The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-05


!. Now on exhibition in tho art
a''. p,y,rs's Musical Exchange
- ~. - Nv this very talented young artist
','" ,,scrvcs more than apassing notice.
D. ,"s;ee, seems to bea youthful prl-
a,d;cr Of the late Confederate army
500 :, rccoyering from the effects OF
80 wound. He is depicted as leaning
import upon the shoulder OF . oe"a :,
Mmalc supposed to be his sister, ms
;. rmaciatcd face pressed fondiy against
~ ,,sor his languid eyes family bright
,, The view of body of troops
:, the distance. One hand-the
-. one now left 10 the poor fcli"w-is
s,,<rcd in that of his sister, while her fair
! thrown over his shoulder-sitting
~, an ivy-clad balcony, and regarding
ksr, hc,r, stirring movement before them,
1 ,.rcate bu, richly tinted sunset is light
~ the scene, and throwing over them the
y r,,,apt hucs OF its departing radiance.
s Roth OF the figures are admirably drawn
- sustained throughout; hut the more
5,,ramincnt, that OF the wounded boy, pre-
SCENTS points of excellence in delineation
ar8 ccloring rarely to be met with in any
nj collection. The expression and tints OF
H. wan, bloodless face; the natural poiSc
81 the body the draping of the light ar
,.crv Jacket, with its empty, hanging
sleeve the amputated stump of the fore
ann, with its bandagc and sling; and,
chaps the chef TGrre of all, the admi-
robly expressed tension Of the wrist and
hand, pressed within his sisters, with the
generally difiused, delicate lights and
shadows thrown over the whole picture
from fore to back ground, render it crca.
lion Of genius and finished art worthy Of
aay school. Familiar as VIC were prior t.
l>tl with the galleries of exhibition and
schools of design in this country, we have
never seen a better original picture of it.
character from the brush OF any Of our
most distinguished artists.
Ii is compliment to say Of so young an
artist rs Mr.. ELDER that he has promise
it is not too high compliment to say o.
lin now, that he has not only promise
lut has already fulfilmcnt. This is by nj
means, as is well known, the only tincl.
executed work of Mr.. ELDER, but We be
Ecve that il is, up to this time, his best
HE improves steadily, and not slowly. Mr.
ELDER is ambitious, pcrsevcring, and studi
ons; he has had the advantage of foreign
travel, study, and instruction and he is
still Young enough to pursue his art for
fltv wears, and to advance in its perfection
INTO the end for we believe there is no
.uprcmc point of art admitted. In this
srriion of the United States we have no
National Academy" no Academy OF
Design" no encouragement Of the arts
and sciences in public institutions, but
happily we have one or two almost I'M
known artists, "native and to the manor
born" whose works are worthy to be add
mltcd into any art exposition of this
country, and to be placed alongside and
in competition with the accepted pro-
ductions of "National Academicians.'
Thi, good old Commonwealth, so uni
vrrsaly known as the smother of States
aud statesmen" has now grown men (and
VT hope many stockings to be hereaiter) OF
high reputation in the arts.
Mr. ELDER in not only Virginian, but
was born in that little town (alas! now
nearly finished indeed) of Fredericksburg,
which may well be considered and honorcd
as the most fruitful womb of Virginia.