New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-12
THE FINE ARTS.
BIERSTADT'S ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

Mr. Bierstadt has made an important addition
10 the small number of American historical land
scapes, in his picture Of the Rocky Mountains.
which is now on exhibition in this city. 1t is
painted from sketches made in the Summer OF 1883,
when the artist accompanied the late Gen. Lander
on his Exploring Expeditions and from these
sketches, which profess to have been faithful
studies in every CASE from nature, be has composed
a landscape which, without being an exact por.
traiture Of any particular spot may be accepted &c
characteristic Of the scenery of the Wind River
Mountains, q name given to portion Of the great
chain of the Rocky Mountains, lying about seven
hundred miles northeast of San Francisco.
These Mountains fill the whole background Of
the picture extending to the limits of the canvas
on either side, and rising into fantastic, jagged
peaks, of which the highest, called Mount Lander,
Is nesr the center, piled up, cliff on cliff, rent end
scared in witness Of tho volcanic fury that hurled
il up from the underworld, but, crowned, at last,
IN these later centuries of its unrecorded age with
the peace of those eternal SHOWS about whiea are
wreathed the overcoming, eyer-changing clouds,
and from which descends the creeping, resissless,
devastating river of the glacier
But, the glacier, ruthless as it looks, and beyond
whim to hide; heart which distils in yonder sun
bright, everdowing stream that leaps down from
cliff to cf until, at last, it touches the VERGE and
with one mighty bound reaches tie level Of the
meadow that stretches from feet up to the very
base of the mountains, and, there, forms lake
whose waters find an outlet in the stream theft
under the name Of the Colorado, empties into the
Gulf of California, after journey of more than
thousand miles from this its romantic source.
Those ranged rsmp4rt' bright g
Suddenly scale the hs.t."
aud this broad green fiOor--which, on one side, O
belt of cottonwood trees shuts in, and, on lie
other. tho stream issuing from the lake, the lake
nself-is Enlightened with the busy life of an Indian
oncampment. Here stand, hals-eirclewise, the
great tents with tier black, eavcraous mouths,
look Nc most union eke in spite of the gayly coli
ored figures painted upon some Of them, and In spite
OF the little brght-eyed Iapoose thar, watched By
dog, and carefully set up at the door Of the near
est one tells US that there is MOTHERS heart beat
ing somewhere in this wilderness, that cen make
home out Of even such close and smoky den 40
this.
The time of day is no. very clearly Indicated, bus
it must DO early afternoon, for the hunters heSs
lust returned from the chase and are loosing .1ex
horses. while the women and children are gai,.:sd
in admirine groups about the spoils which Gu
the ground, consisting of huge grizzly bear, On
elk. pnteopes, ard lesser game; while, near by,
.ome large fish arc being cooked lndian fashion.
shifted on sharp sticks stuck into the ground before
the ire.
Near the center Of the picture, In TIE very Fore
ground supported or three spears, is the en-
broidered blanket Of q war-horse, which has been
charmed by the ineantatons Of the medicine man,
and set up here ward of evil in every shape ron
the village Not, however, from our pretty trchs
the marmots, at the mouth OF whose bufrow tESH
enemy, a little Indian boy, watches, with drawn
bow. vigilant and cruel II no amulet or cbs'n
can avail to save the occupant Of this narrow, Los"
ever, as seems only too likely, we may take NUS
compromising pleasure in watching this o'her'@
the left. at whose mouth tho owner SITS erect on
his launches and enjoys life, While it is iei' MIN
as only marlnot can. ,,.>
So much for the incidents Of the picture, which
we have tried 10 describe IN suen u wa! % .,"-
the reader share in the interest IL mas eA'''0"
"a vigorous. truthful portraiture Oh .n'
Ilitte.kuown scenery Of one portion VI oui o'uAy.
ur Ricrstadt has been very succes''ui III so''e'
noints where bis picture necessarily co"ee n'.o
comparison with the work Of MT, cnurSn ana !.
... 20 ns that IL he shall not fall into the hnen'-
sh,v common error Of supposing that one s''k %
Tho s,zo and importance Of this, carried out WIN
orccllcnce enough to win the Populsr voice, makes
All further effort and study unnecessary, rs VIZ
attain fur higher results than Ey. Church has sSss