The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-26
Fine Arts.

Mr.. " Il Powell has completed the CARTON OF hi
great work, sPerrys Victory Lake Erie, which ha
been ordered from him by the State OF Ohio for
tunda Of the Capitol at Columbus The picture is xeen
feet by twelve proportions which have enabled the
artist to give the figures their natural The period
Of the action chosen that wildly described By Com
modore Mackenzie in his life OF Perry
Deserted" he says "by the Niagara, which was to
have encountered the second Of the enemys SHIPS and
sustained only by the Caledonia the Ariel and the
Scorpion, find him resisting for than hours
the whole Of the British squadron Finding at length
his vessel cut TO pieces bis guns dismounted, his
OF resistance destroyed aud nearly whole of
his brave ly ing dead wounded around him. in
stead Of yielding the day. after having done everything
that depended upon him to win n, and leaving the re
spoDsibty Of defeat to the commander Of the Niagara
be thought only of using the that remained
him still to a victory. Passing from the Law
under the enemys Are saved from death If mi
racuousy he reached the Niagara and by aa evolution
unsurpassed for genius and hardihood bore down upon
the enemy, and dashed with his fresh and unniured
vessel through the epemy's line II thus the
battle Of Ere won not merely By the genius and
spraton but eminently by the exertons of yne man"
In the picture Perry Is in his pinnace leaving the
lawrence the stripes floating the bow and
the hero himself standing 10 the centre with his
extended acknowledgment Of the cheers which greet
him from his disabled nag ship. The balls flying abou,
him In every direction and has just struck the
from the hands OF gro whose alarm
depicted Pcrrys brother boy about twelve years Of
age tugging at his coat in the vain effort to make
him sit down to render himself css conspicuous
mark This Incident Ia rendered the Interesting
By the fact that the model who the little mid
shlpnan the grandson Of Comm dore Perry young
yinon Of the well known clergyman of that name
and said TO bear striking resemblance to the hero VI
Lake Eiie
The figure Of Perry u.s. Of course the central object
the picture II 10 admirably drawn aud conveys in the
freedom and unstudied elegance OF It's attitude correc,
idea OF him he described by those who knew him.
The bead Is gracefully the shoulders, aud tho
features have q refinement which contrasts well
with the broad massive faces of hs boats crew These
are all studies taken from the navy yard and die
tnct types in their way They skeched with vigor
and individuality that impart to them separate interest
and that realize al the excitement Of the So
fully. indeed, has each point OF the picture been
made TO tell, that the story is complete even to It's
minutest details We fancy that have under
eyes the battle itself, with ali It's shifting Incidents
and emotions. A credible work, taking into &C
count its motive and the boidness with which IL
Drawn, has been attempted By American artist
Il painted with the tfuthfulness with which Il
designed, twill deserve to rank with the best historical
competitions Of the French and German schools.
Ians's Last work Mary, Queen OF Scots" dividing her
jewels and wardrobe the day before her execution
exhibition at Goups interesting for the in
which this Affecting Episode treated and peases the eye
By the sweetness and harmony OF Its The drawing
not always good and 1t Is faulty IN perspective. The
genera merits OF the work will however, redeem these
defects In the eyes Of the general vsiter.