New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-10-21


i, does not gain b. this very poor likeness OF her We
should Ike 70 knew BY the way what is the authority
ror hs portrait, Copley painted two portraits d Mrs.
smith one n Int and feathers. is now at Quincy IN
tie possession Of her nephew. the Hon Charles ,
Adams; the other ia a RULED mautua and powdered
iai- with god hocTs in her ears. and her hands in
muT VIZ formerly in tie possession of Ter daughter
,lls. J. ?. DsWnt and was destroyed ~ fire in ls62
Tie face in ny. Huntingdon, picture has not the
ghtet Likeness 70 the lady herself and yet the artist
must have Ms. Dewnrs Copiey. and If not could
certainly have had access 10 Mr. George Bakers excel
lent copy II il.
We have already alluded 20 ID. subordinate positions
given 10 such Ter Jefferson and A-nes but. there
are many others who are in the zane pred cament
There seems order OF method whatever Ia no
Arrangement there is no central point round which tie
Whole scene reyolvcs; nor are the different groups,
considered separately whoes in themselves 40 they
might easily, and naturally have been made. The
frequent instances Of buuders perspective, by which
ne heads Of persons in the ground made Of the
same size with those in the foreground even larger
seem 10 answer to the bunder OF conception by which
persons Of Atl, importance are made OF more promi
neace Than those whom 10 should have been glad 10
brought forward conspicuouy. Not to deal in general
assertions however e: the spectator look between the
lehaud group and the central one which the artist
has evidently expended all his power and in all proba
bilty his attention will be arrested by an old gentle
man a,tired IL what looks ike dressing gown. Ap.
parently something - the matter with HIM. for another
gentleman leans over the back Ct bis chair and whis
pers 10 him; The persons near look inquirngy at him
Gen. Washington timsefpOjnts toward him, end directs
the attention Of Ms Chew the venerable figure. In
fact tbs ancient person is the real center OF the right
hard half Of the picture quite eclipiur consequence
Of his singular dress, and his being seated both Mrs
Washington and the President and ever! body is eager
70 know who he NAV be. Well it is 10 moro important
parsonage than Jonathan TrumbuI who achieved
the tremendous distinction Of being Governor OF Con-
nectlcut!
And what Is tho shining center Of the picture itself
A bevy Of ladies' whom Nj. Huntington has painted
with whatever skill he is master Of and who present
sunny cheerful enough appearances but their names are
not associated with any particular memories that they
should be made so cons picuous. Leaving them, and
passing to the right hand half Of the picture. whom do
we fad the leading figure Of the composition theIei An
OLD lady, sitting her chair 10 the old gentle.
mcn OF the other half sitting hs And she il Of even
less importance. She lie a Mrs. George Clinton whom,
perhaps not 10 know argues ourselves unknown. But
we can help the inference We did hear Of her.
We have heard however of Bishop White and Carroll
OF Carrollton and Gilbert Stewart and Robert Morris.
and Robert Livingston. aud dozen more Of the
best men of the time who made Insignificant by be-
nc thrust nlo the unlisnguished crowd in the back
ground.
9he look at this picture the more the puzzle
grows-why was it painted We have seen that.
historical painting, 1t is Of lte worth; even rs a col
lection of portraits it has small value. But in what
might have been thought his strong points, Mr.. Hunt
ington has shown himself really weak. As a study Of
costume il inexcusaby unintcresting and wanting in
character. Tie dress Of the time was very peculiar
Ii not artistic, but it piquant, and admitted
of such various treatment that every lady could consult
Ter style and yet conform easily TO the fashion.
Yet. with the exception vi the plate warmer which
Mrs. John Adams balances with such patience and
dexterity on the top OF her head, and the entirely
modern dress which Miss Sophia Chew wears, there is
nothing to relieve the tame monotOny and want of
richness in the costumes We did not look for chaTac
ter painting from the President for facts nor for
an understanding OF the time he had undertaken to
pant but he has wellestablishcd reputation fer his
skill in millinery and mantua making. which this pic
ture proves also to be a mere deusion. He cannot
plead that we have sufficient knowledge of the dress
OF the tme yet that he could not procure models
In fact actual dresses Of the time abound and their
owners would in most cases. have gladly permitted
them to be copied In the pamphlet that accompanies
the picture minute description Of certain dress OF
Mrs. Binghsm's is extracted from a letter of Mrs.
Adams, who has also described her OWE dress and
that Of Mrs. Smith when they presented al the
British Court A French painter OF Mr.. Huntingon's
rank would have LEFT stone unturned 10 get accu-
racy in his details. We should have had frstrate
portraits logical arrangements and beautiful and char.
ecterisic costumes painted with conscientious fidelity
and care. Nothing is needed TO show the and
provincial character Of Art than tie fact that the
President Of our only National Academy. after foar
years labor, has produced incomplete and SO unin
teres,ing record of the men and women who made
the sDlendor OF our Nations early day.