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the even tenor of his way to the bank, where
arrived, he pinned the coon down to the
ground, by retaining his hold upon his breast.
Ringwood got hold of his head, and the other
four dogs catching hold in various places, soon
killed him. After he had been disabled, the
puppies caught him, and gnawed and bit him,
to wreak their vengeance upon him for sous
ing their heads in the mud-—thus aping their
fellow-men when placed under similar circum
stances.
Cousin Aristides had both coons skinned,
and their hides nailed up on the walls of the
barn, among other trophies of his skill as a
huntsman. Old David barbecued the flesh,
some of which we all ate, and which the ne
groes consider quite a dainty.
ijomc Corasponlrentt.
For the Southern Literary Gazette.
NEW-YORK LETTERS—NO, 29.
Rathbun Hotel, New York , )
Nov. 15, 1848. j
JTy Dear Sir , —The beautiful collection of
pictures now at the Gallery of the Art Union,
is attracting so large a share of public atten
tion, and the approaching distribution of
them (22nd of next month,) among the sub
scribers, is such a general theme of converse,
that 1 feel persuaded some account of the ex
hibition must be a matter of interest to your
readers. Some admirable reviews of the Gal
lery have lately appeared in several of our
principal journals, and, as 1 cannot tell the
tale better than they have done, I will borrow
from them for this occasion. The following
notices from the Courier & Enquirer, besides
giving you a good idea of what our iellow
members of the Art Union are to expect this
season, will serve as a little insight into the
names and standing of our Artists. Before I
commence the extract, let me remind your
readers that no time is to be lost, if they
would participate in the advantages of the
coming distribution. Let them, therefore, for
ward their subscriptions without delay.
After some prefatory remarks, our review
er says:
44 Every member knows that whatever his
fortune in the distribution of the paintings,
he is secure of*a copy of the annual engra
vings ; but every one is not aware of the par
ticular value and interest of those for the pre
sent year. Besides the large steel engraving
from Huntington’s beautiful picture ol ‘Queen
Mary signing the death warrant of Lady
.lane Grey,’ every member will receive a fo
lio copy of Rip Van Winkle, with six large
outline illustrations designed and etched by
Darley. These unique and classic drawings
are some of the finest productions of this able
and popular artist, and we congratulate the
Management upon the very felicitous idea of
presenting the public with works of such a
character.
Before we come to the Paintings, let us
say a word of the bronze medals to be distri
buted this season.—Of these, there are no less
than 450, half of them commemorative of the
genius of the great painter, Allston; and the
others of Gilbert Stuart. We hope that this
plan of providing medals illustrative of Ame
rican art, may be continued until we have
some memorial of all our eminent artists.
Asa consecutive review of the Gallery
would be too voluminous for this article, we
shall abridge our labor by speaking of all the
works of the same artist in one notice, and
that we may be very impartial, we will refer
to the contributors in alphabetical order.
V. G. Audubon.—Startled Deer, is a care
ful and truthful picture. The deer are excel
lently well done, as might be expected from
Mr. Audubon's ability as a painter of such
subjects. The 44 Moon Rising,” is not less
truthful and interesting, if we except, per
haps, a tone of too intense blackness.
G. H. Baker. —The “Romp,” by this ar
tist, is a very meritorious work, especially in
the coloring of the flesh, which is pure and
Render. The character, too, is well given.
The “Mother's Prayer,” is exceedingly pow
erful in expression—painfully so; care and
anguish speak in every line of the mother’s
face, as she looks upward in prayer, by the
bed-side of hei wasted and dying child.
Bingham. — 44 The Stump Orator,” is a large
group of rough fellows, listening to the ora
SdHDMUM &OIfHIE AiE ¥ SIFTS*
tion of a long demagogue. It is executed
with the nicety of a daguerreotype, but with
the monotony also. Every separate part,
though, is a picture in itself, replete with
strong character; so that one recovers, on
closer examination, from the unpleasant im
pression the first glance may have made upon
him.
