The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06
FINE ARTS.


FINE ARTS.
>~~~~>~~s>oo~~~~-~e->~o~~~~
Powelps Crent Historical Painting for the
National Capitol.
Mr.. w. II. Powell the eminent artist has nearly
completed for the senate wing OF tho Capitol at
Washington picture OF the ''Battle OF Lake Erie,"
which we may designate great on account both Of
its unusual being thirty feet long by twenty feet
high and Of Its extraordinary merits q compost
ton. This Is we believe, the largest can vas ever
brought to this country In one piece. and 1t was
woven In Holland expressly for the artist
The period OF the action chosen Is that SO WILDLY
described BY Commodore Mackenzie In his life Of
Perry and also by Bancroft and Cooper. Deserted
by the Niagara, which was 10 have encountered the
second Of the enemy's ships, ana sustained only
by the Caledonia, the Ariel and the Scorpion.
ne has resisted for more than two hours
the whole Of the British squadron Finding at length
his vessel cus to pieces, his guns dismounteL. hs
means of resistance destroyed and nearly the whole
OF his brave crew lying dead or wounded around
him, instead OF yielding the day, after having done
every thing that depended him to win It, with tho
inspiration Of genius he resorted promptly to the
only means that remained to him still to secure .
victory HE saw" says Bancroft, "wth the swiftness
Of intuition tho new method that must be chosen,
resolved to transfer his nag, with the certainty that
in the crippled state Of the British, victory must
percn on his banner, he Immediately entered his
boat with his commanders pennant and his little
brother, and babe the six sailors whom ne took o.
oarsmen to row with ali speed for the Niagara.
The mastery OF the lakes, the recovery OF Detroit
and the far West the capture OF The British
army In the peninsula of Upper Canada were
the immediate fruits OF his success" In this
grand painting Perry Is portrayed In his boat leav
Ing hts disabled SHIP the Lawrence the Stars and
Strips floating at the DOW and the hero himself
standing in the centre. The balls are flying about
him In every direction and one has struck the
from the hands of the negro Hannibal, whose alarm
is characteristically depicted. Cngng to the Com
mcdore, his young brother, the child Alexander, Ia
beseeching him to be seated; they under fire and
the boy fears for the safety OF his heroic
The coxswain steering the boat points also seat.
Like the child. he fears that his olcer is much
exposed. The boats crew, stranng at their oars,
genuine nautical types; their action Is admira-
BILE, their costumes and expression true to their
employment and to the scene and sensation
OF the moment; every face Is unmistaKably .
seamans; indeed. the painter obtained his
models from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and
In every detail OF rig, uniform, attitude
emblem, &c, he has avaied himself Of the most au-
thentic materials. The boat and its human freight
the right the Niagara making tack TO PICK up the
boat and to assume position to re00mmelce the
smoke The Queen Charlotte, the Lady Provost the
Detroit and Otner vessels. by this arrangements tine
artist has grasped both the individual and general
power to grapple with the subecs Ia Its breadth and
in It's detai g.
with the seeming abundance OF movement. The boat
rises with the swelling water and leaps forward in
response TO Inc efforts OF the sturdy oarsmen; there
Is motion In the sky and the smoke which Is borne
back by the breeze. everything betokenS that the
painter mas thrown lie into his creation Gradually
so perfect Is the harmony OF the whole that the first
desire is to take in the entire features Of the scene
This is a master point in Mr.. Powell's treatment.
The group In the boat is so natural that 1t cannot be
SO successful as when 1t robs nature OF
her truth and throws it on the canvas, as
is the very beau IDEAL Of manly dignity and and
power. Tho position is easy and az tho
same time vigorous, ana shere an nnmls.
tension OF every limo. The face IL an anthem
TIC portrait and displays thas calm. high courage
which capable or acts or the highest devotion and
herosm The boy ia poem, embodylng In his &C
tion and his presence tho sentiment OF aeotion aud
with exquisite refinement touched In this boy AZ
marked contrast TO she other nRurea Now we come
to the old salts whom have mos the space to lndi-
vldualiZe, although each one might well claim par
agraph as separate study for expression. In form
and feature there y distinct Individuality clear
stamps each one as a personality.
The drawing Of these figures is mastery: there are
are bold, vigorous and decided, giving tie idea Of
strength and extraordinary animal vitality. The
broad general eject and the facrod
weather.beaten men are before In all integrity OF
snd the @ Of
scaro shows the clear Judgment and poetic inspira-
ton Of the artist The water Is worthy Of special
notice. In form and color IL ID admirable; its depth
il clear It's surface sparkes above all II has post
tive motion, and this is the subordinate LIE in the
picture giving vitality to the whole.
This brief sketch OF great national work will
present Its prominent points to the attention OF our
treated an mcden. familiar 70 every child. liz has
invested It with poetic and heroic sentiment with
out one touch Of clap-trsp or spread-eagleism. We
satisfied that the boldness OF It's conception to-
gcther with the freedom and vigor OF its execution
Will make II a work which the nation should 90
pleted In the course OF few months, when we ope
that citizens Will have an opportunity OF se env
u before It il removed to Its place In the national
Capitol
Free Art Exhibition mt the Somerville Gallery.
An unusually interesting collection of paintings
to be sold at auction on Monday and Tuesday even
ings next nas been for several days on FREQ
exhibition at the somervile Art Gallery, on
the corner OF Fourteenth street and Fifth avenue.
II embraces number OF fine landscapes by j. N. T.
Van Starkenborgh, N. A., o distinguished artist of
the Dusseldorf school, whose views or the Lake
country in England AS well as whose views OF Ger
man aud Dutch scenery, we have previously taken
occasion to praise, and tine private collection Of
Coomans S%sSsrdp c Maen os Baaqgns
Lamhinet and other foreign artists and by such
American artists as Cropsey, Winsow Homer
LOWS, CASTELAR, and Nicholson. The prevailing
prices at auction Gales are just now discouragngly
low. but they offer tempting opportunities invest
ment, with view either TO permanent possession
or future profit.
THE LAST SAD LAY OF MINsTREI-Last Tues.
day nlgnt nt Q certain resort on Third atreet La.