Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1895-09-10

BRUMIDI's MARINE GROUP III y,
can gaze upon the enormous paintings
in the capitol rotunda without. amaze
ment, and without twinge of shame
for our new republic. They are Inn
mense, as to size, but of pigmy merit.
Their subjects are well chosen, and the
intentions of the artists were no doubt
good; but the achievements are un-
worthy the place In one of the pic
lures two ladies are represented as hav-
ing five hands, and one of those hands
has five fingers and thumb, The
paintings could not secure place even
for temporary exhibition in any Paris
ian salon; unless, maybe, they might
have place as curios from the new
world. They lack artistic merit most
woefully. 1t is to be hoped that the time
is not far distant when they may be re-
moved and the inches filed with paint
ings which will adorn and beautify the
wonderful work of the architect Of the
capitol. fNrs@ I. 49, a
The historic fresco zone which was
begun by the great Brumidi half way
up the dome has been continued by
Costagini; but 1t should not be con-
cludR eRg him. The work of Brumidi
is so near perfection that the figures
seem much like statuaxys and many I'M,
tutored eyes believe the scenes there
depicted are carved from the solid rock.
But Brumidi died when the zone was,
but half DONG, and the subsequent
work OF Costagini Is painfully less mer-
itorious- For example, the steed be-
strobe by Gen. Scott in the Mexican
scene relsands me of the little school
boys dsyhhition: "a horse Is square
built, having one leg at each corner
Moreover, this charger appears to be
about two feet longer, than any horse
that ever lived Besides, he has lean
and hungry look which Ill becomes
the war-horse of the, general command
ing the army, Then the reading Of the
Declaration of Independence is pic
ture which almost makes patriot wish
that 1t had never been read. The big
fat Quaker, who holds the document
stands upon a very shaky platform.
The calves of his legs are so unnatural
as to make one fear that he has vari-
use scnnss auu nA ~ riiiS 10 I'm nnco "
hip are long enongh tor uoilatn OF
Gath. he y pitiaoie oelormity. Inc
superior artist. to be retouched skill
fully or else GRASSLAND repainted
The statuary in the four inches of the
rotunda may De regaruea as creuila,
Die, but IL IL were ousteo ana cleaned
at least once Id twenty OF 1nirsy years
marked Improvement. wouio De ap-
parent. on the east iront' on eitner
side OF Inc main entrance 10 tne roeun
"a, are marpie statues OF MATS ana
Minerva. Ihey are al rlgnt irom an
artistic point OF new. put Mars mas
not had hts faco washed since the days
OF julius Cpsars While the shoulders
and breast OF Minerva are so dusty as |
to suggest the thought that she has no
friends IN this new world, She looks
like an unkempt Bowery beauty.
The capitol building, OF which the
Is the center, Is unquestson-
ably the noblest, grandest and most
beautiful architectural object IN the
world. This isss fact conceded by men
who have travelled extensively. / Every
man Of culture and experience who
comes here from Europe comedies that
the capitol Is superior TO say building
in any city in the civilized world.
Therefore it Is TO be regretted the more
de thu. the architecture Is not