New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-07-11
ARTITEMS.

more dsncty traced ia the deb ssed CHAR acter oi ther
architecture as exhibited in their public buildings than
in any of The evidences furnished in the history II their
moral and political downfall Assuming this theory to
be true of all otter nsois AS well the Romans, we
may congr,i uate ourselves in NewYork being very
far from the commencement of oecadence. Artist
icaly speaking we are not only not ripe but have just
arrived in the tudaing seasoD Although there are so
few remn ants of old New-York left by which may
ccpare our achievements Of the present day, there
gre still enough for all tie purposes of
archaeological comparison. If we wish 10 know
what progress we are making in aritic culture, and
the diffusion Of good taste generally, 1t Will MT be
NECESSARY to examine our picture galleries, but our
public buildings churches stores and dwelling
Tor example, there a,e three four white marble
stores on the corner Of Pearl street and Maiden lane,
which, a the time of their completion, not quhe 10
years AGO. were c. nsdered of 50 superb and remark
able character so indicative of the growing spl-n-
doris and wealth of New York, that they were soemny
dedicated by kind Of pubic banquet, at winch
the eminent citize1s Of the city were present;
these great and learned pundits, DIR. Mitchell
and DIR. Francis, were among the leading
New-Yorlera who delivered oratIons on the occasion.
We ay "a well inform our readers that Wa bad not
the plasu of being present the OCCASION and That
we gather all the knowledge We have on the subject
from file If The Nctr York Gazette which we ex-
anined last week AZ the Historical SOcetys Library,
for another porpcse IL will repay any one who ID
curious in such matters 20 down 10 Maiden lane and
take look at the utmost ARCHITECTURAL splendor OF
NewYorl forty years ago, and then 60 up to the CIR
ntr of Broadway and Prince street and examine the
white marble shop just completed there. by that
means may be eeen the exact progress we
have made in art, culture and wealth during the
forty years of peaceful commercial Intercourse with all
the world. Thee ia much difference bet geen these
t~o buildings except that they both Constructed Of
the same material az bet the ParthenOn of 1ins
aud the log hut which was ito progeniOr lhe new
store Oh the corner of Prince street is inply caket
Of i-wels and as cskets made 10 contail peais and
diamonds should te is IN excellent piece of work. Ex-
1ally il is union Of Greek and Roman
stvles and internally perfectly harmonious commln-
Cling Of fan,sstical IDEAS aud the simplest forms OF
monumental expression. The marble.paved hoors and
double rows Of white marble eounteIs cold aud
solemn az GENE cry and the which contain the
sparkling merchandise very suggestive Of sarcoph-
aeuses, she the side showcases, doors, and baius-
trades which are of imitation ebony, picked
out with gold, are remarkably suggestive of
mourning But, in spite of these white and olaok
adornmeus III aspect Of the interior Of t5is beautiful
building is any thing but meanch.lyi the strong con-
tiast If white marble succo aud ebony produce, in
ssat, a very cheerful effect. The whole arrangement
of this rgeous est ,bIshment exhibits high artistic
taste fer interior characterization. TIE artist by whom
tie designs were fui nshed is Frenebman, deco,a-
tor by profession One Of our best artists in his way
whose pictures of late years have been among the
gems Of the Exhibitions of tie National Academy, Mr..
DehIssrd, came here from Paris, not 70 paint pic
tunes, but to decorate parlJrs and drawing rooms.
Mr.. George L Brown who has been some weeks
industrously at work biz large picture Of New
York has taken advantage of the arrival Of the Great
Eastern to represent the splendid pageant that accom-
panied the monster ship she steamed up the river to
her berth at the foot of Hammond street. The view Of
the city chosen by the artist is admirably calculated
for the purpose, being from commanding position of
Mr.. Stevens 8 grounds at Hoboken. The canvas is
ten feet by six, and from its present appearance it
promises to be one Of Mr.. Browns finest pictures.
We were in error in stating that Mr.. yOlk's adj
mrable bust of Mr.. Lincoln the Republican candidate
for the Presidency was made from of bis face.
II was carefully modelled by Mr.. Volkin Chicago, from
the life some two or thr.e months before the nomina-
ton was made Mr. Yolk is not, as has been general
County, il this State. His fathers family formerly
resided in this city, and we learn that the young
sculptor designs removing his aelicr permanently to
New-Yoik, where no has been staying for a few
weeks.
A gentleman who left New.YOrk for Europe inst
before the meeting Of the Baltimore Convention gave
one of most eminent portrait painters commission
to paint portrait of the Democratic ca.ddae for the
Presidency let him be whom he might but the puzzled
artist is now in a quabdary as he does not know
which of the two candidates to paint whether Douglas
or BreckiDridee.
In the Crayon Gallery Of Mr.. George Ward
Nichols, in Broadway may be seen some of the gems
of the late exhibition of the National Academy, which
could not be good advantage in the galleries in
Tenth street. Among these cabinet pictures are two
or three beautiful figure pieces, pjnted in Paris by
Frank Rowland, which are full Of rich promise. Mr.
Rowland has a rare eye for color and an exquisite
sentiment. There also very fine coast scenes
by Mr.. Allan Gay, 80 low in tone aud 80 free from all
meretcious rickery that they would stand but poor
chance of attracting the attention they deserve in such
a collection of paintings as that of the an
nna exhibition of Academy. Mr.. Nichols
has also on view charming little compost
tcn by Mayer of Baltimore, called Plato"
Plato lie not the Greek philosopher but a venerable
coored person Of very Iapable African descent, who
is reasoning well to auditory Of young children,
who evidently regard him in the light of a guile,
philosopher, and friend" 1t is extraordinarily line
picture, reminding strongly of Edward Frere bat
not at all in his manner There is in all the pures Of
the French artist sad strain of struggling poverty,
which, being exhibited in the persons of innocent
young children greatly intenses the sentiment of the
beholder. But poverty here is an exceptional ele-
thera notLino hut tho