The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-21

the SUMS rays paint the face of nature upon earthly
matter This was great and marvellous discovery and
passing beliefs but that destined in very
few years work revolution in every department Of
the art of painting The artists easel and brush must
soon give way before the truthful and perfect brush
and easel of nature Few the pictures our ances-
tors have left that their children may look upon and
their fathers face when he dead and gone" for
portrait in former times was only within the
of the more wealthy and then, perhaps the most costly
were but imperfect daubs that have resemblance to
the original The invention of the daguerreotype es-
tablished new era art more perfect likeness could
be obtained at smaller cost compared with the works
of the painters The people were delighted, and the pic
ture trade became protable still the prices were too
high to reach the Million and then began the era of ex
pertinent and improvement One great defect in the d.
guerreotype the difficulty experienced in getting
good view of the object TAKEN which could only be had
from certain angle and then but imperfectly; another
drawback was the cost Of the material, which served
to keep up the prices of the pictures Still the old style
kept its place against all innovations till ten years
since when it superseded by the ambrotype picture
taken glass; and which presented clear and per-
feet face and that plain to the vision from any
point of vew This cheapened the pictures and brought
within the ability of all classes to sit for their portrait
graph by which pictures of all Sizes from that of the
largest portrait to the smallest medallion be taken
with perfect accuracy preserving all the beauties we'll
as all the defects of the human form divine defng
crtcsm-for nature cannot be criticised The connoi-
seur dare question the shape of the ARM neck bust
or nose of the photograph and take such liberties with it
as every unfortunate artist is subjected by the critical
world.
We come to view the rapid development and
growth of photography business From the humble
In third story formerly occupied by the opera
tor, where he occasionally visited by customer it
has suddenly been developed into Of the great
branches of trade and industry and second to profess
sion calling in the world 1t has become great pub
lie necessity for people Of all ranks and grades feel that
to have their counterfeit presentment and those of their
friends is necessary to provide food for the stomach
raiment for the body. Hence In all cities
the magnificent establishments erected adorned and
dedicated to this great art while hundred different
smaller branches of business have been called into
sence to supply it with necessary articles of consump
ton in the manufacture Of photographs and now it is
the most lucrative profession that followed whether it
be in the gorgeous palaces that adorn large Cities
| the humble shops at the crossroad towns,
These reflections crude and unsatisfactory and perhaps
not correct in detail, called up bya visit we
paid yesterday to the newly opened National Photograph
ic Gallery of Kimberly Brothers. on Main street, corner
ofMarsden Lanehe place. cannot be mistaken, for it is
the only new house on the street. and has very striking
front This firm, the most enerprsng in the city, erected
the building for the uses which they have dedicated
it, and is consequently perfect in all its arrangements
As you enter the display of fine specimens of the
the door will at attract attention. They really
beautiful and present finish that is rarely in
| ba hacau thew are hey
look so WE'LL but thought they showed signs of supe
rior workmanship and skill the part Of the artist
FRESH they certainly and pleasing to the eye An
fist might pick flaws in them but we could not Going
up stairs you turn to the right and find yourself in
large airy and most tasefuly fitted up and decorated
reception The uphoterer and decorator have done
their duty we'll here and have succeeded in establishing
very pleasing contrasts which delight the eye and
heghten the imagination, Two large, oblong mirrors,
with ornamented rosewood frames, reach from floor to
ceiling and lady fair reflect back your graceful form to
your enraptured eye while the richly coored brussels
that the foo receives the noseless pressure
your dainty foot Take aseat upon yonder so green
the verdure of the fields while recne upon this its
| mate, and let survey this fsry-like Those
rich curtains hanging in graceful folds from the window
ornaments and falling the carpets below, of course,
are finest lace? Who doubts t-who would question it
! You say they are-wel lady ought to be Judge OF
lace-seeing that she is fond Of acing. Hal hal That's
pun-good enough for Marston. Well, what think you
lady FRIEND Of the pictures the engavngs and those
fine paintings, by Col johnson? Lovely, charming mag
nfcent-you say Well pile up the adjectives you can't
find too many in the dictionary to do them ustice-for
without being critic the beautiful engravngs please us,
the photographs, of great generals brave admrals emil
nent citizens, and celebrated women excite alike our
| admira while beautiful na;n
ings on either side-mounsin views from MY Mary
land ARE copies from works of that have received
the sanction of criticism. Then look fair lady, look
alot; those beautiful, fowery centerpieccs fixed in
ceiling of aabaster purity and from the centre of which
pend two chandeliers ofcurous workmanship Yes they
the handcraf Of the paserer artist who receives
too little credit in these days. when praise My lavish
ed on Mazeppa Dick Turpin and Jack Sheppard Well,
think we have seen most everything in this apartment
that is beautiful useful and there is certainly enough
here to feast the eye upon ofboth Stop moment: here
are some Kaleidoscope views; let take q glance
through hom. 1t is double and you take this side,
while peep through the other and turn the crank.
Charmingl Did you ever anything to equal them
Never How perfect and how interesting the subjects
See that dead rebel soldier lying in the muddy ditch poor
fellow he's found his last dtch his broken musket by
his side while the blood streams from his foreheadi And
here is another and still another These that follow as
the gloomy ruins of Richmond and have fancy
sketch two Here the trenches and Notifications
Of Petersburg They give much useful information
much more than any pen and ink, or even crayon
sketch could convey But enough Of these Here Mr.
Kimberly who is anxious to show through theoperat
ing is of tho finest largest and most airy,
that We have of late and being perfectly new in
all respects the very doors inale pleasing What
amagnifcent light and what elegant instruments "The
finest light" the artist Informs US in the world" and
instruments the most perfect to take pictures from the
smallest to the largest That little recess to the iefts
Undressing room-whe those to the right the rooms
where the secrets of the closely guarded from vu
ger eyes, Those little 60 winding down and back
connecting with Others still lower and lower till they
reach down to where the art orginatedhose regions
In which Ice never known Let enter the store
room 1t is to the left of the entrance, and herein snug
little triangular corner is stored all the necessary ma
tea for carrying on tho work of this splendid establish
ment and also sufficient supply the wants of the
trade in this quarter Of the world thetsl-
But we must close We leave this pleasant scene
aud make our excuse the reader for having devoted
much space it, 1t not every day such enterprise
is naugurated in Norfolk, and imagine the people
here have anything equal to it In this city be-
fore 1t ornament to the town, and will add much
to it, many other attractive features The Messrs KIM
frll