New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-12
ART IN TIE CAPITAL.
osueronderce Of The ~ Y. Tribune

! osussronderce Of The n. y. Tribune
/ WASHINGTON, ID. c., Oct ~, 1861.
! Secession occupation Of the National capital
would doubtless have saved the next generation the
trouble Of abusing sundry and divers works called
by courtesy " Of art" CLARK Millss monstrostiei
would have doutiless melted into mere martial field
pieces. and az that was eyanescent Of the Rotundi
pictures have gone up in tie sc1s Of national sac
rifee. They would have beer alluded 70 in future
histories as the marvellous cllfs d9urns Of our oaIy
artists, "eoncerniDg which tradition remained II
tie families of some country patriciaus rs ouburs
of untaught inspiration which shamed at once Titan
and the pre-Rsphaelites. so might the early art Of
America have won great renowD, now unbapQiy
not to be hoped for in the fce Of the works them.
selves. Those melancholy plaIitudes Of the RoIunda
spreading their in vain 70 the breath OF appro-
baton (enpty catspaws Of vulgar praise they may
wn), unhappily contain not one national inspiration
not even one tecbnic triumph. Feebly reflected mo-
tyea, half adaed 10 our history clad in eiete forms
Of clear art are all that solitary National Gallery
can show, save the single prosc story OF the signing
Of the Declaration Of Independence. EI nhiio Hihd
G. can't say much for against the Roiunda PIC
lures; it is pretty amusement for those who Ike 20
tilt at puppetheads The artists got their money, tie
Government didn't miss il much and no harm Is
done. We must be laughed at little BY Europeans,
and better be for taste than some other things.
What the fate Of the staiuary in Washington would
have been had our gentle and refined invaders sue
ceeded in capturing the Vandal capital we can only
guess Some shrewd Spectator might have bought
Greenoughs Washington, and, having buried it
awhile in earth, and knocked away oil distinguishing
features, have brought it into market realizing more
for it as tLird-rate and mutilsted antique than It
would have brought as frst-rate modern statue
The Liberty Of Crawiords pediment would make If
backed, and the bird modified little, good statue
of the patron goddess Of the new nation, as q
PhTygian slave appropriately attended by turkey
buzzard with bomb-shell bursting nnocuOus at her
feet, like those which are thrown at See ssia The
woodman who threatensforever 10 get ready 10 chop
would make target for rife practice; the naval Of
fcer who only half draws his sword would have
stood in future times for the hero Of the first great
engagement Of the new nations navy, and the In-
dans have been assigned az the trophies Of the rebel
Creeks and Choctaws 10 celebrate at once their inf
deity and their final ensavement. The statues them
selves would gain much by the separation, as they
have no coLereney or special relation TO each Other
should be sorry to see the modest and sensible statue
of Hancock by Stone buried in the ruins Of the Cap
ito. but it couldn't serve any rebel purpose, and co
would be likely to remain there.
Until within fifteen days the safety Of Washington
has not they say at headquarters, been assurednow
they tranquil, and work at the Capitol goes on
again. The so-callcd fescoes in the passages be-
ing renewed and continued in the sane fnica and
inappropriate Style upmeaning scroll-wOrk and ara
besques, copied from books of designs are painted
not in fresco, but ia oilcoor the wall to scale of
with the frst dampness, and demand another appro-
priaion. Who Ia responsible for this portion of tie
work do not know but it is certain that nothing
can be less fit and ess impressive. Ia passages
where gus is needed to paint by minute designs OF