The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-12-10
[ From the Home Journal. |

LEUTZE'S SETTLEMENT OF MARYLAND.
We have had of late years many pictures de-
scriptive of the winter landing on Plymouth rock,
of the austere Pilgrim Fathers, that it was with
feeling akin to relief we understood, during the
summer, that Leutze was engaged in painting
picture illustrative of the founding of the colony Of
St. Mary We heard, from time to time, the
summer fed and the autumn waxed and waned,
of the progress made on the picture by the artist.
Every one who had seen it said it promised 20 be
his chef d'0uUre. We had purposely refrained
from going to satisfy natural curiosity by taking
our editorial eyesworth of this fine picture, until
assured by the painter himself that it was far ad
vanced toward completion. Satisfied of this, we
turned, one day last week, into the Tenth-str
building, and sought Leutze's studio. We found
both him and the picture within. But, before at
tempting description of the work, will jog
our readers school-day memory by brief histori-
cal account of the subject matter from which the
artist drew his resources.
In 1882, Ceciius, Lord Baltimore, received
grant of land from Charles |. of portion of coun.
try situated in the New World, and unclaimed by
any civilized nation. This territory named, in
honor of the Queen Henrietta Maria Terra Marie-
MARYLAND. In the following year Lord Baltimore
fitted out two vessels, which he named the "Ark"
and the "Dove," and collected body of two hun.
dred emigrants, who were accompanied by two
Jesuit priests, Fathers Andrew White and John
Altham, and commanded by Leonard Calvert, whom
his brother the Lord Proprietary, had appointed
governor of the colony. This noble band of gen
tlemen sailed from England on the I'D of Novem-
ber and after various adventures, reached the PO-
tomac, which they explored, and on the 9th of
March, 1884, disembarked, and with fitting rei-
gious solemnites and military ceremonies, the
governor took possession of the place and named
the town st. Maries. This scene the artist
memorates, and the moment chosen is, when, after
the celebration of high mass by Father White, the
Indians bring forw ard their gifts-the results of
their skill in hunting, fishing and farming, tender
ing them to the settlers, who in exchange present
the natives with gaycolored cloths and articles of
ornament and use.
Here, on the side of hill that slopes to the
waters of the bay the colonsts and the Indians
assembled. At the left of the picture, beneath the
early spring foliage of heorest is erected altar,
appropriately draped and ornamented with various
holy symbols, and on which the just used sacramen-
tai vessels are placed. rude cross of wood,
freshly hewn surmounts the altar. Father White,
in the robes of his order, stands upon the upper
step of the altar, with arms upralsed and hands
outspread as if invoking the blessing of Heaven
upon all present. little lower, and on one side OF
the altar, an attendant swings the sacred censer,
from which the faint smoke of the incense ascends
In the centre of the picture stand Governor calvert
and the chic of the Indians pedging friendship to
each other-several Indian women bearing dishes
of strawberries, of maize, and turtles shell,
heaped with oysters grouped IN the foreground.
The colonists, with their wives, OF whom, how
ever, but two are introduced into the picture-are
also effectively arranged. The soldiers, though
present are placed in the background, as this set
Element was essentially peaceful IN its character,
and attained without bloOdshed. Between the CIR
Gle of figures in the immediate foreground, and the
hank of the river sundry followers, driving cattle
up the HILL are seen. Back of the principal group
rude flagstaff is erected, which two soldiers
are raising the English and Baltimore flags. On
the various ships lying in the bay in the distance,
a salute is being fired An oriole, typical of Lord
Baltmore's colors, black and gold is perched on a
neghbOring tree. A noticeable feature of the pic
ture, and what will seem like an anachronism to
many, is large brick house, partly built, and with
its scafIodng still about it, seen distinctly through
the foliage. This was erected by the colOnsts a
precautionary movement before taking formal pos
session of the country, to have a secure place
of refuge in case of any disturbance arising with
the savages.
The materials were doubtless brought out in the
ships as ballast, and employed in the erection
of the first house. Thus we have endeavored to
give outline description of this mastery produe-
tion-which in correctness of drawing, in the ski
full grouping of the figures, in the blending OF ITS
coors and the artistic effects of its lights and shad
ows render it one of the best pictures yet painted
by this acknowledged master of his art. lt Is
painted for wealthy gentleman of New ork, who
will in due time receive and bury it, as it were, in
his gallery Before, however, it leaves the hands
of the artist we trust he will exhibit it to the pub
lic to whom an opportunity of looking upon more
noble work of art is not often vouchsafed.