Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-09-05
THE CENTENNIAL.
The Art GaIIery-The Art Wonders of
the WOrld-A Collection Worthy
Our Civilization and Our
Time.

From an Occasional Correspondent of the
| Appeal
PHILADELPHIA, August 25.-My lssl
wsnderings were through the Centennial
main building; to-day confine them
TO the art gallery or memorial hall,
where the most renowned geniuses OF
the world have placed their choice pro-
auctions; where is garnered the BRAIN
coin of centuries, furnishing to the low
ers Of art mine Of thought Of inestima-
able value, as a means OF storing the
mind with fund Of high and ennobling
reflections, and furnishing q wealth OF
beauty which fills the measure of our
souls. As the public has already been
accommodated with various descriptions
of the hall, repetition would be super
duous. Suffice it to say that it is large,
handsome, white stone building, Of the
modern renaissance design, covering q
space three hundred and sixty-five by
two hundred and ten feet. A colossal
dome surmounts the center, from which
rises the grand figure of Columbia. The
main entrance of the building looks
southwark, each side Of which is orna-
mented by . NEUROLOGICAL reprssen.
tation OF the winged horse of Pegasus;
by the side of each, and refining its rest
less course, is an mathematical female
figure, one representing music, the
other history, Though very
large building, the contrib9.
tons rom American and
foreign artists were 30 greatly in excess
of its capacity as to require the erection
OF more spacious building. This stands
in the rear, and is called the "Annex
to Art Gallery.n Our first entrance is
into the grand central hall, where We
are crested by very pleasing collection
Of ststdary, conspicuous among which is
a very large figure Of the Daughter Of
Zion, weeping over the ruins Of Jerusa.
LEM" With the exception OF a few
work OF the artists of Florence and
Rome. Many OF the handsomest pieces
are by Connolly. His "Thetis, thinking
how She may regain the birthright Of
her son Achilles,h is especially notice
able for it5 beauty. was also attracted
by two well-executed busts of "Jere-
mish" and CLEOPATRA by Miss Foley,
Of Rome. In the United States depart
meDt of oil .painting,T noticed from New
York alone two hundred and twenty
seven beautiful specimens. Many of
cur other cities are also largely repre-
scented. The commonwealth Of Pennsyl-
wanna has an immense painting of the
battle Of Gettysburg" by Rothermel,
Of Philadelphia. On contemplating this |
scene Of carnage, old wounds, such |
as we have been years in healing, |
bleed sfresh, and the mind OF every
southerner is flooded with a. host |
Of bitter recollections, such as |
we would gladly consign to their graves. |
think the commissioners would have |
acted wisely in rejecting ali works cal
culated to resgrrect the heartburnings
incident TO our civil war, as large pro-
portion OF their patronage is from the
south. Among the collections loaned
by Pope Plus TX Is Raphael's "Madon-
ma" In mosaic, which Is Of great value
as q work OF wonderful art. "The Mar.
tyrdom OF st. Agnes" in tapestry, is
also very fine, its harmonious finish
causing many to mistake IL for hand.
some oil painting. France has q large,
collection Of paintings.
sculpture, tapestry and Eevres porcelain.
Amidst this profusion of mastery pro.
auctions it is difficult to make q selec.
tion OF the most attractive, but two de.
signs, full of character and feeling, are
calculated to chain the attention and
fssten themselves upon the mind, Onel
e Faust and Margaret" by Barn; the
other "Rizpah Protecting the Bodies of ,
1ef Seven Sons from the Birds of Preyu
III Samuel, xii, 10l. This is by Beck ,
sr, and Is ole Of the most striking pic
ures have ever seen. The desperate
md sorrowing mother stands In front of
he bodies of her seven lifelsss sons, and
battles with an enormous Is
,ulture which is seeking to tear the g
lesh from the victims IS they hang !
Ipon the rough gallows behind her. The