National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-28
BATTLE PICTURES.
WALKER,s LoOKoIJT MOIINTa

WALhEhS LOOhOUT MOUNTAIN. p
The most important battle-pie ever painted
in America was recently placed In the SomerTiIle
gallery, New York. In describing It the New
York TrfbTzs says: s'The Battle OF Lookout
Mountain, by Mr.. James Walker, Is a very large
picture, 80 feet by 10, and seems much larger by
reason Of its clear air and crowded rush Of Incl
dent and grouping. 1t is an entirely new sort Of
battle-picture. There is none or that dramatic
fury and action with which We are familiar In the
works Of those great artists who have never seen
light, but who speak to the imaginAtio n through
broken eaissons, rearing horses, agoniEing death
wounds, and mechanical bayonet charges. This
is an almost photographic picture OF the whole
held over which Gen. Hooker made his lannon's
movement of the oath Of September, 1858. The
moment chosen is that when Col. Reynolds, ehisf
q artillery TO Gearys corps, comes to report 70
aThe field is already won. The troous have
gained the crest Of the mountain and turned the
han Z o. 81, me rebel positions The Contederates
They are destroying the railroad, blowing M the
emoankment and retreating rapidly toward the
open cut By which lies their only door OF escape
On the LETT bank Of Chattanooga creek a lonRlfue
Of skirmishers In blue are harassing the dying
squads in gray. All this is singularIy well ind.
Gated by light and delicate touches distinguished
as much By their force as their reserve There e
no violation Of proper atmospheric perspective 10
me effort TO paint things mile away q clearly
tan is omitted In the WhsIe vast heid, ana the
imagination Is LEFT free TO supply &c viii he
scenes Of blood and horror which must be taking
place under that thin blush line of Smol-
which stretches from the valley to the mounkafn
TOP, only broken BY the white cloud which girds
the great hill midway ike scarf and hides one
hall the column from the other. 's9-1I n -.
"1n the foreground the ehlvalrous figure Of
t1ghting Joe Hooker Is the most prominent OBJ
lect, although even here the painter has rigtdly
subordinated everything 10 the general effect
DE has made striking portrait or the General
on horseback, but has not drawn him out Of pro
proportion with his surroundings. Behind him
his staff are riding, grouped with suhacient ease
ana variety, and presenting IN unusually inter-
esting series Of portraits from life. On the LETT
the artillery Is coming rapidly forward, and ,
large body Of troops IN motion has rarely BEEN
painted with more fidelity to nature and more
Skiliiul and spirited action. In mont, Mr..
Walker has drawn . battalion of supporting In
fantry, and has boldly and with excellent effect
painted them only from the waist up. This ls in
defiance Of high traditions but the result justihes
the innovation. They are real, bearded, sun
burned boys in blue. with genuine
as different from the holiday sarb Of the militia
and the carriage Of Their heads and Shouiders
are so natural and satisfactory that you cease 70
regret the absence OF their martial legs.
form an excellent picture even II the figures were
erased. In fact, it would be scarcely possible not
to make something pleasing Of any representa-
crest Of the mountain, Ike an antique helmet,
and the long undnlating line Of the range slop-
ing of into the dim blue distance, the wooded
ley, and the clump Of Sand-hills on the left
stripped bare for the convenience Of the artillery,
present scene Of varied mRgnineence rarely
found united in single view. The point from
which It Is painted e Bald Hill, and the eye
takes in the entire wide sweep Of mountain val
ley and river from the Tennessee TO the distant
hills where the Greek Of 0hattanO0gs has its
source. The scene is painted with that hrm and
conscientious simplicity which eharaeterizes the
treatment Of the battle.
''There is no effort 70 make nature sympathlEe
with the great historic deed which is being
wrought out under the shadow Of Lookout Noun
tain. 1t is q somewhat lowering American day,
no different from thousands which have begun
and since 1t is only in the pictures Of highly
imaginative artists that the afr and sky have
those quick poetic sympathies. Mr.. Walkers
strong point Is evidently not bis imagination, bat
q sincere purpose and energetic VIII to represent
great events which he has seen precisely as they
occurred. In this case he may be congratulated
upon richly-deserTed suesess.p
scorT's CEDAR CREEK.
Julian Seott's painting Of the BATTLE Of Cedar
Greek, "a commission from the State Of Vermont
ordered in eommemoration OF fight in the war
ofthe rebellion, where the volunteer sOldiery Of
that State distinguished themselves,) which has
engaged the artists attention for three years
lington during the recent soldiers reunien In
that city. In q notice Of the picture the Free
PfeSs and Times Of Burlington says: sThose who
saw and admired Mr.. Julian Seotts picture Of
the battle Of Cedar Greek, while on exhibition at
City Hall during the soldiers reunion, should see
IL now, after the artist has spent many days Of
aIduous labor in putting on the finishing touches.
The figures seem to have received expression and
life und the whole scene has ASSUMED 4 ViVidness
that Is marvellous. To have seen the picture
then, and see It now, Is one Of the best llustra-
tons Of an artists most delicate work and won
canvas we have ever seen. There are stfil many
little points TO which NJ Scott will give atten-
ton before the painting Is pronounced ready for