy in his man.
ner, and complaccnt; and quoted Drydcn's
lines
Mark his maj jestic fabric,
- The pile is no, unworthy Of The gods" dc.
Notwithstanding his dignity and almost
uniform sedatcncss, still he was susceptible
of the passions of men when occasion re-
AqGired it. Mark his excited feelings at
Yorktown, his humor at West Point, &C.,
and when setting for his portrait to Mr..
Pealc, lie Iauged heartily at Intervals
Washington Irving says lie was grave, but
social. Mr.. Pealc was requested to paint
his portrait Of Washington by the lattcr's
friends and relatives. Mr.. Pcale had al
ways commcmoratcd the 22d Of February
as an act Of duty towards the memory OF
Washington, and the same day lie himself
was born in 177s. lie was excited when
boy with the rudimcnts Of a sentiment,
childish, perhaps, to see the man, and par
ticularly on review days, when he would
do so sometimes at the risk of his limbs
Mr.. Peale here described Washington on
review. General Washington would tap
him on the head and say: GLOW is you,
good father, my little man." Mr.. Pealc's
father, in 1872, painted portrait of Gen
Washington for Col. Alexander, dressed in
blue coat with facings and red breechcs
NOW i'll tld.posscssion of George Arlington
Gusts; II l77G he painted one for John
Hancock: His father raised company oi
volunteers, 2apd Washington commended
him and kept him near his person, whereby
he had good opportunity to take pictures
.of him the other officers, and Mrs. Wash
ington. lie also painted a miniature o
Washington for General Lafayette, and por
traits for the States Of New Jersey, Penn
sylvania and Maryland.
At the BATTLE of Princeton n bullet wen
through window, and passed through {
picture of George I'LL; that picture is now
replaced by portrait Of Washington by
Mr.. Pealc's father. Mr.. Peale then cx
planned some Of the principles of portra
painting. A mould of Gen. Washington
living face was never taken but once, ant
that by Houdon. Washington often CAV,
siltings to finish his portraits. There wcr.
four statues made Of him. One by Hou
don, at Richmond, by one Canova, at Raleigl,
by Chantry, at Boston; and by Greenougb
at Washington. Browns statue at New
York, and Crawfords statue at Richmond
were taken from tbcss. Mr.. .Pcale thel
read, With great applause, some lines OF
Washington, composed by himself. III
next paid tribute to American genius ant
art. Kulton gavc us tbs application o
steam but Morse, the painter, gave us th'
language Of mind. The first skylight por
trait in this country was painted by Mr.
Peale's father. IIe then read very inter
esting letter Of Washington's in regard t.
painting and painters. AT one time Wash
ington remarked that tho painters had hin
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