The New York herald., 1872-12-10
BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE"
MIR. William III. Powelrs Painting and
the Statements Regarding It's Compile
tion-TAc Payments Made-A Correc-

MIR. William H. Powell's Painting and
the Statements Regarding Its Complc-
tion-TAc Payments Made-A Correc-
tiOn.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In the Washington correspondence OF the HERALD
Sunday morning an allusion is made to Mr.. Will
liam II. Powell's painting OF the 'Battle of Lake
Erie" as ordered by Congress- few years since.
and designed to be placed in a panel over the
broad stairs leading to the Senate chamber at the
Capitol In the paragraph 1t is asserted that the
artist has already been engaged on the picture
eight years. and received $4,000 out of
$4,000 agreed to be paid for the great
work in various instalments. and that sum,
already handed him, Is more than commensurate
for the amount OF labor bestowed upon it up to this
time. 1t is also intimated that Mr.. Powell has
been purposely negligent in finishing the picture,
1t being his object to leave 1t in its present state in
order to more readily obtain further payments, the
amounts OF which are named. 1t Is then stated
that the unfinished picture Is now in the basement
OF the CAPITOL rolled up like piece Of oilclOth.
To these assertions and insinuatiOns Mr.. Powell
briefly answers in this wise THAT the statement
that he has been engaged upon the picture eight
years Is not the fact, as the time OF CON-
mencing the work is but little over
been consumed it would not be too long period
when the extraordinary character OF the painting
is taken into consideration, It's proportions being
colossal, thirty feet long and twenty feet in height
the largest oil painting in America.
The second statement, that Mr., Powell has re-
ceived, at various times $22 900 OF the sum appro-
priated is not the fact, as the payments made will
not exceed between $4,000 and $4,000 III he had
received however, the sum stated 1t would in his
Judgment and that OF other artists, scarcely be
half Of the value OF the picture In its present
condition.
The next statement, that Mr.. Powell was ex-
pected to put the finishing touches on the picture
last summer, and, neglecting to do so, is answered
by the fact that he held here in the city by do
mestic atlctions Of no ordinary nature. He was
by the bedside OF his dying wife for months, and,
In addition to her great loss, the burial OF
favorite son, disqualified him for the work which
he expected then to do.
But Mr. Powell Is now ready to proceed
to Washington in order to finish the
painting as soon as such arrangements can be
made with the Congressional Committee that will
enable him to do so. The picture is far advanced
that It will require but two or three months to
fully complete 1t. From the inception of the work
Mr.. Powell has labored earnestly and zealously to
make the "Batte OF Lake Erie" something worthy
OF American art. Every faculty which he possessed
was centred upon this object, although, so far
his pecuniary interests may nave been concerned,
IL would, no doubt have been better had he con-
sidered less the requirements OF art and more the
strict limitation of time as the all-important con-
dition OF his engagement. w. H. POWELL.
As EAST TwENTY-SECOND STREET.