Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-24
AMERICAN ARTISTS IN ROME.
: Edifors or tie Enq"irer:

~
the ancient throne of the CAESARS but other,
though less pleasant avocationS, have super
scdcd and prevented the execution Of my de-
signs; anl probably, the attempt would have
been altogether abandoned Int that heart.
imagination and Judgment, have been 50 I'M
pressed. that feel longer silence would be in
Justice if not ingrattudc have been gazing
with delight and admiration on two portraits.
so llfc-likc, 80 expressive. 80 perfect in design
and execution. that know not which most To-
commend their truth or their beauty. Last
spring spent many morning, in visiting the
studios Of the painters in Rome, anon. others
that Of e.. G. Thompson, where some pictures
of exquisite touch and color, hal attracted my
attention and won my applause, ! wished
then TO describe, for the benefit of those who
only travel on paper, the gems Of art that lay
hid in that bright little studio but time passed.
| left Rome; the works on which | lla'l lav-
iShcd my praises. were scattered 10 different
purchasers, and I lost the opportunity OF re-
cording their worth or particularlzing their
merits. During my visits In Mr.. l.. ] had oh
served several unfinished pictures, among them
two portraits. but looked at them seldom and
felt little interest about them. for | was ignO.
rant enough to believe that, no matter what
amount Of talent IN artist possessed. little
could be compressed in single face; and that.
too. Of an undstngui>hcd individual; interest
in. to few At any PERIOD to none after 4 short
lapse Of time. BIT am di>ahnScd Of that
error, and have learned the graceful pcnc of
the master can throw over any subject. Euw.
ever iinimportant, value not its own; and that
though. after few years. the original OF the
picture may fade from the rccolcciionS of the
living yet the representation on which has
been layiShcd the thought of intellect and the
labor Of genius. will be priced and appreciated
wherever talent is valued ans! art understood.
Such will lac the fate Of the pictures Of which
| am speaking; such was my immediate
convictions. when the finished portraits
in all their mastery excellence met my
eye, so different from the faint outline
from which had turned with Indifference
If not disapprohation Both portraits are of
femalcS-tle first young bride with 4 face Of
undimmcd loycnc>S, over which not 4 cloud
Of sorrow had ever passed; peace and hope and
Joy spoke in the fair open brow. the soft clear
eye, the smiling lip; all told truthful tale Of
tranquil past. short voyage on the ocean of
life unmarked by roughncs>. unrulllcd by
storms and yet there was that in the cXprc,-
sion that gave variety and awakened Interest;
something that told of the new feeling absorb.
ing the heart. the new life begun: somcthin.
forcShadowing the future. telling of qualities
and virtues which after years would form and
perfect The second picture was IN all respects
different from its fellow 1t was that of one
beyond the middle period of life--to that there
would be nothing for the futurc-i;S records
were all of the past The shadows on the
brow, the lines around the mouth bore c"i-
dcncc that the world had been Il chcckcrcl
path of light and darkness. with perhaps more
than its usual prcpondcrancc Of the darker
hue. Yet the firm closed lip told of great pow
ers Of endurance. while the eye dreaming in
its earnest gaze showed strong Imagination
still unconqucred 10y time and reality 1t is
impossible not To- be struck with the dcnca-
tions of character this likeness portrays. and
feel the representation Of mind was as accll-
rate as that of features Now, rs in the stu
do, | find it difficult to turn from these pic
lures to any other; but have much yet to lie
scribe, and my time is too limited To admit Of u
longer dwelling on the present subject. llniglt
fill an entire letter with the contents Of this
single room; but as promised to speak Of not
one but many artists, can only cnumcrate
few out Of the many objects Of merit and in
tcrcSt that were Strcwn around me. y costume
group OF picturesque beauty was particularly
striking. In coloring, in grace, in ,ruthfulncsS
and dclicacy Of dcneaton. it was cmiIrntly
successful. The group was composed of two
tgurcs-a woman and boy-hoth arraycd in
the fancfill combination Of colorS which gives
such variety to this style Of painting. The
dress is such as you meet daily in the thorough
fares Of Rome. but only n poet or painters
fancy could image forth the ideal of the faces.
Indeed. think nv friend must have made
particular study Of female lovcincsS, for. clus-
tered close together around the walls were the
beauties Of every country and every Cline
Near TO the dark liquid eye the raven
trcsscs, and rich brown tint Of the Italian girl.
stands or rather rccneS Miranda. with eyes of
azure and locks of gold. The picture is 4
scene from Shakspcarc's Tempest. Here Mi
randa is listening with fearful interest to her
own and her fathers story. We wonder as we
razc. that fate could ever sorrow one 50 lair.
The attitudes of the figures are exceedingly
graceful, and the fine majestic form and noble
head Of Prospcro show the artist can excel in
other departments beside female beauty There
are many more groups-onc from Milton. orc
purely ideal-which shall more particularly
describe at some future day; now must hasten
to another studio: but before leaving this. can
not forbcar making brief mention of line
little cabinet picture Of St Peter delivered
from prison by an angel. Here the artist again
shows his own distinctive talent; for the face Of
the angel is one Of consummatc lovclincss. and
tceminr with life and light. The picture ia n
he ENLARGED and would form = worthy orna.
mcnt for church. | can scarce hope, III this
remnant of lotter. to include half the eminent
men settled in Rome; but some few of the most
prominent High among his professional
brethren, popular as man and an artist
stands Mr.. Terry, from whose studio have cm-
anatcd many successful productions. Several
fine compositions in different stages of progress,
adorn his rooms The North and the South is,
| believe, the last commenced of his works.
though now fast approaching completion.
Three prominent figures fill the foreground
Liberty" in the centre: the North" fair
haired lady on one hand: the South. dark
brunette. looking as if she had felt the ardor
of her native sun. on the other. Both arc
lovely, and intended. ] presume. to he charac-
tcristic. There is look Of active intelligence
in the northern face, and she holds book,
while the southern figure is in rcpose and the
rountcnancc marked by dreamy voluptuous-
ness. The northern background contains
neat village. manufacturing, | presume,) and
well set fields of grain: the southern. 4 wide
spread cotton plain, cnlivcncd by band of
darkie-;. ! am sure the artist meant to be inn
partial, but I think. on viewing the pictures. one
might be led to believe it implied that for the
North nature, industry. knowledge and cultiva-
ton had combined, while for the South nature
had been left to work alone We Of the South,
however, would not accept such reading
There was in this collection charming fancy
piece. which. think. is now removed-it was
STYLED The Painters Dream. Query, one Of the
artists own "A youth fatigucd with labor
has dropped to sleep over his pallet; the hand