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The Lotus laters.—R. H. Duncanson, Esq., hss just completed and placed on exhibition hia painting, the Lotus Eaters—from Tennyson’s poem of that name. Mr. Duncanson has long enjoyed the enviable reputation of being the beet landscape painter in the West, and his latest effort cannot fail to raise him still higher in the estimation of the art loving public. He has not only wooed, but won his favorite muse, and now finds ample repayment for the labor of a lifetime, in the achievement of a more brilliant success than has attended most of his compeers. A close student of nature, and a well vereed traveler in his domain, he recognizes the truth of what has been said of indifferent painting: That it is tolerated neither by gods, men, or artists.The Lotus Eaters, at first glance, strongly reminds us of that chef douvre of landscape painting that elicited so much admiration from the delletanti here and elsewhere recently—the Heart of the Andes. Nor, upon a jloser examination, did we conceive that Mr. Church was made to suffer by the comparison. Placed side by side in a gallery, the casual observer would be at a loss to know upon which to lavish the higher encomium. Mr. Duncanson’s picture will be considered by some a copy of, at least, the idea of Mr. Church's, and perhaps, not without some show of reason. Certain it is, that the Heart of the Andes was justly considered the inauguration of this style of paintiDg.In the execution of the Lotus Eaters, the artist has not fallen into the too common error of paying undue attention to the finishing of parts to thf neglect of a careful production of the whole, and we are not compelled to select one portion 6f the picture as a specimen of his ability as a landscape painter. His vivid portrait of the poet laureate’s composition, presents to the eye a scene of almost unequalled beauty, of detail, as well as configuration. The mountains, tinted with the crimson glory of the setting Bun, the soft, mellow and unclouded sky, and table-land and valleys, rich in the luxuriance of a tropical clime, are rendered with a faith, fulness truly wonderful.Mr. Duncanson has been engaged upon this picture about six months. He has just commenced another, which will develop his talent as a delienator of nature in a state altogether different from tropical mildness and beauty, He purposes to paint “a Western Tornado,” and we doubt not will fully realize the expectations •f his most Banguine friends in its production. The Lotus Eaters will be kept on exhibition at the extreme east store of Pike’s building, on Fourth Street, for eight days, after which it will be taken to Canada and exhibited there. In about six months, it and the Western Tor-i nado will be eent to London and disposed of.
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Daily Gazette
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Thu, May 30, 1861
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Cincinnati A.
OH, USA 08 Aug 2023
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