The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-10-19

Irving and His Literary Fricnds-One
Of the Engra wings Given to Share.
holders In the Crosby Opera House
Art Association.
From the Chicago Republican, Oct. 8.
Among the many beneficial results that
will attend the distribution Of paintings by
the Crosby Opera House Art Association,
probably the most important, because the
n ost universal, will be the wide spread dis
seminaton Of elegant engravings from the
works Of great artists. 1t is impossible TO
over estim ate the effect which the presence
of these fine prints in so many households
will have in refining and cultivating high
er and truer taste for art among the people.
Even the cheap, flaming colored prints we
used to see in country taverns and rustic
residences had their mission, and accom-
plished their work in the cultivation Of a
love for the beautiful. But these finely ex
ecuted copies Of noble painting, mark in
their extensive distribution, another epoch
in the development Of art culture. Next to
spendid painting, fine engraving is most
desirable for the walls Of drawing room
or library, and the Crosby Association is
doing q noble and valuable work in filing
so many homes with engravings of the
choicest and best. The effects of their
presence will be visible, after many days,
in more rapid and thorough development
Of Q true art taste in the West.
While these general remarks apply equal
ly to all the beautiful engravings The Asso-
citation furnishes to subscribers, we set out
with the purpose Of calling little special
attention to the picture entitled "W Washing
ton Irving and his Literary Friends" as
one of the most desirable, in popular
sense, Of the whole. The print contains
accurate portraits, from the celebrated pen
Gil Of Schuessele, Of fifteen Of tae most
prominent literary celebrities OF lrvings
time-the best and most authentic portraits
published. Besides Irving, the central
figure in the group, the picture represents
Hawthorne, his genial face lost to US, alas,
forever; Longfellow, Prescott, Fenimore
Cooper, J. X. Paulding, N. P. Willis. Tuck
erman, J. P. Kennedy, 0. W. H Dimes,
Simms, Bancroft. Ralph Waldo Emerson,
American literati we'll worthy TO grace any
home in the land. The likenesses are accu
rate, and the grouping more easy and
natural than is often seen in similar works.
II is very effective and striking picture
throughout, and, we believe, the best speci
men of engraving we have ever seen from
the BURN of an American artist.
What adds to the value of the engraving
is the fact that no coTie are to be had after
the distribution shall have taken place;
some Of the once well known faces are COW
cred from earth forever, and can there fore
never be reproduced, SO that, as the years
roll on, and copies of this print become
more rare, the remainder will acquire addi-
tional and antique value, and those who
possess them will be considered fortunate
indeed. While each of the other engrav
ings possesses an intrinsic merit of its own,
which renders them all desirable ornaments
Of any home, the Irving engraving combines
features which give it especial value, and
which render it particularly sought for.
The time will come when every copy of this
print will command double or treble the
price at which it is now furnished the
public.
The original painting will very shortly be
on exhibition in the Art Gallery of the As
ISOLATION in Chicago.