New-York tribune., 1879-01-10
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES ALLsToN. BY ". r SWEET
sER l2mo PIP 40 Hurd, Houghton' u CO.
hn

IN d
umong the lovers Of literature and art. Hitherto no
adaonate biography OF the usrious painter has made
him famary known to readers OF the present geher"
uou but the traditions OF his fame still fresh IN the
intellectual circles OF American society ana are cher
shcd as among nobost illustrations of the progress
Of the country in culture and refinement Inc ske'ho oA
Mr Astons life contained IN this volume is OF an u-
pretendn ing character and too brief in Its detas 10 uo
fu Justice the subject; but 1t Is written Ill iH"'
apprcciative spirit and presents ialthlh poI'l''
though IN miniature Of the early pioneer OF Ane'i'"i
art. -,
weshinston Auston vas born on the 9TH Of November
i77q in the District OF Waccamaw South Carolina INC
family fIom which he descended was uis'iDEuls"oU
among the planters who a century ago HNeu !" o'
on.a state that sequesteTOS peninsula FROM "'S
earliest years. he remarkable for his nervous anu
active temperament his quick senslOlity ana MS Peco
cious intellect He began TO draw before he was SiN
years old. Indulging Ills childish anclcs III INV
landscape and flowers and plants OF the nellhD"
hood His taste still stronger for the Wu anu mar
yellous Gchghunx in the negro stories ot WITCHES anu
hays with winch his sensitive Imagination was feEaeu
Upon reaching his seventh year he was sent by the
adyce of the family ply ysciau to the North IN oider
that his health might he recruited 10y more prachga AT
than that Of the Carolina lOwlands ana that He ms"'
enjoy the advantages for education which could not 10
found in his native The excellent schools OF Nt"
por were IN great favor at with the Southern
pauters and OF these selected as the best pace
for Young AIston. He carried with INN his loNe oI
making pictures. to which lie probably more de-
voted than TO the studies Of the school He was as
tinguished Gmoug his playmaics for his quick ana
almost fiery spirit and ms daring courage hstoh mere
formed the friendship with William Henry Channlng
and Richard II. Dana which for many years was coh-
spicuous aud beautiful feature of his life He entered
Harvard College in 1896. where he at once manifested
his genius botn for painting and poetry. HIS leisure
hours we've chiefly devoted TO the pencil, TO the cOpo
ston equally OF figures and Landscape. During lis
college course he became intimate with Mabone, VINO
Ranked the first miniature painter IN the country
ana whose Acquaintance he had previously hddc At Nc"
port. Upon leaving college in regular course, De
FASTENED south to Charleston, where Mabonc had al
ready established himself and pursuing his art with
signal success. In the following May us0D, Alston
embarked for England in company with Malbone, VINO
returned to Charleston few months alter ana the TWO
nrtist-friends never met again
soon after his arrival London Alston was received
with great kindness by West. who then President OF
the Royal Academy and began his work by drawing
from the plaster cass that Institution But the huge
paintings Of West appear to have made no impression on
HIM and the academic precision of London was without
meaning his mind until be was initiated into the glory
OF higher art by the magic colorinS Of Venice Inc
rare culture and deli chtful conversation OF the young
Carouian his admission TO the best literary ana
artistic circles OF London. and his subsequent rcmins
rences tropoan life full of interest and attraC
uon. He was 4 great favorite with his professional
brethren but ms social engagements were not allowed
than two years with great assiduity.
In the Autumn Of lsO3 Alst0n made visit to the
Netherlands, and afterward TO Paris. remaining Tor
several months in French capital where. as he sad
Of himself he worked IKE stmcc chaDic." The Louvre,
at this time, contained the choicest treasures OF
European art, such the nOblest works of
Raphael and Titan, the masterpieces of Mu-
rlo,-ihe richest specimens OF German and Batayidn
art which had been tom from the churches ana
palaces The magnificent gallery made novel and
profound impression the mind OF the poetcal artist
Titan TntOret. and Paul Veronese' he writes, alb
tOutey enchanted me- for they took away all sense Of
subject. When stood before the Peter Martyr, the
Miracle OF the Slave, and the Marriage OF Cana,
/ thought Of nothing but OF the gorgeous con-
cert Of cOOrs or rather OF the indefinite
forms Il cannot call them sensations OF pleasure
with which they filed the imagination. II was the poe
try OF color which felt provocative in its nature CIV
iDg birth TO a thousand things which the eye cannot see
and distinct from their did not, however, stop
10 unalyze fceHngsperhsps al that time could not
have done IT, content with my pleasure, without
seeking the cause"
After his brief soourn Paris, Mr. AstOn visited the
scenery Switzerland his way Italy. lie enjoyed
the kcenes pleasure from the contemplation Of its love
illness and subDity. lie crossed the Lake OF LuceInc
and then went the ST. GOthard Pass to Bcllnzona
and the exquisite lakes of Northern Italy. "Thc I'M
prcssons left by the sublime scenery OF Italy, he writes
many years after, ARE still fresh to this day new
world had been opened to mc-nor bave met with any
thing like II since passed night, and saw the
sunrise on the Lake Maggiore. Such sunrise! The
giant Alps seemed literally rise from their purple
beds and putting their crowns of gold 10 send up a
haIelujah almost audible"
Mr. Alston arrived Rome in March, 1905, and
passed four in the dligent study of his art He
was profoundly moved by the contemplation othc great
masterpieces He approached them in spirit OF rever
ince rarely exercised by ambitious yOdnS men. had
father see picture he said, which could not equal
Than one which could surpass In after years he eX
pressed the same sentiment in different words. mad
rather second painter in the world than the frst
because could then have some one 10 admire and look
AZ TO-" The society of Rome accessible to the yOung
artist at that time included number or eminent per-
sons Besides Washington Irving. Fcnimore Cooper,
Vanderyn, Turner, and ThOrwaldsen, with whom Mr..
AllstOn intimate. there distinguished group
gathered around William Humboldt, the PTusslan
Minister; Alexander Won Humboldt who had just re-
turned from his South American travels Baron Won
Schubert the Danish Envoy Cardinal Fsch Of the Nea
poltan Legation. who figured IN the artistic circles Of
the city Madame de stdGl, A. W. schegel, and Sis
mOudi.
The fascination which Allston exercised all around
him foicDly described by Washington Irving Il do not
Think saws Irving who him for the first time III the
Spring OF 500 have been completely cap
tivatcd on a first acquaintance. He Of light and
graceful FORM with large blue eyes and black silken
hair waving aud curling round pale expressive cOun-
tenance. Everything about him spoke the man OF intel
lec and refinement. HIS conversation copious,
Imated, and gh.y graphic warmed by genial scnsi-
bIlity and bcucvOoucc and euhyCned at times Dy
enaste and gentle humor lie exquisitcly
sensitive 70 the graceful and the beautiful, and took
great delight IN paintings which eXeecl IN color yet
he was strongly moved and reused 10y objects of gran
aeur. well recpucct the admiration with which he
contemplated the sublime statue Of Moses by Michael
Angelo and hrs mute awe and entering the
stupeudous pile Of -: Peters Indeed the sentiment ot
yepcratiaD 30 of the elevated and poetic