Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-05

NUMBER 38.
Deserfption Of Church,s New Picture

Description Of Church,s New Picture
View 81 the Arctic n egiens 81
The New York Times observes, in regard
10 ChureRs new picture;
We may gas well premise, fairly and
squarely, that we consider this Arctic scene
= first class painting. II could hardly fail 10
be attractive, even in the hands OF an artist
of less ability, for there is something singu-
lsrly inviting TO all brothers of the easel in
ice and snow views. They strike the most
commonplace observer as suggesting sub
jtcts for copy. We believe that the very first
independent figure Of climate 70 be found in
poetry, is the strange mention of the treas
uTes OF the snow, and hail, and the frozen
deep, in the Book Of Job, while the first
Independent landscapes, as distinguished
from old conventional back. grounds, are the
dim snow scenes of Jodocus Mompers. But,
apart from this natural fascination of subject,
the Arctic View is admirable from so many
points OF strictest criticism, Nand indicates
such an exhaustive study of scientific truths
ss applied to art, that we may well despair
of giving fully coordinate resume of the
whole. r .l
We sre struck in the composition, az the
first glance, by its harmony with the senti-
ment of the picture. It is that of intense
solitude in the clear, frozen North nature
in her utter loneliness: no wild bird or
S'uh'Su SuAuui VI Iaggeu IellC OF ougnb LnaJ
ever grew, meets the eye to suggest life.
White bergs rise mountain high around an
arm of the sea, which vanishes in q darkIy-
ending ford, in fine perspective to the left
A mountain, with graeefully-sleping gla-
cier, on which play the most exquisitely-
treated atmospheric tints, and just such dim
| suggestions of prismatic light as CLEAN over
ail evening snow-helds, form the middle
A road-like base, studded with ice Jumps,
cheats the eye in its mirage-like effect into
| imagining towns and towers--an effect
which many traveller in frozen waters will
recall with u smile. In the front ground the
sea sweeps toward the shore with as gentle
a ripple as though it played in warm South.
ern climes, an effect which, as here executed
| IN beautiful lines, is singularly graceful. But
all is deathly cold. The invisible spirits OF
the North-the Witchof Mont Blanc and the
| Villas of Russia-may be fitting unseen
around, but to the eye of man there is only
| utter desolation amid all this wondrous
beauty. The spectator seems to have dis
covered new realm, and repeats with the
Ancient Mariner:
ave were the first that ever burst
| Into that silent sea-"
To the right rise masses of ice-blue
islands in a blue sea; amid them a turquoise
arch over q sapphire current but all is ice
| anu lhG ltdTIul lnIeUSeSb COlu.
is not the burning sulphur. blue which the
sea wears in the warm Mediterrean, aud
sends up in mad light like the chemical fires
of theater into the Grottond Azztra oI
Capri. tbs another light and another life
here; but always real and always beautiful
Above these, again rise broken white walls
showing with wonderful truth the grada'
tions of color-tawDy above purple-as we
see them in sunsets, and as we find them in
the prism-the warm tints succeeding the
cold.
In this accurate collection of color, Mr.
Church manifests a eonscientiOusness whict
some of the first painters living would dc
well to initiate. We see in these effects the
results of the careful observation of one who
has sailed for long days and Aurora lighted
nights among iceberg seas, noting in every
way the marvels by which he was surround
ed. The observer may be interested to kuo v
that puzzling blue vein which he will oh
serve in white iee-mass to the left, anC
which seems strange and ribbon-like, wa
the result of literal observation, as are al
the more peculiar effects.
We might write for hours of the subtl
arial lights which play over ice rock and Sc
in this picture, and of the innumerabl
watory colors which blend with them frou
below; but observation must supply tn
place of word. painting. Let US conclude by
assuring the reader that the "Arctic View
is one of those triumphs Of truthfulness ant
study, suboIdinated to a wonderful apprecia
tioh of the beautiful, such as could only b
effected by thorough artist.