J. G. Chapman. —We find here four pic
tures from Mr. Chapman’s pencil, and they
are not the less welcome from his being him
self far from us. The principal composition
is a historical landscape, commemorating the
intrepid retreat of Washington and his tired
troops to Fort Necessity; after this is a pret
ty marine piece, with large figures, called
“Children on the Sea Shore.” Then follows
an “ Italian Peasant Woman,” and the head
of a deer.
F. E. Church. —We are glad to meet again
with the picture of “Theßiver of the Water
of Life.” Ii was a favorite with us last
spring, at the Academy.
The Late Thomas Cole. —The celebrated
series of grand landscapes, called the Voyage
of Lfc , and among the most masterly works
of the lamented Cole, forms the feature, par
excellence, of the present exhibition. All
the city members haveseenand admired them
again anti again ; and few of the subscribers
in the most remote parts of the land, but have
heard of them many times and oft. The se
ries, which is to be distributed as one prize
only, embraces four very large pictures, em
blematic of the course of human life. The
story opens in the first with childhood ; then
follows youth, succeeded by manhood, and
ending with old age. They are the produc
tions ox one of the greatest masters of his
time, and are full of the brightest evidences
of his lofty genius. None but a poet, and a
poet of the highest powers, could have produ
ced such a work as this; for the noble verse
could not speak more eloquently ormore for
cibly. They teach great truths with a sim
plicity and force which never fails to touch
and mend the heart. So valuable a prize as
this has never before been ottered in this or
any other similar institution, and it is not to
be wondered at that the hope of gaining it
should induce thousands to enrol their names
in the subscription books of the Art Union.—
That member will be fortunate, indeed, to
whose Jot it may chance to fall
C. P. Cranch.— ltalian Scenery—The Ru
ins of the Palace of the Colonna. This is
the last picture which the artist, who is now
studying abroad, has sent home; and it evin
ces a very marked improvement in his man
ner.
Vincent Colyer. —Mr. C’s “Crayon stu
dy of David,” is a capitally conceived and a
very ably executed work.
J. F. Cropsey. —The two small pictures
of this artist are quite deserving of his repu
tation.
A. B. Durand. —We are glad to find here
several of the happiest works of the distin
guished President of the Academy. The
large view of Dover Plain is in his most suc
cessful manner, and is a much admired and
coveted picture. If it should not full to our
lot next month, we shall he satisfied with the
“ Village Church by Moonlight.” We should
be very glad to have an engraving fiom the
Art Union of oneof Mr. Durand s landscapes.
No such subjects have yet been published,
and we are sure that nothing could better
please ihc public taste.
T. Doughty. — 44 Moonlight —winter,” is
a large and admirable picture. The sky is
very beautiful, and the silvery beams of ihe
newly-risen moon fall so sweetly over bill
and lake, that despite the chilly snow which
envelopes the ground, one feels, in gazing at
it, wonderfully disposed to wander forth and
muse, with maidens fair, on poetry and love.
P. P. Duggan. —The “ Battle Sketch,”
by this able artist, is a very spirited and at
tractive picture. The study in crayon, of
44 Daniel in ihe Lion’s Den,” is one of the
best works of the kind which we have seen
for many a day. The head of Daniel is not
to be excelled.
Charles Deas. —We have a pretty bit of
Western Scenery by this gentleman, and two
other excellent pictures in his particular class
of subjects; one, “The Wounded Pawnee,”
and the other, 44 Sioux, Playing Ball.”
F. W. Edmonds-. —“The Strolling Musi
cian,” is of that pleasant, home character
which, when well portrayed, (as it always is
in the bunds of this artist.) never fails to
please both the eye and the heart. This
work contains many figures, admirably dis
posed. to tell the story —simply the visit of a
traveling organist and his monkey to the
homestead of a rustic familv.
J
S. JL Gifford. —We are gratified to find
several excellent pictures by this young ar-
tist. They arc full of good feeling for na
ture, and give evidence of far more than or
dinary talent. The view on Esopus Creek is
a very pleasing study.
Regis Gignoux. —Two inimitable Snow
Scenes; a composition from Thompson's
44 Spring,” and a line picture of Alpine Scene
ry, are the contributions of this artist.
