Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-08-14

it has been completed, is lpablc failure
The painting has been intrusted to Italian ar
fists, imitators of imitators at home--men who
not only do not know the meaning of America,
but who have never suspected that n new life is
waiting to be celebrated here in the West
The hall Of the Naval Committee is covered
in fresco with gods and goddesses, Neptune,
1hcts, Nymphs, Tritons, marine horses, and all
manner of amphibious monsters. Have we no
naval history? Were there no victories or dis
covcries to celebrateP From Columbus, and
Cana, and Gilbert, to the May Flower from
Lawrence Perry, and Decatur, to Fulton and
Steers from the caraval to the clipper-ship /;
from the ocean steamer to the lonely Resolutt,
ice-bound in an Arctic sea was. there nothing
in American history to save these Christian walls
from an eruption Of stale mythology? MA
rino horses p indeed. The correspondent Of
the Tribune has well remarked, that horsc-ma-
rines would have been more appropriate.
The Agricultural Committee Room is really
no better, though the subjects treated there arc
partly historical An Italian Putnam is put in
comparison with an Academic Classical p Gin
cnatus.
The ceiling is loaded with senscless tangle
OF hnery, which entirely destroys the repose and
dignity Of the apartment. The eye and mind
rest nowhere, but are harassed by images of Hv-
in wilderness of garands, in which, of course,
there is no special reference to the American
Flora. They also are classical.
Yet in this very room and overlaid by these
localities, () are two small pictures which show
what might be made of American Agriculture
as a subject for Art. They very admirably rep
resent the old and modern methods of reaping.
by the sickle, and by the machine. What an
agriculture we have, with our cotton and our
corn, our rice and sugar-cane, our wheat, and
rye and tobacco. What variety Of fruit. and
grain, and roots; of climate, soil, and scenery,
for their production of means and methods for
planting, harvesting, curing, and storing-rom
the cider-mll to the cotton-gin; from the thresh-
ing-fiocr to the sugar oilers,-what world of
picturesque material, of fresh, original, and Wig
orous activity 1t is bitter stupdity which ov-
erlooks this seeming ffe of continent for Gu
pids and garlands
The famous Jackson of Clark Mills. conspic-
uous with all Its faults before the Executive
mansion, is more respectable in its place than
these elaborate trivialities. 1t is the work cf an
untaught and unrcilecting boy, who had no idea
OF the end Of Art 1t is bad in forn-worse in
design. 1t represents the hero in the most un-
dgnitied act of public life, returning the sauta-
ton of the multitude. 1t is a mere toyshop fig
urc, and yet it is to be respected as sincere eff
fort to express the crude feeling of one who en-
Joycd the sight of his eyes, who saw beauty in
the horse and his rider. 1t is the record Of ac-
tual impressions, and not piece of tradition.
The Hall of Representatives is blaze OF
forms and coors heaped indiscriminately to-
gether, like the paint and gliding Of a theater.
In all It's vast expanse there is no significant
and expressive form, if we except the coats of
arms of the several states, which appear in fee
bic colors, faded out by the light which shines
through them, reduced beyond the power of dis
tinction by distance, painted as they are high
overherhead on panes of glass, through which
alone the light of day looks into this well-hole
of legislation.
The work in the pedimcnts, if it must needs
be allegorical or symbolcal,' will be almost
thrown away Crawfords figures, already pre-
pared, have no strong individuality. They are
not searchngly like our Western warriors or
teachers or mechanics. They are not vigorous
enough to escape the ridicule of earnest observ-
ers in and out Of Congress, but their faults and
merits will be alike obscured by their position.
1t is nearly impossible, as ages of experience
have shown, to connect the figures in pedi-
ment, to make them tell story and carry mean
ing enough to fill their important place
But we will not quarrel with the architectural
design, which involved great difficulties, and of
ters abundant opportunity for accessible pictures
and statues. We may hope u have them, be-
cause the public mind is aroused to demand
| them.
The Convention of Artists at Washington in
March last was in itself an indication that Art
is to be power in the land They united to
memorialize Congress, praying for the appoint
ment of an Art Commission, to consist of nom
competing artists and artstically educated Law
men, who shall control the decoration of pub
lie buildings, and see to it that the best mind
and life OF the country are represented in it
Their prayer was referred to a Select Commit
tee, and is still under consideration. 1t is dis
cussed in public and private circles. 1t is Just
and reasonable. 1t is essential to success that
men skilled in artistic principles and practices
should be placed at the head of an enterprise of
such magnitude, that they should direct and not
follow the operations of engineers. The artists
offer to assume the responsibility lie, the peo-
pie see 10 it that their offer is accepted; that
gods and goddesscs, alleSories and mythologes,
painted by the yard or the day, give place to
the men and deeds of America, for the value of
our National History is not to be measured Ly
donation of time, but by the spirit and princis
pies embodied In 1t. b. b.
wild CAT" RANKING AT THE