, 1873-08-10
THE ARMITAGE PICTURE.

chicago by tho managers Of tho London Graphfo.
commemorative Of tho Tiro and the subseouent
lavish assistance sont from England to tho suf-
ferors, has arrived In tho city, and is now on o.
hlbition at tho art Gallery, corner Of Michigan
avenue and Van Buren, street. As q graceful
suggestion Of English sympathy and good
wishos, and as q souvenir Of that disastrous
tino whom Chicago Was tho worlds ponBtonor.
thia picture is invested with IN historical intor-
ost, aud tho mannor Of it's treatment and tho
largo scope Of its design show that tho artist In
tended to mako Lis work of historical
character, md has painted ii with roforonce to
tho future rathor tl1an for tho moro PURPOSES of
exhibition, or to gratffy the curiosity OF Nh art
gallery 1onngor or connofssour.. Whatoyor 1nay
bo itB distinctive artistic character, therefore,
tho friendly spirit which suggested tho gift and
tho associations which cluster about It, demand
TINT Its final location shall bo one Of Justice to
tho picture, OF convenience to tho public; and OF
Certainty aa to its preservation! Tho sublime
htory which ia told on tho canvas will noyor
grow Old while tho picture rematns to boar its
Silent witneas Of generous English hoarts, It
doeorvoa placo OF honor and prominence, whore
tile story may be read for all tho yoars to como,
IL ie always m unR1acoful net to look " q gift
horse in the mouth, but in this instanco decis-
ion upon tho artistic mor1.B Of tho picture can-
not affect the graceful oharaotcr Of tho presonta-
ton, or tho good focling manifested by tho artist
and the proprictors Of the Graphic. Tomost poo-
plo, and especially to connoiaacurs, tho picture,
in an artistic acnao, will prove disappointment,
LII its design, tho artist has shown appreciation
OF lofty ideal; in tho execution Of that design.
however, ho has not boon 80 fortunate. Tho
story is vol told. Tho partially nude figure ro-
cllnlng in tho foreground, supported by two
Other ngures representing, respectively, Col.m-
bla and BRITANNIA, is tho proBtrate Chi
cago. sho roBts her hoad upon Column
bla, and tho loft nrm is thrown over
oolumbia'n kneo, in very painful position,
bringing tho shoulder out in q short, angular
maunor.. Columbia holds in her hand q Gun
Which ohoago has just drnined, and Britannia
nends over hor, as If watching to ECO hor revive.
At tue loft OF Columbia, the Eag1o sits bolt up-
r1ght, and looking away as II not ut all Interested
III tho acono. aud, on tho right Of Dritaunia, tho
Lion is couchcd, looking into tho distance with q
very storm aud strong glare At tho oxtromo
right OF tho picture, the city in burning, It's
binoko obscurlng about one-lalf Of tho Hky
and at tho oxtremo left is niue forest.
n hastily skotcled foreground relieved
hero md thero with clunnpB Of pinks
and caoti, completes tho picture. Tho original
conception Of tho artist Was Bomowhat different,
ns ID shown by tho photograph which was aont
nero Tor inspection some months ago. As fret
painted, tho figure Of Chicago was entirely nude.
Tho slight drapory which now covers her was
added at tho suggestion Of some of the fino-art
connotaHoura of tho Common Council. whom
modesty was shocked and tho result Ia that tho
drapo1y ia now much moro suggestive than
anything about the original figure. It
is evident that tho paintor has hal
somo Difficulty in arranging it, having first
painted the figure without reference to it. md
tho purpose for which the drapo.y has been
added strikes the eye at once In the first
sketch, also, tho flguro Of Columbia WAS profror-
ing tho cup to Chicago, and tho Eagle was watch
Ing the operation as If quito interested in
it. Tho expressions aud drapories Of Brit
annta ind Columbia we're also materially
different. The foreground was entirely
unreliovod, and tho loft Of tho picture
was filled with shipping, representing English
commerce, instead OF tho pino forest which resl-
ly disfguroa tho prosont work. Considered as
a whole. the first sketch WAS bottor than tho
second, not that tho story waa told any more
graphically, but tho troatment was moro careful
As often happens, tho frat thought Was tho beat
one.
The interest OF tho picture contres in tho three
figures, and first Of all in Chicago The criti-
cis1n Of this figure might bo summed up in tho
romark that Chicago is q bettor-lookng woman
than the artist has painted. Thore is good color
Oh tho losh, but tho figure ia masculine in its
1fract. Tho beautiful swoop OF ono Of tho arms
ia loat by tho painfully hard manner
IN which 1t lungs, forcing tho shoulder
almost up to the car. Tho lines
IT tho body are not tho bcautifully-roundod |
'nryos VIC expect to aeo in an idoal fomalo Geure.
The muscles aro flat and tho hips and li,nbs COM
oact and strong, rather than rounded and pliont.
Only ono Of tho foot is yiHiblo, md this part}y.
out 1t ia 30 broadly out Of drawing "a to DO pan
'ul. Estimating tho longth of tho foot from its !
width, 1t would be half the 1ongth OF tho limb |
tself. Tho figure Of Columbia is better drawn. |
'us If the Unitod Stntos had had no moro con- |
'orn Tor tho fato Of Chicago than ita representa-
ivo in this picture, hard would have boon tho |
ate OF poor Chicago. Tho face B q cold, hard,
'xproasionloss ono tho face Of hIodea,
Columbia apparently las no moro interest
n the: prostrate, collapsed figure beforo
'or than tito stupid fowl ut hor sido. The dra-
'orioa do not lolp, tho figure much. They arc
- sAAoo AoH ~SAO49l HA4lA w 4Alll1Uu1ZQ NCu
nd thoir o1foct is killed by tho laminc brick
olor OF Dritannia's robo near by. The uso of
llo American flag Us a sort Of nook-tio for Co.
nmbia Is pleasant sop thrown to American
or 1t may bo quiet bit of satire;
nut it rominds ono altogether too forcibly Of the
onntry girl who ridoB In political chariots, ar
ayoa In tho rod, white, and bluc, to save
llo country ut Presidential elootions Tho
guro Of BRITANNIA Inns pleasant faco
nd III IN graceful attitude, but has
ono of that matornal amplitude which should
the AIothor Country. Tho right up
cr ann, In it's dyapory indeod, Ia na broad rs
or chest. The figure, Aowoyor, wonld 10 M Of
eotlvo ono wore 1t not for tho flaming color Of
lo robe to which wo havo alluded, which ia
,ado all tho more pronounced by tho English
oat-of"arms worry prominently painted OH tho
roaat, reminding tho spectator forcibly Of tho
alao rampant lion and unicorn which figure 10
xtonaiyoly upon Apools Of ulrcad md Jars Of
fckloH. Noillor this device nor tho American.