J. W. Gi .ass.— Wo axe much pleased with
this artist's picture of 44 Cromwell’s Soldiers
Destroying the Sign of the King’s Head, in
1642.'’ It is unquestionably the best work
we have had from his pencil. The two little
equestrian pictures called “ Shadows,” and
“Too Late,” are very excellent. For the
other works, especially the Landscape and
the Marine, we have but little fancy.
L. Grube. —Some clever Fruit Pieces.
T. H. Hinckley. —An admirable picture
of Cattle, and a. Landscape, with dogs watch
ing for game. No artist among us paints
such subjects better than Mr. H.
J. Hamilton. —“ Hay Boats on the Rari
tan,” a “River Scenes” and “ Showery Day,”
all effective pictures.
D. Huntington. —Mr. H's fine picture of
“Queen Mary signing the death warrant of
Lady Jane Grey,” is the subject of the pre
sent engraving, which, we doubt not. will be
highly valued by the subscribers. Besides
this work, the artist has several others in the
Gallery. A delicious little hit of woodland
and water, called the “Trout Brook,” —one
almost fancies he sees the shade of Ihe ven
erated Walton, musing on the pleasant banks
of this gentle stream. Next comes a beauti
ful Italian Scene; and last of all, but not
least, a spirited picture of la bclla Italia. —
The mind irresistibly wanders to the olden
time and to classic haunts, as the eye falls on
this poetic landscape. It is apparently paint
ed with haste, but is very effective and full of
sentiment—a strong characteristic of all the
works of Mr. Huntington, whether he labors
with portraits, muses with history, or dreams
with landscape and poetry.
J. W, Hill.-— The pictures of this artist
are landscapes in water colors. There are
several portfolios of similar works in the
catalogue. Each portfolio is one prize, and
contains pictures by various persons.
W. Hart has several good landscapes,
among them a cleverly executed 44 Scene
near Lansingburg,” and 44 Coming from the
Mill,” a pretty composition.
R. Havel. —View from Catskill Mountain
House.
George Innes.— This gentleman's pictures
are greatly superior, this season, to his for
mer efforts. The “ View on the Hudson,”
and the landscape called “ Peace and War,”
are both of great merit, and will be sought
after at the distribution.
Charles Jarvis. —“ The Bird Fancier,” is
a pretty subject, carefully studied.
Wm. S. Jewett.— The landscape called
the “ Lover’s Walk,” is one of the artist’s
best productions in this department. He is
generally more successful, however, with
other subjects.
J. F. Kensett. —The most important of
Mr. lvs pictures is the fine scene on the Anio,
Italy. Among the others are some excellent
bits of water-fall, glen and forest scenery.
E. Leutze. —“The Mission of the Jews
to Ferdinand and Isabella,” by this distin
guished painter, is a bright gem in the exhi
bition. Many hopes are set upon it, and we
cherish something of that sort ourself, when
we speculate upon the results of the coming
distribution of prizes. The story told in this
masterly picture, is that of the Inquisitor-
General Torquernader interrupting the confer
ence of the monarchs and the Hebrew’ depu
tation, with his angry exclamation, “Judas
Iscariot sold his master for thirty pieces of
silver. Your Highnesses would sell him
anew for thirty thousand; here he is, (throw
ing a crucifix upon the table,) take him and
barter him away!”
E. H. May.— Mr. May's “Lutherat Nu
remberg, refusing to recant,” is a much and
justly admired work. It is excellent in de
sign and color, and tells its story effectually.
This story is that of the moment when Serra
longa asks of the Reformer, “ When all for
sake you, where will you take refuge V’ To
which Luther replies, (pointing and looking
upwards with the eye of faith,) “under
Heaven,!”
Wm. S. Mount. — The only picture of
this popular artist, which we iindhere, is the
amusing one of “Loss and Gain,” which
was recently exhibited in the Academy of
Design.
S. S. Osgood. —A very poetical 44 Head of
the Saviour;” a half-length female figure,
with a ‘“Mandolin;” and a little group of
figures, “ Drawing Lots,” are the contribu
tions of this artist.
