National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-20
A historic PAINTING.
John Brown on I1ls Way 60 Execution
-iEovenden's Greet Picture.

NSiD YORK. Letter to baltimore Sun.
New York, May IA private view was
accorded Thursday to artists, critics, and per-
sous Interested In art of Mr.. Thomas Uoven-
den's historical picture, John Brown on His
Way to Execution" This important work
was only completed few weeks ago, too late
to allow If its being exhibited in the National
Academy of Design. 1t was painted for NE.
Robbins Battell of this city.
The artist has chosen for representation the
historical Incident of John Brown on his way
to execution stopping to kiss negro child in
its mothers arms. This incident also forms
tho subject of part Of Mhitticr's poem,
Brown of Ossawotomic." Thopcttirc shows
tho porch of the jail, with parts of the brick
wall ON either side. II Is covered white
wooden porch of n typical American charaC-
ter with rather dilapidatcd wooden stops and
hand rails. At one side of the stair, the right
IS seen John Brown in his we'll brushed care.
fully arranged suit of snuff brown red yelyot
slippers and white stockings, arrayed for his
death as if for o Sunday morning in his
northern home. His arms are tied behind
with ropes and the halter Is about his mock
He has stopped, aud the momontary action is
capitally expressed in tho whole pose of
the figure, to kiss tho child held up TO
him by the negro mother, who gazes wistfuly
into his face. His bronzed face, crest of
white hair and long white beard form
striking contrast with the small black head
of the negro baby in its dingy garments. The
figure of the barofooted mother, in its tawny
brown ragged pottiCoat and rcd turban re-
peats the color notes in the figure of John
Brown. Behind the ncgress is a little white
girl, with tangled fair hair, gazing curiously
up at the old man on the stcpsAbove. A small
negro boy is visible against the background
of bare brick wall. Part of q dingy blind is
seen ut the extreme right At the right of the
foreground are two soldiers, fine looking,
stalwart men, in the uniform of the Jefferson
Guards. The immediate foreground is simply
q strip of Light earth and stone worn away
by tho tread of many feet. At
the left of the foreground stands
another soldier, probably sergeant,
indicating by his attitude and the expression
of his face that he is keeping OFF mob
behind. Ho holds gun traversely so that
1t cuts across the principal group, and virtu-
ally forms barrier between John Brown
and the sheriff. who stands behind him on
the porch, holding tho warrant of execution.
This figure forms one of group of men issu-
ing from the door Of the Jail. They arc all
distinctive southern types in dress and fea-
lures, and are strongly indivdualiZed. At
the left, on tho ground and against the side
OF the house, are figures of negroes, old and
young, who have stolen up TO give parting
glance of sympathy TO tho champion of their
race. One woman stands with her back
against the wall of the house and her fearful
eyos raised to Heaven, evidently praying for
the man about to die.
The first thing that impresses the spectator
as he ga2es at this picture is the reality Of it.
1t seems less like awOrk of art than like
group OF living, breathing, human beings,
called from mere tradition into tangible OK.
istence. Every figure presents different
type, equally truthful and carefully studied.
The composition is so good that no trace of
it exists-the scene appears to have been lit
orally transcribed from actually. 1t is an
American picture from beginning to end, not
only in subject, treatment and style, but in
its pathetic stoicism. The stolidity of the
faces, the absence of emotional expression,
except on the negro face, reveal the nation
atty of the scene and the figures, and en-
phasize the significance of tho subject moro
powerfully than more dramatic, that is, n
moro Fictitious, treatment would have done.
The essence Of American life and character
is in this work. and it deserves to rank among
the historical masterpieces Of the century.