New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19
ART AT WASHING TON.
MORE MURAL DECORATION-PAINT
ARTICLE Three1

Article ThTeel
The room Of the Committee on Agriculture was, we
helieye the first decorated in the style on which we
have been commenting and on its approval or dsap-
prevail depended whether work Of this sort should be
continued. Unfortunately no objection was made TO
IL; probably il occurred nobody that mural decor
lion after this would be so avishy used where
strict adherence to the rules of good taste and ap
proprateness of design was 80 mperativey demanded.
IL ia remarkable that no one having authority or inu-
ence should have suggested when the apartment was
presented as a finished specimen Of what 30 many
Others were be- that painted pine doors, and pine
window frames, and pine shutters were cheap and
improper substitute in such building as the Capitol
for heavier wood in its color; that walls of pas-
ter in such place should be protected with VAIN
scot Of sufficient hight and that projecting angles OF
plaster az in pilasters should never be without Bead
Of wood metal or stone as they are all, we believe,
In every part of the edce, without exception. How
ever nobody did suppose, object or suggest any OF
these things and this especially has been proudly
shown as model of beauty in execution and illness OF
design and many honestly believe it 10 be so. Now
were it. in the first place, finished in wood or marble
In the points to which have just alluded, 1t might
not be improper considering it's USE and that Agienl-
ture IL not Of the departments OF Government re-
curing the constant consideration of Committee in
perpetual session. to admit here something more than
ordinary decoration. But if done al all II should be
done well in the exercise Of an acute Judgment and
severe taste Instead, have at each end two paint
ings in fresco of Cncnnatus refusing to leave his
plow at the call of his country, and the other OF Gen.
pu,usm who consented 1t is not easy to understand
the idea Of the artist, if he had any, Are peace and
agriculture better than war and therefore Cincinnatus
III IL 1a, batfnr hon
The newt Or is war better than peace and agricu-
sure. and Putnam right and the Roman wrongi Ii
eems 70 have been considered enough if each picture
had a pillow in it, no more significant Illustration OF
agriculture occurring 10 the designer than these two
weknown historical incidents, which only show that
there have been two soldiers who also farmers.
The escoes Of the ceiling betray the same meagerness
of invention They represent the four seasons and are
no better than may be found in any wellillustraied
Almanac Two small pictures of haryest-held are
Iess Objectionable but chiefly because they less OBJ
trusiye bu, the medallion portraits of Washington and
Jefferson. painted in imitation of bassorelievo, are
made unmeanine, undignfed and absurd by crowd
Of Hours or Hebes, or Cupids Cherubs, or what
ever they arc meant 10 be- with which the portraits are
surrounded. The intervening spaces are filed with
Cupids and Howers-a resource that never fails the
designer And on the whole, this room, which might
have been an attractive and beautiful feature OF the
Capitol is without originality in conception, or merit
IN execution.
A similar room was made for Committee on Hor'i-
eutnre. The room hself is well enough-as rooms go
IN the Capitoland is bright and many-colored as
nosegay; bnt unhaPpily Congress has no Committee
on Horticulture for its occupation Ii has been turned
over accordingly to the Committee on the District and
the gentlemen who have in charge the affairs Of the
ten miles square sit enshrined in this gay bower,
Cherubs and Cupids browning their reverend heads
with garlnds and tanalizng them with the smilucla
Of all manner Of luscious fruits for and ever;
10 change the fgurethey buzz like bees among these
bright daisies and dafodies while thrGsng their long
bills into the national store Of honey.
Another apartment one not often In use and admit
ting, therefore, Of than ordinary decoration as
place Of exhibition il called "The Presidents Room
sipht 10 see il certainly IT, for Il is brilliant a.
dazzling, and as curious a gigantic Kaleidoscope
Here D. everywhere else proprety and good taste are