Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-08-20
Church,s ssHeart Of the Andcs.,,

Church's ''Heart OF the Andes.o
The Rev. Mr.. Cuyler gives the following
notice of the artist himself, as well as of the
celebrated painting, in the columns of the
Christian Mtelligencer
Churchs new picture (Which left last
week in the Persia for London) is thrice as
large as his Niagara It is not a single view
OF one South American landscape, but a COM
| blnation of several isolated scenes grouped to-
gether. Very much as if man had painted
Trenton Falls in the foreground, and distant
view of Lake George in the back ground, lying
under the shadow of Mount Washington
Each several part might be correct; the only
inaccuracy being in the introduction of them
all into one landscape.
"The Heart of the Andes is a complete
condensation of South America-its gigantic
vegetation, its splendid Flora, its sapphire wa
ters, its verdant pampas and its colossal noun
tains-into a single focus of magnifcence-
just as the heart is the essence of a good
man, so is this painting the very core of trop.
ical beauty. In the foreground is cataract,
overhung with gigantic forests, tangled with
an underground of precocious vines and flow
ering plants. To English eyes, accustomed
only to their stunted oaks, these Andean trees
will look as did the Brobdinagian forest to
'Lemuel CULVER On the bark of one of
them the MONDAY sun is shooting a slant ray
or two, making it glow as if ready to kindie
into blaze In the centre of the picture are
swelling green uplands and dim, distant for
ests but behind all rise the twin giants
Chimborazo, with it's diadem of ice. and a
portentious mountain clothed in cloud cano
pics, like Sinai at the giving of the law. To
describe the picture in detail is like ATTEMPT
ing sunrise on the Bighi. We will leave
that for our readers to enjoy for themselves.
when England has finished her feast upon it
and sent it home again to it's birth land.
"We had the good fortune to get our first
view of the Heart Of the Andes before the
crowd had got upon the scent and rendered
quiet study of the picture an impossibility.
We were not more interested in look at the
painting itself than at the painter, who hap
pened to be present. He has a boyish look,
pale, eager countenance. and belongs to
that quick, restless class, who flame up so
fercely, and alas burn out their brilliant
lives so soon! Yet this slender youth has
already put his immortality on canvas. As
we looked at the little group gathered before
Mr.. Church's picture, we thought what an
age is. this for young men! Before the paint
ing stood Huntington, still in his youth, al
though his Mercy's Dream was given to the
world fifteen years ago. Beside him was the
handsome face of Geo. w. Curtis, whose
Potiphar Papers came very soon after his
college diploma. A popular city pastor sat
next him, who had addressed delighted
crowds at two-and twenty. We might have
gone out and called in Paul Morphy, the city's
lion just now and the beardless boy who has
checkma.ed Europe. This is the age for
young men. For foolish, headsS,youths, an
age of speedy ruin; for muscular, masculine
young Davids of sinew and solidity, there is
no Goliah too strong, no crown that may not
be won. The Heart of the Andes is a pic
ture for young men. 1t is luxuriant in rapid
growths 1t has a CLASSY river flowing on
under o'er-arching verdure until it plunges
over precipice-an allegory of the sensual
lists career. 10 gaze up into those mountain
heights is like reading Longfelows Excel
sior,' an inspiration to do and dare great
achievements. There is a flashing peak of
alabaster brightness in the far-away distance,
which recalls the Apocalyptic visions Of hca-
ven.
Let the aspiring youth who gazes at this
matohless picture bear IN mind that it is only
he who spurns the seductive waves of temp
tation, and bravcly masters the Hills of DIFF.
ficulty' for Christ's sake, that shall yet make
good his entrance to the golden glories of the
New Jerusalem. Il. L. c."