National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-08
OUR ART CRITIC
Gets n scoring from n Pedaniio Con-
tributOr Who aIinEn LntIn.

To the Editor of THE REPUBLICAN,:
An article written evidently by some volunteer
contributor to your art department, in last satur-
days double sheet, processes to give the readers of
THE REPUBLICAN description ofthe portraits of
eminent American statesmen now exhibited in
Corcoran Art Gallery. Assuming the role of n
critic, the writer introduces of his own ideas
Of these distinguished men, and, speaking of John
Quincy Adams, says; He had an honest face
as God ever gave to any man." How does he
know his was an honest face? Did he ever see the
" old man eloquent" or will he take II as an ac-
copied fact that the picture is correct?
AM SORRY TO DISTURB
such pleasant impression of Adams fnce, but the
truth is il was rather unprepossessing though he
was an honest man for all that. An honest mind
he undoubtedly possessed, but his face no more
pictured out his mental gifts and qualities of head
and heart than the prckly covering of chestnut
does the sweet. grained meat within. Again. the
writer says, ia speaking of Abraham Lincoln and
Andrew Jackson. Both of them are homely, as
far features are concerned, as man can well be-"
How does he know they were homey menu From
hearsay2 Or was he more highly favored than
Others in seeing them face to face2
If THIS AsTUTE CRITIC
will tell us wherein they were homely he may
dissipate lingering doubt that he obtained his
KIN owledgc from some cheap wood cuts or the
unsafe guides hanging in Corcorans gallery Lin
coins features, though not positively regular or
classically cut, were by no means hOmely. When
lit up by enthusiasm they were strikngy beauu-
full. SO was Andrew Jackson, whose face, by the
bye, was "A most Characteristic one, and none of
the Licensees have ever seen give the slightest
idea ofthe immortal hero of New Orleans.
AS FOR WILLARD FILLMORE,
whom your critic calls the handsome President"
he never was regarded as even passably good
looking. IL was common, ordinary business
face, such as you might meet any day in your life,
full of worldly prudence, good sense and reflection
but certainly not beauty. Your art critic grows
facetious when he undertakes to describe Henry
Clay-presumably from the portraits of him In the
gallery" with his piercing blue eye, large, firm
mouth, noble brow, and an intellectual nose" To
speak without romancing, Clay's face was an ex-
eeedingy homely one, and, when not influenced
by some kindred emotion, rather impassive and
cold. At times,
WHEN HIS MIND WAS ESGRossED
in some important state or national matter, his
soul shone out with Respondent power In his
eyes and his mouth ripnled with the eddying
and ever. changing current of his eloquent
tongue. Non If your YernciOus and well-in-
formed contributor on the "Corcoran Art Gal
lery" will take the trouble to study human char
acter as well as art gallery portraits, he will
quickly discover that Judging mans character
by his portrait or even by his face is equally as
absurd as forming an opinion Of any one on hear
say only. But Is hard TO be convinced of dullness
"Audf dkterdm DdrteDl." JUSTICIA.