Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-05-07
MIR. PEALE'S LECTURE

This was partly owing to the wet weather. but we
sincerely regret that any such obstacle should have
withheld our citizens from large turn out oc.
casion presenting such eminent csims to general in
terest.
We had the good fortune TO be- present-a priVi-
lege which we intend to enjoy again, this evening
Historical and artistic lectures, even when well pre-.
pared by mere students and dileanti, among The
peasantest means Of popular instruction. But when
the lecturer Is himself great artist and when he
counts from HE personal experience the events,
however minute, Of great historical epoch, the in
ersst becomes so intense with liie that it would be
difficult to find unapprecative audience. We can
not pretend to give Il satisfactory outline OF MIR.
Peale's lecture. We write this hasty notice, only
with the hope Of communicating Ia some extent our
own peasurabe impressions, andto apprse our read
era of what they may expect from this evenings
petition.
Mr. Peae's lecture is what might be expected in
Retrospective view of artists life 1t ia repets
with unpublished incidents in the lives of the great
men with whom has been his privilege to associate
II enters fully into the sympathes the aspirations and
enjoyments of artists life. 1t reces curious and
important facts in the history otgrea works of art -
These and other enlvening digressions employed
to attract the many to matter still more interesting to
the few, critical artistic review Of all the dferen:
celebrated portraits of Washington, both in painting
and sculpture. The number great artists who have
been employed IN copying the features Of Washing
ton is surprising to any who has not had the ed
vantage OF hearing such lecture that of Mr.. Pealss.
Each picture and statue furnishes fruitful theme for
interesting criticism each has it's separate history it's
peculiar incidents, and is associated with extrinsc
matters the detail of all which the Lecturer follows up
with zss which does not fell to communicate hs
own enthusiasm to his hearers.
MIR. Peale's account of his acquaintance with
Washington, presents pictures Of touching ia.
terest. A little child, eigh, years DID, prsasng close
10 the Generals charger, saiangerng his limbs by
maintaining his position through all the evouons of
battle, gazing for hours with reverential de.
light a counenance which he destined to stu.
dy from childhood TO the grave: tha artists observa.
ton even then attracted by the peculiar shadow of
massive brow; the boys heart swelling with grateful
PRIDE when the hand OF the beloved che!tisn reated
upon the childish head, and a kind voice asked the
simple question "How ia your good fstheri" Again,
the boy standing behind that fathers chair watching
with delight the lines of the artists pencil, as il gra
dualy portrayed from life the counterpart of the he
roe fac6 Again, the youthful artist, who has at last
attained the hope of his boyhood, himself honored
by special sitting from Washington. t.gnin, a am
~ OF arsts lour ar''ls "t i"a s6neratlons' snulta
neously emnoyai. each on separate portrait OF The
great Dsheactor sealed III Their midst and entertain
ing all with good hnmored conversation until new IN
tefee. was au'eu 10 'ie scene oy 'he en's""' '' 'S
| Washington, who ealivens thera with a merry jest
| at this polygot poriraiture These some Of the
pictures iron" 'e "n'eh 'ne NAIVE ueSefp"on U. '"e
iec'uro' ""P'e7s'' WIN ''''u 'e"'! "''"' " '"e
af.''' Spen'''
i" ''''.s 'o''' "'' ~" ''""l' % VIC p''"''
painter VI "'"."e'o"' WI ea'e oo''' "'''"' ",'
rep'e'e "' n"ee'' s0o' ''"', ' 1p'''' 1e''
ose III "'' ''''''''' "" '"e V, "''
IL s'' e'"''l' '''' "" u "'u '"e e"pe'"
c''re''Nes' VI .''' .''""" ''' W "''
'H"" =. '"' "'e" 'p"''N
Jutse ,'"'N '''7 '''' " ' '''
'''s'"""
Mr.. feaies lecture VIII prooshsy Do pno''shea'
within few years. at leait. II Will certainly urhsh
most valuable adol'ioh 10 Tue biography OF "ash
ingon, and will delight many VINO email nave faied
to enjoy it from the lips of the artist himself. 1t
would be fortunate, indeed, if The admirable colec'
ton Of portraits which he exhibits could oe similar
ly perpetaated, multiplied and circulated AS this Ia
out of the question, We earnestly advise all to whom
the opportunity presented 10 examine this rare and
beautiful selection These pictures are all HE s'ze'
except ono colossal head, and are all' we oeieVe'
painted by MIR. Peae; but most OF them are faithful
copies from the masterpieces of other artisis
OF these, the portrait OF Washington by the elder
Pesle is gen. the more priceless because presents
the countensnce of the hero at the very earliest age
at which he sat for portrait This was painted IN
l772. The face has all the freshness OF youth-tne
eye Is t win or'ght anu pens"e s'"u''e7'' "nou
told, forsook the face, when the mind had be-
come acquainted with the heavier cares OF Patr'ot''
greatness the whole expression ia as benign as Giad
happy as the fancled portrait ot asant IN the houF
OF holy triumph. There Is pouyancy ol med'tatIV'
enjoyment winch II Is Impossible 10 uescrloe' ioe
mouth, especially, petrays' III us per'ec''y e'asso
curves, an ndefnabe sweetness OF expression, seldom
seen, except in heorgina conceptions OF the great
classic painters, and scarcely trace OF which sseen
in the portraits OF Washington taken Mt later period
This portrait combines the sfe"s'" ""u i'"le'S "
the man WIN al cn'la s"ee'ue'' ""u p"'"y !"
"' s.1 of Tho So,;orr Tb;.
even Unto noi'e no"u 80. :" ~.
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portrait II '0t po'u"E ess' ,onahna M I ps.sn - o,.i
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ing LOT mem an e"'ra'ru'na. ''''" u" 'ne" 0o''.0
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The copies OF stuart anu iFumouh P"'"""''