The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-04-18

VIII bascly stoop 10 the hand OF power; M
.4 is the Iurschl stt H
sosst purschen " cal, live hurrah hochl
TIL the world Is consumed ON the judgment day, 81
ye Bursclen, and sing 9
Free Is the Bureh n a.l
Art Ia the Metropolis
has been fruitful of meditation for some time
past The manifest increase of American art and artists
of the most encouraging symptoms of national
condition. and may be pleaded set-otf for
quite manifestly increasing rowdyism The ro-
tundo of the Capitol has presented the appearance of
ine-art gallery for several weeks past cynical friend
of mne who presumes quite too much upon his Euro
pean travels says it reminds him of sccond-ha pic
ture shop in Wardour street. London the Ivoli,
Paris Beside two three bsts there nowon exhbi-
ton the portrait Of President Fillmore, and Franklin
at the Court of France" by Healy and Washington by
Rembrandt Peale With all respect for the age talents
and national reputation of this last named gentleman
and with very high estimate of the value and accuracy
of his portrait of Washington, there two things
connected with this celebrated picture which compel the
criticism of the Middlcaged Man Washington is de-
picted ut of the very few moments in his life when
he gave way anger Would it not have been better
have selected suspicious occasion to perpct-
the character of the Father of his Contryf Finding
his orders to have trenches commenced had been obey
ed he repeated them with the addition of language that
very rarely fell from his lips. This exceptional moment
to send down poserity without the slight blcm
sh of his Weddings to temper and uttcrances of words
stronger and less reverent than the yea and nay of his
dinary vocabulary. And then, why has great an
artist condesnded to paint snch very poor horse
the charger on which Washington is mounted or that
clumsy beast that is capcrng his right. Surely,
oontissa currency might have purchased for the Com
maner n-thcf better formed war horse than the
here ilnmortazcd which indeed, by tho exercise of
very slight ingenuity, might be ansformciinto another
animal rarely used for military purposes except to supply
the camp with milk. l4 ~ 4ti,4 r3Ff 6
The portraits by Heay which have been scattered so
plcntifuy around the rotundo have with the exception
above noted been removed owing to the departure the
artist for his western home The Chicago people are SO
noted their retiring difdence that nothing but the
opportunity to point moral and adorn tale, and the
necessity for filing my column, could induce TO pa
RIDE before the public gaze the comparative superiority
in artists estimation Of the young metropolis the
margin Of Lake Michigan the old brilliant capital
of gacty and taste the banks of the Seine. Some
time ago Healy met the continent of Europe by
friend who inquired into his future plans and told
by our American Vandyke that he had determined to
settle down in the quiet pursuit Of his profession but
could quite decide to whether his future residence
should be Paris Chicago! AS he is living in the
latter city the inference obvious enough that upon due
elieration he considers it the most desirable place
idence for artist In this conneNion Ibcg suggest
the most delicate aud inoesve terms of which honest
criticism is capable that friend Hcaly paints too rap
idly his portraits of Mr. Fillmore and Senator Pearcc do
sustain his previous reputation There is appearance
Of ourieywork which Should not characterize the memo
rails of those who to be handed down to postcry
the historical types of times The Mdc-agcd Man
has so small portion of the present that he is exceed
ingly concerned that the history of his period should
stan fair with the future and looks with Jealous eye
upon thing that msrcprcscnt that life day
of which he is very insignificant aoni-a grain of mum
my wheat, it may be- il the pyramid of buried gene
when curious antiquaries shall seek our history
amongst few pictures, monuments, and crumbIing.
ruins 1t is this excessive concern which prompts me
to suggest that those who paint historical men, or
design national monuments, write our national
literature should spare labor material to make their
work symbolicl Of their time and country.
Amongst the good things artists have produced this
winter is little gem of color which has bccn exhibited
in the window of Mr. Philips bookstore the avenue
1t is study OF shells by very talented artist Mr. Baum
grass who has recently settled here and wi hope be
permanent member of literary and artistic society
1t is rare that perfect picture from modern
hand it indicates not only original genius but very
careful and laborous discipline.
While gosspping about art cannot refrain from sig-
gesting that the time has for the endowment OF
national gallery Our Legislators spend annually about
$4,000 for the purchase of seeds Ito provoke Amcri
turnips into competition with foreign rivals to I'M
troucc whose kernels shall be proporoned oShang
hal gzyris and to dcudc unwary agriculturists into
sowing large quantities Of Egyptian wheat and Large
red clover" which produce immense scrops-of flow
ers Now, with my profound interest N the agricultural
welfare Of the country, will charge with wish
ing to on this xpendture of the public money
for foreign seeds but would II be anything more than
Justice TO devote nm equal amount to the erection and
endowment of such building should stimulate
artists to produce pictures and satuary fit for exhib
ton at the public expense Till something of ths sort
is done by the nation our Mcas must look to the dice
box for sales of their Recording Angels, and our
Baumgscs must continue to regret that they not
the kind Of grasses to be grown at the public expense
but must beg places Tor their pictures in booksellers
windows. With regard to Mcadcs. Recording Angel
IL is still ON exhibition at thc store OF Taylor Maury
and will soon be disposed Of by rattle but must bring
the artgossip to close for the present for l am bur