Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-08-04
JOURNAL Observation-Disclosures

lists dssigu. The name of the artist is Mr..
Francis b. Carpenter, and the title Of the
picture, president Lincoln's Emancipation
Proclamation before the Cabinet"
II was Ia December last that Mr.. Carpenter |
conceived the idea of tho work which he has |
just 80 successfully accomplished Ia the second |
week in February life-studies were commenced,
aud his first ohalklinos were drawn on the large
cansas during the first week In April, 30 thai
about six months we're occupied by tho actual
labor bestowed upon it, The picture itself is
nine feet in height by fourteen feet six inches in
length, and occupies position in the East
Room Immediately opposite the door by which
the visitor makes his entrance, the light from the
f. out windows falling upon it.
1t must be admitted that our artists have too
mucn confined themselves to those subjects
which are invested with the poetic attachments
of mythology and romance. To Mr.. Carpenter,
therefore, must be voted some credit for origin
aty in directing his genius to pratical subject
that in this intensely practical age has an at
traction with which the legends Of antiquity
have ceased to be invested. 1t will be seen that
the pitch Of Mr. Carpenters picture is its gem
eral expression when the President is listening
TO Mr.. Stewards suggestion in regard to with
holding the emancipation proclamation. His
suggestion was to the effect that that proclama.
ton should bo withheld until il could be issued
I
momeut was happily conceived by the artist as
the moment of inspiration for his theme. II was
u moment on which much of that future hung
which wBs to balance the past, and, being seized
upon, formed the centeralzing point Of grand
historical picture.
The President, of course occupies the central
position, holding with his hand upon the table,
tho proclamation which had just been read To
cur mind, the inevitably anxious air which 10 re-
Iuna IN fauI u dad uutN
preston of earnest, honest listening, as though
not only willing but desirous, to hear the reason
lng submitted to him-as though not only de-
srous but eager to weigh and digest 1t. The
portrait before us is the man Lincoln, with all
his honesty, all his determination, all his right
of power, awake to fuller means Of using them
to the very Wisest purpose.
Mr.. Stanton and Dir. Chase, are on the right
hand Of the President, the former sitting, aud
bis face wearing that decided aud confirmed ex-
preston which says that his favorable Judge
ment upon tho question is maturely formed Mr..
Chase stands beside him, his arms folded, aud
booking as though, by elaborate consideration Of
the subject, he had made assurance doubly sure
that his espOusal of the proclamation was
strengthened by all that moral bias with whict
he supports every thing he has done. Secretary
Welles is seated Immediately the left Of tho
President, behind the table separating him and
, hI' osharu' Inv grave anu uignihed c0uu-
&c Att Of secretary Wees is pregnant with
.u0k OF inquiry, as though the decision Werl
calmly balancing itaef before his judgment
, eyes. MIR. Blair and MIR. Caleb B. Smith, VIII
# are presumed to have not been present durinl
, the whole Of the proceedings, are standing clos
Ii he'ide each other, and Immediately to the left o
= Mr. Welles, the very contrastive style of tn
7 faces oil these two is marked with those shade
= Of opposition to which their different tempera
= ments would inevitably give rise. But the OF
II position is there, and is scarcely less obvious
II thq full and forid features Of Mr. caleb Il
e smith, than in the stern aud set countenauoe {
e his tellow-mcmber of tue Cabinet standing be
)f side him. The portrait of MIR Smith was take
10 from photographs furnished to the artist as We
as from Those conceptions which artists share viii
Il poets, both in entertaining and 10 finding the
G, u be correct. The result in this case the Pre-
d ldent endorses, tesufying most emphatically
ie the singular verisimilitude Of the portrait.
Id Mr. Bntes occupies the eud of the table, 81
er ting at the extreme right Of the picture. III
ne degree in which-mauilesied In his compact al
nj eatious featuies-he combAts the proposition
IN scarcely t1 he determined lie looks as thou
at he had not made up his miul and vas hard
Ve in tho way of making It up very soon to
n own complete satisfaction. MIR. Seward Gee
81 pies the foreground, is sitting beside tho tai
Dc is represented as having brought down
ad thumb ana index fHger srgumentatively up
llB it, and his whole bearing invested with that d
IN passionate, argumentative aspect which, even
us It had been unsupported by that sound logic
ng promised, will always claim patient AttentiO
er, This portrait Of MIR Seward, is the key note
he the entire picture, for it is at tho moment he
de speaking that the attention OF all is riyeted.
nd Washington Chronicle.