New-York tribune., 1874-10-13
FINE AKTS-MUSIC-DRAMA
WALKERS LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.

The most important battle piece ever painted
.n America Yesterday placed on view In tho Som
erville Gallery Fifh-ave. The BATTLE OF Lookout
Mountain by Mr. James Walker is very large picture,
30 feet by 49, and much larger by reason Of It's
clear and crowded rush OF incident and grouping.
IL is an entirely new sort battle picture There
mono of that dramatic fury and action with which We
familiar 10 the works OF those great artists VINO
have fight, but who speak to the imsgns-
ton through broken cassons rearing horses, agonzng
death wounds, and mechanical bayonet charges. This
Ia almost Photographic picture OF the whole field
over which Gen. Hooker made his famous movement Or
the Gath OF September Tho moment chosen Is that
when Col Reynolds Chief OF Artillery to Gearys CORPS
comes to report to Gen. Hooker. The field s already
The troops have gained the crest Of the mountain
and turned the flank Of the Robe positions The Confed
in full flight down the steep slope OF the hill
They are destroying railroad. blowing tho ON
bankment retreatng rapidly steward the open cut
by which lies their only door OF escape. On the LEFT
bank OF Chattanooga Creek long line OF skirmsncrs IN
harassing tho flying squads IN gray. All this
singularly well indicated by light and delicate touches
distinguished much by their force as their reserve
violation of proper atmospheric perspective
In the effort TO paint things mile away as clearly az
those in the foreground. But no Important detail IL
omitted In the whole field and the imagination IL
left supply at will the scenes OF blood ana horror
which be taking place under that thin blush ine
Of powder smoke which stretches from the valley 10 ho
mountain top only broken by the white cloud when
grds the great hill midway like scarf ana h'ue' o"o
half the column from tho other.
Tn the the chi valrous figure OF FightiDg
Joe Hooker prominent object, although even
here the painter rigdly subordiDated everything 10
the general He has made striking portrait OF
the General horseback but has not drawn him out OF
proportion with surroundings. Behind him bis stan
are riding grouped with sufficient ease ana variety ana
presenting an unusually interesting series OF portraits
from life On the left the artillery is coming rapidly
forward aud large body OF troops In motion mas rarey
been painted with more fidelity to nature anu mOro
skiful and spirited action In front Mr. Walker has
drawn a battalion OF supporting iDisatry, anu mas
boldly and with excellent effect painted them only from
the waist up This defiance Of high traditions but
the result justiies the innovation. They are reai
bearded burned boys In blue, with genuine soldier
clothes as different from holiday garb OF the mill
tiaman as can we'll be imagined Their ATTITUDES a"u
the Carriage Of their heads and shoulders are 80
and satisfactory that you cease " regret 'ne "
their martial legs.
The landscape Mr. Walker has painted would form an
excellent picture IL the figures were erased In
fact 1t would be scarcely possible not to make some
thing pleasing of representation OF that wonderful
hill and valley. The crest OF the mountain like
an antique helmet, and the long unduatng line OF th'
range sopng of into the dim blue distance the wooded
banks of the stream zgzagging through the valley ahd
the cunp of sandhs the left stripped bare for the
convenience Of the artillery present scene OF varied
magniHcence rarely found united in single view. Tho
point from which 1t is painted is Bald Hill. and the eye
takes in the entire wide sweep OF mountain valley
| and river from the Tennessee TO the distant
hills where the Creek OF Chattanooga has is
source The scene painted with that firm and con-
scientous simplicity which characterizes the treatment
of the battle There make sympa-
;Gse with the great historic deed which is beng
wrought out under the shadow Of Lookout Mountain.
It Is somewhat lowering American day. no different
from thousands which have begun and ended there be'
fore the time OF Columbus and since. 1t only IN tho
pictures of highly imaginative artists that the air and
sky have those quick poetic sympathies Mr. walkers
strong point is evidently not his imagination Dut
sincere purpose and energetic will to represent great
events which precisely as they occurreH n
this case he may be congratulated upon richly dc
served success.