The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-02
Leutze's New Picture at the Capitol
EMIGRATION TO THE WEST

From the N. Y. Evening Post.
A picture always should, and a good one
does, tell its own story but it is not eve
rybody who can read tale, be it never so
plainly told; while even to those of quick
est appreciation and greatest intelligence
the transition Of pictures meaning into
words certainly does not diminish-if it
does not add to-the pleasure of first in
spection. To others, the qualification of
many wishes may depend upon it. For
these reasons the following brief descrip-
ton of the picture, and Of the purpose of
the artist who painted it, has been pre-
pared.
The object selected for representation
Emigration to the West-may fifty be re-
garded as one of the chief causes of our
national prosperity, and the picture appro-
priately occupies the panel of the sonth-
western staircase, as the first of series of
four works of the same class which it is
proposed should form the decoration OF the
panels of the four grand staircases. In
the selection of the subject and of the pO-
sition which the picture occupies, it will
be apparent that general plan for the in
terror decoration of the Capitol, has been
kept in view.
The work should, therefore, be consid-
cred with reference to this fact, as well as
to another, which will hardly be disputed,
namely, that all such artistic decorations
should be made to subserve the purpose of
illustrating the history of our country.
The Importance Of such histOry-a book
of art whose illuminated pages, bound in
the enduring marble of the nations Capt.
tol, shall forever lie open for the perusal Of
the generations that are to come after us
may not be easily over-estimated. It is
obvious, however, that its success must
depend upon the adoption of a comprehen-
sive plan for cOntempOraneouS as well as
future artistic labor; plan which, while it
shall afford to each artist ample scope for
the exercise of his individual style, shall,
at the same time, prescribe for him bounds
in all directions, so that the final result may
not be mere accumulation of works bear
ing no relation to each other, nor to the
structure which they were intended to
adorn, but harmonious combination of
efforts converging like rays to the one
grand central idea.
The effect which the adoption of such a
plan, carefully matured and faithfully car
ried out, would have upon the growth of
American art, is easily to be foreseen. That
it would soon lead. to the. fogmatiop of a
national school,. there cap: be: but little
doubt. The stimulus which. the: horH Of
such. encouragement BY. government would
inipartto tlie:inventicn, .talenc eIiergyana
peiseverenoe: which. :0ur artists So. aSun.
dainty possess, is the one thing needed to
promote the proper exercise of those fac
ulties which, in the absence of it, must
ever of necessity be restricted to the paths
of mediocrity, instead of following those
which lead to national honor and renown.
Great as the height which our civilization
and progress have reached, they have yet
to make themselves felt in the benefcent
and refining influence of national art. d
An emigrant party, travel-stained and
weary, who for long weeks have toiled on
in the face of formidable difficulties over
the vast plains on the hither side of the
Rocky Mountains, have reached, near sun
down, the point whence the waters flow in
the direction they themselves are going,
and from which they catch the first glimpse
of the vast Pacific slope land of pro-
mise. Ell Dorado, indeed I; for earth and
sky and mountain peaks are bathed in the
golden glow of the setting sun. On the
left Of the picture, leagues away in the dim
distance. q faint line on the horizon reveals
the western. ocean; on the right, the eye
follows aYolling prairie to the base of the
/ Rocky Mountains link in the vast chain
which stretches through both Americas "A