The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-12
Tho War Painting.
others.

NEW lORk, Oct. ~, 1874.
General Henry, Chairman Of The Commit.
tee on Claims, etc., Montpelier, fremont.
My DEAR SiR:--A note from Mr.. Julian
Scott this week informs me that the bill
increasing his compensation beyond the
contract price for bis military historical
painting illustrative of the valor of Yer
mont troops in the late war, Is before your
committee, aud asks me to make brief
statement of the facts of the making of
the contract The act Of 1870, Cor rather
the Joint resolution). authorized the gov
ernor to employ Mr.. Scott to execute such
a painting for the state, without fixing any
limitation as to price. | understood, how
ever, from MIR. Scott, who was at our CAPT.
toll at that time, that he could paint such
picture for five thousand dollars. know,
also. that the friends of the project had
the same understanding Of the probable
cost of the work.
Mr.. Scott stated that lie had made many
sketches and gathered much material which
he could use in such painting, and some
of the sketches, ! think, were exhibited at
Montpelier. 1t was then my impression
that he would select his own field and sub
ject, his general knowledge of the subject
and artistic sense being, as thought, safe
guides to a judieious selection. No such
selection of a subject was made at that
time, the matter being left open for confer
encc. During the ensuing winter, at the
reunion in Rutland, the officers present
vOtcl | think unanimously in recommend
alton OF the battle of Cedar Creek rs the
most appropriate subject ,inasmuch as there
were emerged in that battle n large force of
Vermont troops, and in its very striking
and triumphant conclusion of the disaster
and apparent defeat under Sheridan's mag
netc leadership, the battle itself was one
of the most important and dramatic of the
war. OF course could not, even if SO
disposed overrule the deliberately express
cd judgment of the great majority of those
gentlemen who were actors in the war, and
Cedar Creek was chosen in due time as the
theme of the painter.
When the terms of the contract came up
for discussion, some time after the choice
of subject was made, told Mr.. Scott that
under The circumstances attending the pas
sage of the resolution. and in the light of
the declarations he had made to himself
and Others. limiting the cost of his work TO
$1,000, did not feel authorized TO agree
on the part of the state. to exceed that
sum. even though the resolution itself i'm
posed no limit, and although | had then
become well satisfied that he could not af-
ford to give us such a work on the theme
selected, as he had proposed. | frankly
told him so. He thought and said, that
inasmuch as the vote of the officers had
given him subject which rendered most
Of his material useless, and that he had not
the pccuniary means To complete it. he
feared, | should agree to give him $4,000,
wnich he said and thought was none too
much Tor such painting as he proposed to
gi &c us if well and conscientiously done. but
| declined to change the figures, because,
however honestly mistaken he might have
been in his first proposal, | knew and he
knew that the resolution was drawn out,
offered and carried, upon his first estimate
of cost, and he must therefore trust to the
fairness of subsequent legislature to cor
rect the error. 1t is due to Mr.. Scott to
add that he fully acknowledged the pro-
priety of my view, and the contract was
closed on my terms. | did not hesitate to
express to him my confidence, that when
his work should be done, and as | doubted
not would be well done, the people of YER
mont would, through their representatives,
do what would be right in the premises. l
have unfortunately not seen the painting,
and, therefore, cannot express any opinion
as to its merits as a work of art If, how
ever, it is, as understand from those who
have seen it. fine work of art, and salts
factorily illustrative of the part taken by
our men in the war, then / am sure that
Mr.. Scott should receive such additional
compensation as shall remuncrate him for
his labor.
Other states have paid much larger sums
for similar paintings. OF course you I'M
derstand | do not write this as Mr.. SCOTS
advocate, but to give you briefly a state
ment of my official relation to the subject.
so far as is germane to your inquiry |
never made any formal official report, be-
cause was out Of office long before the
work was completed. and the law does not
provide for report in such cases.
Very sincerely yours.
j. w. STEWART