New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-03-05
FINE ARTS.

MIR. DE HAAs's ADMIRAL FARRAGUT PASSING THE
FORTS BELOW NEw-oRLEANS."
Mr. Do Haas has placed exhibition, In the gallery
of the Studio Building in Tenth ST. large picture,
Just finished, the subject of which is the taking Of
the forts below New Orleans by the fleet under Adj
mral FaTagut. The point of time chosen by the
artist il when the IIarford-the flag-ship-haying
gone aground directly under the guns of Fort St.
Philip has been set fire by burning raft pushed
against her by the ram Manassas. She has opened
fire on the Rebel fort and slenced her guns but her
own position il Of extreme danger, so that, both
by her importance the leader of the attack, and
by the circumstances OF her present position she be-
comes the central point OF interest IN the compost
ton Behind her are dimy seen the Richmond, PEN
sacola and Mississippi On the opposite side of the
picture the Brooklyn Is seen attacking the Louisiana,
that terrible ram Of which III those days we heard
so much from the cT0akcrs and of which so little
was heard after the fight once began.
Though there b. nothing TO that effect in tho
Fathers, we venture Ia imagine that there may be q
Limbo for things GS well as for persons; a place
midway between heaven and hell. where the med,
Ocriics things neither good nor bad, may be stored
in an eternal lumber room. If there he such 2
region We think it mos likely that this picture will
60 there at the final inC- ion, and it is not cheer
full reflection that There VIII be great many AmeT-
pictures 10 keep il company 1t is true that the
specific gravity of many OF the later productions OF
our studios viii carry them down lower. and are
happy to think that two three viii be assigned to
y higher place; but the unpleasant fact remains for
the majority. and for this among them that they are
equally impossible 10 praise them OF to condemn
them
We are assured by the little explanatory lcaflet
distributed in the gallery to visitors that, in this
performance, "the public may now congratulate
itself the possession of one historical painting
commemorative of the war; Yet, in standing be-
fore II, were conscious of no movement OF SELF
COngatulatiOn stirring IN our own bosom. We have
no doubt whatever that the positions of the several
cOntcndng vessels are strictly correct and praise
the artist for the pains be has taken 10 insure aeon
mcy by asking the assistance Of the gallant Admiral
We may remark in passing that we suspect he has
made too much of the firing of tho Hartford by the
Rebel raft. Tho accounts of the fight written at the
time do certainly say that she on fire. but they
do also say that the flames were soon eXtlngulshCd
But. in the picture, the FIRE looks formidable
We by 10 means thinl, that Nr De Haas has wasted
his six months labor on this work il Is no doubt,
useful record. All have 10 object 20 II is the
ton that great historical picture may be con-
stuctcd at pleasure by bringing together certain
number of facts There are two kinds OF accuracy ;
one, CiTcunstautial and material the other, Of the
spirit, and this picture, however much II may have
of the former, has hardly anything of the latter.
We cannot of course do without the material facts
but u demands imagination 10 transform these facts
into history, and of Imagination this painting has no
trace. In the technical work the artist shows no
skill above the common achievement OF the cOnyen-
tion1 school 90 which he belongs neither the water
Tor the .y the vessels, the smoke nor the flame, IL
notlrrably well done and the whole scene which. in
the hands If master would be Of terror. II not
Of sub.'nity dcgencratcs under the hand of Mr.. De
Haas int0 a tamcncss that almost kills common curl
O5lty.