National Republican., 1877-04-28
ART
Draw Poker on Canvas,

Mrs. shorb's Incompatible picture, 10 which
attention has been directed BY previous brief
mention In the press and private circles, 10 .
novelty In art rarely met with. Tho conception
10 ~ peculiar a. It Is original, not thas It 10
claimed to be mastss.piece Of painting, but the
idea is Instructive and amusing to degree A
picture may be admirably painted, and yet fall to
secure response from those who view II, either
critically or otherwise. Ono Of tho chief merits
ofart is to smuse as we'll as to instruct, and a.
the better side OF human nature Is that which
betrays pleasure, the artist who succeeds in
svoking Il through the medium OF tho canvas,
secures great triumph.
The picture represents large and elegantly
caparisoncd-room, suoh as might be fousd In the
houses OF any Of our wollto-do citizens either as
study or dining room. At, or rather upon table,
covered with crimson cloth, q very absorbing and
exciting game of"draw pokerr ito use the Aneri.
can vornseular) is progressing. The players are
neither gamblers nor politicians professional nor
unproiessonal, tyres nor adopts, but these
characters are all tipihek birds, with ngsre and
plumags perfectly repre- sthted as in life and the
grouping and attitude OF each assert moral.
From ier 10 right are presented In their order
the pigeon, the owl. the crow, the parrot and the
hawk, while above tho group, high renewed from
all contact but in supervising attitude, Is perehed
tho oookAtoo, head on side to catch better birds.
eys Wow oi tne situhtion.
This situation is peculiar, but no more or less
90 than the varied fortunes the exciting game
commonly produce. The pigeon, typical Of the
"plu eked," has either by fair or foul means sue.
eeeded In acquiring "four hi Rs;" the owl and
crow have evidently been raised or have yolup.
tarily "passed out," and the subsequent pro.
seedlings are to them those only Of passive inter.
sst-no mere The parrot has in emulation Of
oled BY the stump orator, made a larSe t.blufir,
on pair OF dsscss; but the hawk, which, as the
prevers goes. does not peek cut hawks e'sn,''
has been laying In walt with four pronsunsed
straight aush" is an "invinoIbio." Of course,
S a has d
and falls victim TO tho hawk, who stands, not a
Tenny:Sn says, with his foot on the prey"
ssp. ~ checks, secure ID the invnoiSiity Of his
There is no "faieon towering in his pride Of
Tor SSth the owl .Ss croM ss1. M ssS
mined that the better part OF yaior Is discretion,
% a iIr!sI which the g.6bling parrot has not yet
sI.Sn,, dSss and, and %SCrsd upon 4: marble
tended nd ~ !, I've Ssiicsteiy formed glassss
less reveal some dement's; but taken as whole,
10 null Of life. produced By artistic blending Oh
stoo Is in Itself work u art Vastly SUPERIOR to
All the others, and must be taken as indicative Of
the ABILITY OF the painter to faithfully and graphi
oally represent animal life
This is ono OF tho pictures which may not be
accurately or properly described. II must be
seen TO bo appreciated, for no one can understand
It's merits, whether eonnotsssur or otherwise, un.
less viewed and examined. IT'S the nrst ooncep-
tive effort Of the artist, and being lady II is
matter Of wonder how she hit upon this "human"
suolectior, aner all 4 is an anegorioal painting
purely American. The picture Is as national as
the stars and Stripes, and not To betunders by
the uninitiated. For those educated In American
games and their common practices and indul.
Eences tho picture speaks volumes. To those
who know nsthing OF our provincialisms Il 10 fine
and beautiful study. Tho Engiishman knows
All.fours and Otibbase, tho French Piquet, Eo.
arte, .aufquenet and Rouge-etnoire; the Ger
man " an adept In Zolo-Iochsiech, PeanuckIe
and Withstand other various nations have various
prevails the game OF Poker. 1t Is sui osnsris.
This picture ought to be commemorated in q
nrst;olass shromo, and for decorative purposes Of
tho dining or card.room would prove d great nc
quisition. 1t may bo bad morals to thus euiogire
the counterfeit presentment Of game Of Poker
but when tho picture Is considered In its allie
gorical bearings the benent 10 obvious. The
hawks prey upon tho weaker birds, Just as the
big nsh eat up the little ones, whether at Poker
politics, love, fame or religion.
THs OLD Keystone State would seem to
need reform. The peniten,isriss arc so full