The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-16
Fine Arts.

"THn REPUBLICAN, COURT UNDsR WARRINGTON"
Mr. Huntington's last great work, under tho above
TITLE is on exhibition at the Derby Gallery, o26
Broadway. The picture took him I'VE years TO paint,
the figures introduced OF which there upwards Of
sixty being al portraits Az an evidence Of the authen
tic value Of these We copy from the catalogue the
lists statement Of the manner in which no procured
them
"He not only consulted the more accessible portraits
by Copcy and Stuart the miniatures Of Malbone and
the public records OF the time but enabled pro-
cure family kenesses from the living descendants Of
many Of his subjects Several painted in the very
costumes they had upon occasions OF this kind
the artist working with the mantle or the robe before
him Sometimes when the resemblance had been trans.
mitted through generations granddaughter would
sit for her grandmothers picture AZ Others whom face
had been laboriousy transferred from parchment or
ivory 10 canvas an expression caught from the living
features Of the grandson or great niece would give II
character and animation"
work composed under such circumstances OF course
offers wdo scope for criticism but taking into consider
alton It's difficulties think the country as well tho
artist has reason to be proud Of IT, Its prevailing fault Is
hardness and certain patchiness Of color, which wc
attribute in part to bad arrangement Of light but
AGAINST this we have 10 balance q number 6f
ane qualities There is elevation OF sentiment and
breadth Of treatment In that raise II far above the
commonplace attempts at historical composition that
have hitherto been hazarded by our native artists In
grouping and general arrangement shows careful study
and will compare favoraby with almost any Of the works
OF the modern European schools. In its details oil
drawing it /, not always as fortunate. but where
ever any bemshes OF this sort occur they are
Of so unimportant a character that they In
way initiate against the general effect Of the pic.
ture. The work has again the great disadvantage Of
being exhibited by gas light and that not very skifuy
arranged Despite all this at once imprcsses the spec
taor with its Importance both as an artistic effort and as
faithful reproduction of the social characteristics Of
of the most interesting epochs OF our early history
Among tho numerous portraits introduced the most
interesting perhaps those Of the celebrated beauties
OF the PERIOD now for the FIRST time grouped together
The lienesses OF our great men, statesmen, soldiers,
lawyers wits aud writers have been or less famil
iarzed TO u.s. but ii is only in family collections that
those of the distinguished who shed usre in the
of Washington could hitherto be seen. In an age
in which high breeding and intellectual pro emnencc
have given place TO the vulgar pretensons OF shoddy
arstocracy the effort Of such illustration Of the man.
ners Of better and purer period OF history cannot
be without its fruits.
We are glad 10 find that this fine work Is in process OF
being engraved by Rtche Of the best OF our Amer
artists in that line He has been year engaged on
IT, and from an inspection OF MS brt proof we are IN
position TO state that his reproduction OF II will be in
every way satisfactory Mr. Seitz the proprietor of the
copyright, which has cost him twenty-five thousand dol
lars has udciousy fixed the price Of the engravngs at
fifteen dollars Al this low there is scarcely house.
hold in the country that cannot afford to become the
possessor Of copy.
Mr. A. T. Stewart is tho purchaser OF the picture. The
sum which he gave for ii twenty thousand dollars
not too large a price considering the time and the i'm
mense amount OF labor bestowed on II. We are glad
that has fallen into Mr. Stewards hands II report be
in reference to his views In the formation Of his
large collection community will enjoy all the
benefits resulting from the possession Of 90 invaluable
an historical work.