Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-27

browsing on the hillsides, while in the deep
shadows Of the jungle, the lion is seen in
| his lair. Birds of golden plumage are
dartiDg through the green foliage, shaking
the diamond dew drops from the pendant
boughs In the center of this vast pano-
rama, man is seen, clad in the primitive
costume of Eden; the bow and arrow are
| lying by his side; there are no signs of
| commerce, or agriculture, or civilization in
the vast landscape. This is the Savage
| State" and is fine conception.
The next picture, which is the same
size Of the FIRST is the "Arcedian or Pas
toral State" The sun has risen half way
to the ermidian, over The same landscape.
Man has assumed the garb OF civilization.
Shepherds and sheperdesses tend their
| hocks in the green meadows and pour out
their melodious heart-songs, with the soft
vibrations from lutes made of reeds. Agri
culture has laid its hand on the primitive
hills, and they are blossomihg. with a
luxuriant harvest. Far in the shadows of
the forest en- altar has been erected, and
through the transparent air the smoke of
incense is lifting IFS vapory arms like a
prayer to Heaven. This is the Arcadisn
or PASTORAL State, and is one of the finest
paintings in America. The third picture
is ''The Consummation of Empire" and is
seventy-fge BY fiffy and half inches. The
forest has fallen before the eye of the
woodsman A magnificent city points
its Thousands domes, and temples, and
minarets toward the sky. The bosom Of
the bay is dotted over with the commerce
Of the world. Gay cavaliers with flowing
rafnuona frap fhA
The peasant has put on the splendid cos
tune of the city. The sun has reaehedthe
zenith. This is the Consummation of
Empire. ......,.-.-
The next pictnre is "The Destruction"
and is sixtyrtwo and, half BY thirty>eight
and half Inches. The same landscape is
presented. The hills once clothed with
such beautiful verdure, now lie dark and
verdureless against the evening sky. Tie
soft notes Of the shepherds lnte are lost in
the clash of swords, the believing Of NOR
tars and the fierce charge of cavalry.
Broken arches, spires and marble columns
have toppled and choked up the highways.
Terror-stricken mothers, with babes cling
ing frantically TO their breasts, are climb
ing with the energy of despair over these
crumbling ruins. Man has become ener-
waited by vice and corruption. Public
morals have become debased, and the dark
wing of Azrael gives the blackness of de-
struction to the scene. The sun is Just
sinking behind the western hills. AhA
The next and last picture is Desola-
tion," and is sixty-one by thirtysnine
inches. The same hills are seen in the
landscape, but they are blasted and deso-
late. The hoof of the war-horse has
trampled in the courts of King; the owl
and bittern flap their wings through deso-
late courts and amid the fallen columns Of
once splendid temples; the lion has made
his lair The nightingale peurs its notes
of woe from crumbling colonnade, around
which the ivy has entwined its green arms,
like hope around the despairing seul-A
few mourners are sitting on the steps of
their former temples, like Marius amid the
ruins of Carthage. The sun has dipped
below the horizons verge, while the moon
is just rising and pouring its cold spectral
| light over the scene, painting desolation
on earth, and sea and sky. 1a .a.-1 ~ l-a
! There are many other, paintings, and
many fine pieces of statuary from the chisel
Of Crawford, which we should like to take
q pen to. We promise to weave into an
other letter some interesting material
gathered in this vast metropolis. -, m