The evening times., 1897-07-19
THE CAPITOL PAINTINGS
Experts Renewing the Bright.
ness Of Historic Splendor.
M0RIES OF THE ROTUNDA

Z
and Events of National History
From the Landing of the Pilgrims
TO the Emancipation of Slavery.
scenes OF the Revolution.
Thernany rlagnifioentan aluable paint
ings that adorn the Capitol have been
placed ina the hands of an expert and are
being transformed as by magic touch from
comparatively faded bits of canvas into
bright and shining works OF oil and gold
Probably not enc of the many thousands
of visitors TO the National Capital On re-
turning home recall any feature of Wash
ingion more yividiy than the series or
patriotic and historic paintings in the
Capitol
Who has not been deeply stirred and
moved TO patriotic ferver by Powell
',3attle of Lake Erie that hangs in the
northeast corner OF the building? Old men
and women, and young folks in when a
patriotic sense as struggling for recognl-
tion have stood in silence before the
painting and seemingly listened TO The
shrek of shell and the crash OF timber, and
experienced for the nonce Ferrys heroisIn,
as graphically portrayed on the canvas.
And what tourist, from whatever sec
ton OF the country has not felt his heart
swell almost TO tie bursting point at the
realization OF his brotherhood with tht s.
grand old pioneers whose struggles TO
reach the setting sun are faithfully de-
nt1 Il. n nm a.
ing that had feritsinSpirati Bishoa Berke-
leys line. West ward the course of empire
takes its wayg''
And Halss.h's First Fight OF the Iron
clads'' Who has NOT on seeing that painr-
ing, felt inbued witt the spirit Of the great
naval battle scener
The panels cf the walls OF the Rotunda
are adorned with eight oil paintings hav-
ing for their subjects memorable scenes
in the history of the country. These are
The Ian nding OF Columbus on San Saliva
vA,ior.z 492, " "hyEand .rlyn: The Discovery
OF the Mississippi by De Soto, 1871" by
Powell; The Baptism IF Pocahontas,
jamestown, Virginia. 1913" by Chapman.
The rmbarkaticn of the Pilgrims from
Delft Haven, 1890" by weir; The Decla-
ration of Independence. 1T76," by John
Truubull of Connecticut; The Surrender
Of Burgoyne, Saratoga. 1777." by Trum.
bull: The Surrender Of Corn wallis, York
town, 17s1," by Trumbull. and "The Res
ignatian of Gen Washington, Annapolis,
17s3,' by Trumbull.
The Trunihull paintings have peculiar IA
terest and value because OF the fact that
the figures in them are authentic portraits
Col. John TmmhHn was the son of
Jonathan Trunbull, TIE first governor Of
Connecticut. whose siatne sdorns Statuary
Hall at the Capitol. 5ohn Trumbull was
an dide de camp Of Washington, and was
familiar with the scenes Re rain ted. He
had q natural TASTE for drawing, an re-
solved 10 cultivate his talent in that tii-
rcr' Ion. with the idea in view Of lfu6spe
his tame 10 the ggeat events of thv Reyo-
LUTON lsy becu4iiing the II PHO biStor.osrs-
?beF Of them and Of re- Comrad des. He de
voted himself to tie strdy Of painting fiiSt
ia thiScountTy d-fa then in Europe. He con
fl0ed 20 John 4 daR.s, then minister so
England. and 10 Thomas Jefferson, minis
ter 10 France, his plaA Of raiHting a series
CONNIE rlOIH5ive Of TIE rTinoTal events Of
TIE RezNlrtinn. preserving faithful ror-
traits Of it's ccnspicnoG actors an accurate
de- afls OF sCoDes, Dies and arms. Trum-
huIl painted a dams IN ! cndcn and Jeffer-
son in Paris aud al he latter's home tire
French Officers in lie yorktown picture
He was given SITTING - Washington ana
Others in New York, "a that time tie seat
OF government ard &lsn Travelled through
rhe country. from New Hampshire 10 South
CO r3lins, collecting portraits and other
fratetsels In 1SI6, after fnoTe han thirty
-ea's 3f prppa Ia ton. he was CON nlissioned
o1 Congress t. paint the -four great ric
rn' es bearing his name, nowin the Rotunda
OF The Capitol. These works picture faith
fully the features or the actors IN the
scenes they 1ecord. ard constitute the real
izstien e the artists great ambition.
In the IIsu of Representatives. On either
side of the Spea ker's desk. are full-lencth
portraits Of Washington and Lafa yette, by
Stuart and Scherfcr, respectively TheS,,
paintings we've presented to CongfeSs BY
Lara gctte on his last visit to this country.
There ire also landscapes by Pier stadt en-
those walls including the Discovery of the
Hudson. ia 1909" and the Spanish set
uPment in California. in 1898"
4 Apainting gthattlicitScansi6era rat,leinterrsf
cipation Proclamation. BEFORE the Cab
met. September %. 1852" This picture
includes TIE portraits Of Lincoln and RS
Cabinet. 1t was presented TO the Govern
ment by Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Thompson. i'm
1ssS. one of the era tofS on the occasion
oI ITS reception was Alexander II .Stephens.
Former vice president Of the Southern Con.
f@deracy, and at the time Of the presenta
ton or the picture member Of the House.
ln addition to the folcgong PAINTINGS
there are MANY others scattered throuph
out the Capitol OF more or less ella horate dc
sign, bui Ill OF value. historic and artistic
IN the opinions OF the legislators and the
transient Wis tors
1t has been noticed In the pa st that the
natural accumulation of dust on the nsint
ings mas been augmented by the smoke
arising from gas jets With the introduc
tioD Of electric lights the smoke feature of
The disooloration of the paintings is sradu-
ally becoming less fornlida BILE There are
several paintings. including the portraits
OF Chief Justices Marshall, Chase and
Waite, reposing in the basement of the b,r
building Fsendinga cons deration as to thei,
reception by the Committee on the Ii
brary-
iseasGDH WAY Chaini5P riain's Collie,
Cholera and Diarrhaea Rem.
Rtlx Is En RnSf