New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19

ly the lavish expenditure of color in the most aorid
style upon every inch Of plaster, partly in dstemper
and partly in oil The designer very properly reflected
that the introduction of historical paintings would be
appropriate in room devoted TO the use Of the Chief
Magistrate, and he chose accordingly, by what rule of
choice know not to Fix upon the walls the portraits
of Columbus, Americas Vesrucus, Brewster, Frank
lin, Washington and some Of the members of his Cab
net, Knox, Hamilton, Jefferson Randolph, and Os-
good, Beside these in the ceiling are allegorical rep
resentations of Liberty, the Executive Legislation,
and Religion; and Cherubs, as usual are flying about
in every direction. As of these portraits GER
tainly not those which are acknowledged TO be the
best of the persons they represent and the meaning
Of the allegorical design is by no means always APP
parent here everywhere else, painted beneath the
subject, is explanatory inscription. Though the eff
feet is ludicrous the purpose praiseworhy, for the
unlearned specatoror the spectator whether learned
unleamed-woud be at a loss to conjecture why the
rosy young woman of the flowing robes who repre-
sents Law should not be the Executive, or why she
who is called the Executive should not be Religion. If
the ghosts of the venerable whose portraits cover
the walls ever visit this scene Of their gay and bril-
liant apotheosis they will marvel at these inscriptions
intended teach the rising generations that the grave
purposes which their lives devoted in the es-
Establishment of Liberty, Religion, and Law, could
be most properly typifed by these plump
and blushing, not 10 cay voiuptuous. young
maidens, reclining upon damp clouds, surrounded,
some Of them, by large families of babies. We
trust, however, we are not hypercIitcal in sug-
costing with due soberness that somewhat DIFF
ereDt style of decoration would have been more ap-
propriate in a room to be only occasionally occupied
by the Chief Magistrate of the State and that what
portraits Of the early discoveries of the country,
or founders of institutions, should be chosen TO lend
dignity TO the place, they shouda have had as works
of art something of merit than belongs to an Or
binary coored photograph This gilded saloon, bril-
liant with fanciful designs, its gorgeous walls reflected
on every side from mirrors reaching from floor to cell
ing needs only that its actual portraits and its descp-
tive inscriptions should be painted out, TO render it
quite as fit for the bridal state-room of steamer, or
the private supper-room of some magnificent establish
men devoted the pleasures of the Senses as for the
dignifed use 10 which it s TO be devoted. Its map
proprateness is rendered striking if one passes
from it TO the Withdrawing room of the Senate. We
enter here by massive doors of solid mahogany, and
are glad to find refuge and repose in marble ball from
the universal surroundings everywhere else, of plaster
and Of paint. The walls of marble; the ceiling is
Of marble, supported by double row of futed marble
columns with capitals of the finest execution. niche
here and there admits of decoration by art in accord
ance with its general character and will add if works
of merit shall fill them, to the stately beauty OF
this noble apartment. We do to say that the
Presidents Room should have been precisely like this
as the extent of the Capitol and the variety of purpose
to which its different parts devoted admit OF great
variety of treatment. But the simple dignity and
chaste and beauty Of the one is in very striking
contrast with the gaudy, inappropriate and meretrl-
cous character of the other and of the unhappy at
tempts at art which meant to adorn and illustrate IT,
But enough Of this. Some years since distinguished
French architect visited this country to learn from ac-
tual observation the progress s people had made in
the Arts, and especially in that in which he
took a professional interest. Happily it was
before the work upon which we have been
commenting was begun in the National Capt.
tol. He was taken, however, 10 private house
in this city-the owner thereof shall be nameless-
where the style since employed at Washington had
been prefgured with lavish expenditure. He was
called upon TO observe and to admire and to enhance
that admiration he assured, with the not unusual
ratiocination which distinguishes countrymen that
the cost of the interior decoration had been not less
than thirty thousand dollars "Thirty thousand dol
lars! exclaimed the Frenchman; III ia much money"
He was urged to give opinion upon the merit OF the
work. "Ahl" he sad, with an expressive shrug I" it
is great deal of money. But fyour friend is rich
advise him TO think Of what he has lost, and
whewash bis walls We are rich nation, and
could follow no better counsel in regard to the national
dwelling-place at Washington.
If the mural painting of the Capitol seems TO have
been done by the acre. there is like reason for sup
posing that the painting upOn canvas was contracted
for by the rod The country is fortunate that the con-
tracts have not been large ones. These works OF art
are all in the Rotunda and consist of portraits Of Pres
idents, and eight large historical paintings, or what
are meant TO be 30. When the Capitol is fifty adorned
with works Of art, as, in due time it is TO be hoped
will be- some of these pictures will find their proper
place as they are valuable for their historical assce
tons.
WAsn Raphael was invited to Rome by Jniius
Il - fplnd in the Sstine Chapel some of the works
Il AGedeeessors which the Pope desired should be
deaso1ed Among them the artist recognized those
Of - old master Perugino to destroy which, he SAID
would be violation of his own conscience, and
wrong done to the History of Art. Some of the pic
lures in the Rounda of the Capitol valuable for
similar reason as they mark TIE progress of art in this
country Of the portraits little need be said as they
are neither attractive for their merit paintings nor
especially valuable as portraits. OF the large histo-
rical paintings those by Colonel Trumbu like Peru
ginos in the Vatican should be regously preserved,
as the earliest specimens of works of this character by
an American artist as well as for the subjects Of which
they treat The most valuable and most interesting OF
these is "The Signing of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence" Precisely what its merits or It's dement's
as painting may be, it is difficult tell in the posi-
-. Oh ~ % Nor