New-York tribune., 1866-12-28
FINE ARTS.
Mr.. r. B. CARPENTERS PORTRAIT OF ABRAHAM


r.g .a sslT.Iaoh l LINCOLN @
Mr.. Hslpin has recently finished his ougraying from
Mr. Carpenters portrait Of Abraham Lincoln the
original sketch for the head OF the President in hs
large picture of the Emancpatio Proclamation
The publishers oftbis engraving in their circular print
letters from the immediate family Of Mr.. Lincoln
from his widow, and eldest son, from persons con
nectsd with him in early life aud in bis latter days
from men whose official position brought them into
daily intercourse with him, aud from those whose
friendship make them sharp judges of the claims Of
any portrait and all these letters speak with voice
Of approval declaring tho portrait is an excellent one
and chat whoever sees it sees Mr.. Lincoln.
Such weight Of testimony as is adduced in favor
of this portrait ought TO have great influence with rho
public and go far toward establishing Mr.. Carpen-
ters picture as At least OF those ON which pos
terity must rely in forming its judgment how Mr..
Lincoln looked. For our part, we accept 1t with
gratitude: and we hasten to express pleasure that
the original sketch is secured by Mr. Hapn's careful
and faithful engraving from the danger Of destruction
by food or fire. nr
1t is not to be denied that lie who offers the world
portrait of Lincoln offers gift that must be scruti-
nzed with severity proporoned to the desire which
the world has to secure some how, true picture Of
that great man. There is hardly public man Of
whom it is not desirable to have true picture, not
merely for the qualification OF fugitive interest or
passing curiosity, but because good portrait en-
ables US to understand the character OF the man. and
to form a Judgment Of him independent Of cotempo-
rary record But, of course, there is vast difference
between the value we attach and that which posteny
will attach TO tho portrait OF any merely schemlng
politician, no matter how misehieyous or dangerous
be may have BEEN and that which will be felt TO be-
long to the true efiges Of good and true man like
Mr. Carpenter, Mr.. Marshall Mr.. Jones, then
whoever offers portrait of such man, one looked
upon with warm feelings, mixed OF reverence and love-
by thousands of men and women in America-mu5t
expect to have his work examined with eyes eager TO
find out certainly if il be true. And 1t can hardly
be hoped that we shall have the good fortune to secure
one portrait of Lincoln which will gather all sufrages
aud stand the one representative OF the man-sucn as
we have in the case Of Washington. The truth Is
that Mr. LincOns face was so mobile, so sure reflex
of his mood and his temper had so wide range, that
it is not to be wondered at the portraits differ SO.
Some will prefer Mr.. Marhalls even knowing that
it was not taken from life, but made up from photo
graphs; and some will accept Mr. Carpenters which
was taken from life under the most favorable circum
stances and which meets the approval OF those best
fitted to Judge. Others will accept neither but Will
choose from the multitude OF photographs the one
that best answers the notion they have formed oil
the man.
For ourselves, we cannot separate Mr.. Lincoln in
our minds from the time in which be lived, nor think
of him except as man who having mental and spirit
ual organization of extreme deicacy and sensitive
ness called to bear load OF care, responsibility,
aud anxiety that must have left deep and indeble
mark upon his face. There are men who could have
borne all that he had TO bear and never showed 1t IN
| face or mind There are men who have had nearly
all TO think to do and to suffer that fell to him, who
have lived more than his years in the world.
more than his years III public life, who have been in
the thick of the fight and have dealt and suffered
grievous blows, whose experience is part of their
eountrys history and who yet seem to have gained
no seriousness no dignity, no weight from all that
has befallen They are men with gutta percha minds
and faces which fate can pull all ways, with grief
and oy, with sin and sorrow and disappointment,
but which can at last, by few dexterous
pinches be brought back to their original yaculty.
There are such men with such faces, but Mr. Lncon8
was not one of hem and time LEFT all his bitter deal
ipgs with him written on that SCARED and weather
beaten visage And this record the true portrait OF
Mr. Lincoln must have, miss the final verdict of
acceptance. People do not want q " nice portrait,
nor handsome" portrait, nor an Ideal portrait.
They want to say, this is the man who suffered and
died in our cause. Let hatterers stand aside, and
squeamish people. Show us the grim features the
shaggy head, the beetling brow, the big nose the
great mouth. What do we care for his homeiness
His soul transfgures this SCARED and craggy face
as sunset strikes against mountain side, and chsnges
rugged cliff and black ravine, and darkest wood into
golden OF rosy cloud And this is the fault Of Mr..
Carpenters picture which will make itself felt to US
and to many in spite of its literal accuary. II seems
lack emotion, TO lack character. Here Is the
man he was perhaps before heentered on the path
that fate had thickly sown for him with care and
peril when bis mind was free, when experience was
ripening while life was bright. But OF what he was
atterward this picture says but little; it lacks imag
nation il fails of the deeper experience and opens no
clue to those who would study the character OF Mr.
Lincoln during his greatest days. .. .-...