Book of the artists American artist life, comprising biographical and critical sketches of American artists: preceded by an historical account of the rise and progress of art in America . t has, in a great measure,superseded miniature-painting ; when, for a comparativelytrifling expense, a literal, though sometimes unsatisfactory,likeness can be obtained by a jnechanical and chemicalprocess, the only delineators of the human face divine whose servicesare likely to be called into frequent requisition are those whose superiorability or original genius make their works infinitely transcend thecom
Book of the artists American artist life, comprising biographical and critical sketches of American artists: preceded by an historical account of the rise and progress of art in America . t has, in a great measure,superseded miniature-painting ; when, for a comparativelytrifling expense, a literal, though sometimes unsatisfactory,likeness can be obtained by a jnechanical and chemicalprocess, the only delineators of the human face divine whose servicesare likely to be called into frequent requisition are those whose superiorability or original genius make their works infinitely transcend thecommonplace and the familiar ; accordingly it seems a just inference fromthe economy and facility of the photographic art, that the time will comewhen only the very best class of portrait-painters can find ingenuity and scientific success can never take the place of art;for the latter is a produ(5l of the soul, and its highest triumphs have aspiritual significance unattainable through material methods alone ; but bythe prevalence and success of the latter, the line art andpretension thereto is more distin(5lly drawn, mediocrity is absolutely dis-. Portraiture, Genre, and Historical Paijtters. 399 couraged, and hence the ideal and progressive in art is indire6lly butimmeasurably fostered. Many American artists who have commenced with portraiture, or stilloccasionally engage therein, also devote themselves to historical and genreart. Inadequately equipped, with rare exceptions, for the latter, in conse-quence of want of requisite training as draughtsmen, comparatively fewhave reached excellence in a branch which has been so cleverly illustratedby popular French, German, and Enghsh painters, being without the essential•foundation of corre6t drawing, or destitute of the talent for expression, orthe sentiment which gives it value and significance. The majority of as-pirants in the more refined and ambitious sphere of composition, fall farshort of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectart, booksubjectartists
