Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-02-27
Influence OF Art and Beauty.
NEw YoRK. February. 1867.

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EDITOR CHRoEIcLE:-Thers has lately
been published 3 work on Art Criticism
designed to teach the principles on which
are founded q correct Judgment in Art. Il
seems much superior to Kamss Elements
which has been our standard text book
and being by an American author, it is 9
gratifying proof that in the Fine Arts, in
which our European neighbors have claim
ed to excel US, we need not wait for ages
of culture and national development, but
are already in generous rivalry with the
best schools, net only of modern but OF
ancient times. This book is designed for
the mature student, but aesthetic culture
should begin with the earliest processes of
education. A child loves every form Of
beauty, until habit has deadened its senses
to impressions; and slight efforts will
awaken IFS Slumbsring faculties to find
nunberless sources of pure enjoyment, and
the inspiration to q noble life, in every
object that is created to crafty the sense
of beauty. Object lessons should not be
dry and formal, but should be given in the
spirit Of the German Kinder Garten, which
assumes that child, like flower, should
be surrounded by certain genial influences,
not forced or artificial, but simple and
natural, and having this garden culture,
will grow up beautiful and good.
The highest senses by which we appreci-
ate Music, Poetry, Painting and Sculpture,
are what peculiarly distinguish US from
lower creations, and in proportion, as we
are developed, in this part of our nature
do we approach the Divine. Beauty is
divine, and If we love beauty and order,
we become like what we love, beautiful
and symmetrical in character. Whoever,
therefore, creates q correct taste, in
himself or in Others. which shall respond
to the harmonies of music, or to what Is
beautiful in thought, form or color, is
doing something to elevate and snnobls
his race.
Some years ago one of our most popular
lecturers said: "a gallery of art would do
more to educate and elevate the people,
than regiment of priests" By quoting,
do not endorse this, but 1 think tue
educational influence OF the fpe arts can
scarcely be overstated.
No one could look upon an angel, or
what we conceive to be an embodiment Of
perfect beauty Of form and spirit, or could
listen to perfect music, from q perfect
world above Us, and not receive inspira-
tions that should ever after prompt him to
follow the beautiful and the good in his
life. The savage owns the charms of mu-
sic, and tho worst man would shrink from
q wrong act while listening to a voice like
Jenny Linds. The taste for Music, Paint !
ing and Sculpture, Is rapidly increasing in
our country, and is a good omen, that may
compensate many evil ones.
Works of Art, and repositories for their |
sale are rapidly increasing. There are
beautiful paintings on porcelain, and
elaborate carvings in wood, of the lstter |
several large clock frames, with spreading |
delicate traeery and figures. carved from |
one solid piece, are particularly fine.
There are casts in Bronze and Plaster, |
and engraVings from wood, stone and |
steel, that multiply in miniature the best |
works of the masters. These copies are |
found in every city, but not in number or
perfection, as here At the Cooper Insti- |
tute, Historical Library, Goupils and other |
public galleries, are many fine works.
A large tapestry painting exhibited in
window on Broadway, is worthy of notice. /
It represents the death of Lord Douglas, |
who fell in defence Of Mary Queen Of |
Scots, when attacked during her fight |
into England. Her melancholy fate there, |
gives additional interest to the scene So |
graphically portrayed by the needle. It is
valued at Thirty-ive Hundred Dollars
have yet seen no work of superior inter
est 20 one in q private collection. It rep
resents q sleeping mother and boy, the |
mother reclining over the couch of her /
child The perfect beauty, and uneen-
scious innocence of the boy, and the quiet |
rest of spirit in maternal love, tender and |
watchful even in sleep, of the mother, are
painted with mRtchless skill. A guardian |
Angel with eyes that seem to fathom /
futurity, sits near, and over all is thrown
the shadowy veil OF night. The design |
and execution evinee the highest Artistic |
excellence. There is nothing on earth /
nearer the Divine, than maternal love.
The Catholics show the most profound |
knowledge of human nature, in their I
theology, which gives to the heart of the
worshiper. the Holy Mother and Child,
raised TO Divine Glory, and thus drawing
all the most sacred aspirations Of humAni-
ty HeaTenward.
DR.. Chaplin and DR.. Bellows say that no
theology is so execrabls, as that which as
serts the essential evil of human nature,
and final doom of misery for all man
kind. Without approaching the strife Of
theologians, we may express the hope, that
they will leave Us the faith in humanity,
and ESPECIALLY in childhood, without which
charity and human progress are impossi-
BILE.
If beautiful child, with golden hair,
and eyes like the azure Of the skies, is not
angelic, then may we think the poets Wis
ions of beings Of moro than earthly per-
fection, divisions that have seemed the :
prophecy and proof of immortality, are
but delusive dreams, and that there is in
the universe no reality answering to these
ideals.
But some cynic will say, Is there not
selhshness and malignity in the child, aid
how soon does he become the hardened
criminal. What is called evil passion,
may be but the essential instincts of ami
NAL life, and purity Of character becomes
Iulied by contact with the world, as a
beautiful body becomes diseased from e1-
ternal influences, or as all things most
delicate and pure are soonest changed and
perish. Sew bring back at night, i'm
the manners of the morn, some- ;
thing we thought Is blotted, resolved is
shaken, we proposed is postponed" We
may weep at the decay of beauty, but It is q
The destiny of all things earthly, and we I
will not doubt its existence because It is {
iubject 10 change. '
The snow has fallen in the last few DAYS 6
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