New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-06-12
FINE ARTS.

BoUGHToN's FIRST SABBATH IN AMERICA.
| We print in another column a paragraph
clipped from an English magazine, speaking pleasant
but not hattering, praise Of our countryman Mr.
George II Boughton, who is becoming known on both
sides OF tho water of the small band Of earnest
students whose works make Art to-day in America some
thing than promise n it cannot be allowed
AS, indeed. 1t cannot hope fulfilled. Mr. Bougon has
been many years abroad he is almostEa naturazed En-
glishman morally, II not legally, but believe he still
himself American and values highly the esteem
in which his pictures beginning 10 be held among his
cOuntrymen OF late he has been strongly attracted to
the early history OF America in selecting subjects for his
pencil his Pilgrims going to Meeting" was on exhi
bition in this city Winter before last, and has
since been photographed; his "Miles Standishs
March " is Of the much talked-Of pictures
in the present Exhibition OF the Royal Academy, and Mr.
Avery has just received his latest work. in which he
that his mind is still interested in that somber but
romantic period which, spite Of its singular character
mixed OF the weird and the heroic has left hardly any
in literature art except in the works Of
Hawthorne glory 10 any country, and In these pictures
OF one of our youngest painters.
Mr. Boughtons latest picture which trust the gen
era public will soon have opportunity OF seoDg is
called The First Sabbath in New England" and is
illustration OF Of the characteristic Incidents In
famous landing OF the Pilgrims Having anchored
the May flower, ten sent ashore in boat TO
landing made without difficulty. for the Indian
tribes in that neighbOrhood having been violently at
tackled by the smallpox, had fed from the shore; but
few straggeTs having the strangers land shot at
them with their arrows, which, being returned by the
fire Of the Englishmen's muskes. the Indians away
and again until after the landing Of the
whole ships company. The next day was the sabbath
spite OF the danger they from tho udlans
and Notwithstanding that they knew their companions
must be 10 suspense and anxiously awaiting their return
they halted and kindling fire with great difficulty
the shore proceeded TO keep the Sabbath sacredy
IL every consideration had not seemed mperatIycly 10
demand a speedy performance OF their errand. The
third day they discovered Plymouth, and the famous
Landing OF the Pilgrims was safely made.
Mr. Boughtons picture shows us the company OF scouts
engaged the simple religious exercise Of their faith on
this memorable Sabbath They gathered about n
fire which they have kndled with sedge and drftwood
on the sands near some those dun gray rocks familiar
and 80 dear those who know and love this sacred shore
Beyond them stretches the sand with its tufts Of dried
grass running down 20 the bluegray sea- over which
broods lowering sky with CLEANS Of suen light Alta
distance from the group sentinel PAGES up aud down.
but not so that nc cannot hear the preachers words
between the breakers and the signing wind The
nine men who make rest of the company grouped
IN wide circle about the fire. The preacher, TALL gaun
man. the oldest OF the party, with cloth skucap on his
head and furred coat his mail haubGrk, Is "im
uroyng text OF Scripture with fcryd earnestness,
holding the book IN one manu- pointing upWhIu Win
the other On the right OF the picture are two men
seated one who with his Bible half closed in hand
his finger keeping the place, grasps his beard with the
other arrested by thought OF the preacher the
other lightly clasping his cloak about him, half
listens TO the exhOrtatiOn, half muses., look
ing on the smodering fire. On the left hand
OF the picture OF rocks gives partial shelter TO the
rest Of tile company. One Of them, formal and precise,
with leather ierkin and hghpointed hat sits bolt up
right and with his eyes fixed the pages OF his parch
neptcoyered Bible, follows the text the preacher
paInfully exponnds IT, This Is man who Knocks himself
and scOrns his spirit that can be moved to smile at any
thing Next him is roster man. who will enjoy pleasant
DAYS n ever they come and meanwhile keeps his eye to
windward holds his musket ready, and has his mind
rather on the Pequots than Paul Close at his elbow
stands a stern fellow like the last, In steel head
/ niece but with grim look on his face which
consorts with his great mustache and short, rusty
beard He also Is thinking Of the Indians than
| the preaching, though he Ia well disposed TO
| hear the Word under other circumstances At his
| feet living along the ground in the shelter OF the
rock wrapped in his cloak and with tall beaver hat
one who seems stout than the Others, and older
man who perhaps will succumb before the coming trial
sooner the rest Of bis stout and manly mates In
front Of the group Of four sitting upon the edge OF the
rock in an alert attitude graspng his gum is another per-
son who seems intent upon the possibility OF an at
tack from the Indians than upon the words
herr and in the foreground the most conspicuous
figure Of ALL young man with his musket IN rest over
his left arm right hand upon the trigger with steel
can and steel haubeIk his eathern coat looks quite
away from the scene and fixes his eyes steadily upon the
| inr horizon. This young fellow Is admirably painted
NIL Of life and energy undaunted ready for all events
with hone enough but cautious too. man 10 make his
mark In the new State born Of this seaside Sab
| BATH and It's conservation 20 duty, its fOrgctful
ness Of SELF its devotion TO God. The artist
| has meant by this divided attention OF the
group 10 marx the peril OF the hour and emphasize the
devotion of these men to the duty that lay
without any Intrusion Of the moral Of the scene, the pic
ture speaks Of conscience OF integrity, Of men whC
ranked the life OF the spirit higher than the life Of tn,
body and who heard the voice OF God louder than thu
voice OF the world Painted with serious purpose, thu
ncture makes serious impression, but even those wh'
are oute indifferent the character OF these and 4
the part they played history. may enjoy the artis
merits Of this exoeently painted work 1t gives us re
Dewed hone when we such proof that earnest stud
and sincerity are not yet utterly dead among artists
that az least one man has been able 20 resist the de
nnralizng Influences that beset artists abroad, VIII
snhsttnte French frIvolty for American emptiness
or mora their noses to an outlandsh slavery, die
make no sign Mr. Boughton is not one Of these. II
NAV have left u.s. as Leslie did, 10 mngle his home wit
the artistic glories Of England but believe that he
working I'm spirit that will make the next generation
unwilling 10 Yield its claim TO his Amerieansm as we al
IN resign our right to the painter OF sancho aud IL
Duchess" or the Widow Wadnaa AID Unele Toby"