National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-06
Morse's Picture, THE House Of Representa-
tiyes."


Very few persons, comparatively, are aware
that Professor Samuel T. b. Morse, known
throughout the civilized world as the inventor Of
the electric telegraph was, previous TO its inTen-
tIon, almost equally celebrated in this country.
and we'll known in European artistic circles, Is
ticuisriy Of portraits. It was while he was
actively engaged in painting that he employed
nis Leisure noSrs us IN ~ aIn TsSI Deg
lessor Morse was pupil Of West and Washing
ton Allston, under whom he studied In Europe.
Upon mis- return to this country he extensively
engaged in portrait painting and in lecturlng.
Among the most successful and we'll known OF his
works are the Gallery Of the Louvre" and The
House Of Representatives" . historical painting,
which Is now on exhibition At the Corcorau Art
Gallery. For the purpose Of painting this picture
couragement from the President and other ON
cialB, who rendered him ehetent aid, the Omo9r1
sbSnds h SSeS is tsprsssnssd IN the pSInsiSE.
especially FOR his use, for many consecutive even
inES. Mr.. Morse obtained the use Of q room at
the Capitol, where he secured slttings rom mem
bers. Writing TO . friend January :, 1872, he an
nouneed that he had that day commenced taking
the IikeneSses OF the members and that he found
them not only willing to sit, bu' apparently
he painted eighty distinct portraits from
life OF these members OF Congress-, and en-
braeed them all In his painting. This picture "a
not only valuable IS containing the portraits OF
oil ne mSr ne wor r az ~ ~ M. ~
q remarkable record Of the industry and psrso-
yerance Of Its author.
The following description appearedin the Daily
Graphic OF May %, 1873:
TIn the studio OF D. Huntington Is q most inter
'sSS SssSf .Ss SaDss rs
feet by eleven feet, and represents the old House
Of Representatives at the hour Of lighting. In
sI ps eSTaS negro Z turning up the IrEsnd
burners, which are evidently Of interest, as the
gIGu2 on the platform, among Msom are story
tered among the seats and around the room are
the members talking together, and one with his
In the half gloom Of the gallery are sew
eral persons, one Of whom ts Morse, the
geogrSRher and father Of the professors
also Professor Silliman and an Indian
princess. There Is the greatest fidelity In tho
painting Of the room, and what renders the pic
ture still more valuable is the fact that the faces
EThe Key to the picture cannot be found, but the
faces Of number have been recognized as those
OF Chief Justices Marshall and Story, stephen
Van Rensselaer,, Governor Tomlnsonr Of Con
nectieut; Gales and SeatOn, OF the NGtlonaI IN
these heads were made by Prof Morse in Wash
fngtOn and Afterwards were stolen, some OF them
finally finding their way into private corrections,
where they now are The aim OF the artist seems
| to have been to present a true picture Of tho
| House at that time rather than to attempt any
thing PleSuIssqtE : 70 rs hiStoricsi ntsrssf Ths
| COSTUMES are those Of that time when gentlemen
wore rufied shirts and white ties. There is little
attempt At composition. The groups are arranged
in broken lines, but the effect Of the whole Is
little stiH The low, rich tones, the crimson and
warm grays are very agreeable. The perspective
is good, and the painting especially of the col
umns, is very solidly DONE For its historical &C
curacy, its portraits, its representation Of the
costumes and the appearance OF the old House OF
Representatives; for its rendering of phase OF
our national life now passed away, as we'll as
from the fact that 1t Is the work OF one OF the
fathers Of American art, and one OF the most
illustrOus of Americans it deserves place In the
National Capitol, and none could be more aPPrYY-
pirate than that same room It pictures, Whien u
| now fitted up for public gallery. -,
| Perhaps no single picture in THIS county hss
had as much labor and care bestowed upon ~ as
| the House of Representatives. IL proTea loss
/ to Mr. Morse peeuniarily, and was sotl " an
i English gentleman, who TOOK It ~ Ensish ~,
where II received marked and deserved notice. In
is47 il was retained to this country and was pur-
chased by A wsll-knOWn painter OF New NOrk
In h somewhat singular that this picture, which
Is both national in design and character, shoald
Il have been allowed to have remained Tor so long
Derfod in the possession OF private gentleman.
i It's proper place is in the old Hall OF Repre-
sentstiyes which it represents, and those having
prOuer authority should see to Il that II Is place1
/ Tbcre it properly belongs.