T. S. Officer. —This able miniature pain
ter has, among other works on ivory, a sweet
female figure, called “ Holy Eyes,” in illus
tration of Moore’s lines—
• “ As shining beacons solely,
To light to Heaven.”
J. T. Pef.le . —We have here three most
admirable works by this excellent artist.—
All of them are pictures of rural life, a class
of subjects which never fails to please the
popular taste. Jn the largest composition a
lassie is feeding her “Pet Lamb,” while by
her side stands her youthful lover, iresh from
his labors in the surrounding fields. Anoth
er is a girl seated in the midst of her barn
yard friends, the hens and chickens. The
third and most pleasing, is called “Bird-
Nesting.” The principal figure, a sweet
child of but few summers, is gazing on the
stolen nest and eggs, which she holds in her
hand ; seated on a bank by her side is a boy
holding up the old bird by its claws, and be
tween these two figures peeps a third at the
newly gotten treasure. We prefer this pic
ture to any we have before seen by this ar
tist.
T. A. Richards.—“ Summer Showers,” is
the title of a large landscape composition by
Mr. Richards, in which all the features of a
wide-spread and beautiful landscape arc seen
under the alternate effects of rain and sun
shine. A grove of forest-trees rises on the
right of the grassy bank in the foreground ;
beyond is a sketch of woodland and meadow,
skirting the banks of a distant lake, which is
spotted here and there with fairy islands, and
is Hanked by wide ranges of remote hills.—
Besides this picture, the artist has several
others, principally views on Lake George, in
New Jersey, and on the CaNkill Mountains.
W. llanney.—“Veterans of 1776 return
ing from the War,” is a very merry picture.
The old soldiers are going home in a very di
lapidated condition. Their equipage is a rude
cart, drawn by a ruder steed. One of the oc
cupants of this vehicle is doing some fiddling,
to which another of the party on foot is per
forming a grotesque dance. The worthy
who acts as postillion, is looking back in de
light at this graceful performance. In the
distance other stragglers are indistinctly seen.
Altogether, the dramatis personal are a very
philosophical crew, indeed, and one can't
help liking them.
T. P. Rossiter.— “The Convalescent” is
a half-length of a young girl, bolstered up in
an easy chair, and just regaining her lost
health and beauty. In such pictures, Mr,
Rossiter is always happy.
J. B. Stearns.—The two historical pic
tures by this artist are evidences of very rap
id progress. In the “Trial of Andre,” the
unfortunate soldier is making his defence be
fore the board of officers,. commissioned for
the purpose by Gen. Washington. All the
portraits Introduced have been carefully paint
ed from-authentic originals, which gives the
picture great historical value, apart from its
merit as a work of art. We are quite as
much pleased with “ Washington on his Mis
sion to the Indians,” in which the daring
young hero has reached his peculiar destina
tion, and is holding a talk with a large con
course of red-men. These works are valua
ble additions to the gallery, and to our na
tional art.
F. It. Spencer.—The “Print-Seller,” by
Mr. Spencer, is a half-length of a boy. ft
has good character, and is painted.with capi
tal effect:
Allen Smith, Jr.—“ The Young Mechan
ic'’ pleases us very much. The artist is quite
unknown to us, but from the talent which this
picture evinces, we shall wait further efforts
from his pencil with interest.. The subject is
the interior of a carpenter’s shop, with fig
ures. Every part is executed with the most
commendable observation of nature.
A. 11. Wenzler.—The large view in the
Catskills, by this gentleman, is a truthful stu
dy from nature, and in so far is a valuable
work. It is, however, too deficient in picto
rial effect and in color, to give much pleasure
to the general observer. We may call it the
44 raw material” of a picture not yet “cook
ed,'’ as Mr. Toots would say, with the artis
tic fire.
Edwin White. —This gentleman's pictures
are highly creditable to his genius, in the per
formance as well as in the promise. With a
soul happy in conception, a hand ready to
execute, and a mind resolutely bent on pro
gress. he will unquestionably arrive at excel
lence in his art. “The Old Age of Milton,”
and “ The Old Age of Galileo,” are both fe
licitous subjects, treated with excellent effect,
and envied will be he to whose Lot they fall.
227