Alexandria Gazette

WEST'S PAINTING.

When a man undertakes the bold work of attacking such a painting as that of Christ Healing the Sick, especially in the confident style and tone assumed by "Another Visitor," in yesterday's Gazette, he should be pretty sure of his proofs. To say nothing of other matters, it is in effect charging the gentleman who is entrusted with the picture, with obtaining money under false pretences; for he comes before the people of the United States, with the solemn asseveration that this is the real work of West, and with satisfactory evidence to all who desire it. Will the assailant undertake to prove the contrary in a Court of Justice? Does he even present the shadow of a proof in his somewhat ill-natured article? I would say to "Another Visitor," you confess that it is a mere "matter of feeling" with you, that you cannot lay claim to "taste or judgment," and you then proceed, with your wholesale condemnation of the work in question. Why did you not sound the alarm when the exhibition was first announced, that the public might not be deceived, and that the proprietor might have an opportunity of answering you? Why did you not show that the artists and amateurs of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have all been imposed on by this fraud? You say, also, "it is not likely that a man of West's genius, or pretensions to genius! !! (is not this kicking the lion ?) would spend his time in making numerous copies of one of his own paintings." Altogether likely, my dear sir, and in entire keeping with the practice of the greatest masters of painting, poetry, and sculpture, who only obey a law of our nature in seeking perfection by a repetition of the same process. But, in point of fact, it is well known that West painted his sixth picture of the Death of Wolfe, as any one may see, who will examine the authenticated catalogue published as long ago as 1811, in Dennis' Port Folio, where this painting is put down as the third by the same hand.— It was purchased by J. S. Clarke, of New York, from the sons of Mr. West, for three thousand guineas. Against such facts it is idle for you to assert that "it is most probably a copy of West's Christ by some unknown hand." Yes, indeed, and "unknown" such a hand ever will be, because it is somewhat difficult to know that which never existed. Will you explain what you mean by this sentence—"It is well known that the original, or perhaps a copy by West himself, the original having been purchased by the King, (what King?) was presented by West to the Pennsylvania Hospital." Now which of these is "well known" to have been presented, and which was "perhaps" or probably presented? There is a little mystification here, and certainly no relation whatever to the matter in controversy. From your harsh remark, "if West had never painted any thing better than this, he never would have been President of the Academy of Fine Arts, or of the Royal Society," one might suppose you was a surly Englishman, envious of the exalted fame of the American Painter, or some bold American genius, possessing the moral intrepidity to set up your judgment against that of the people of England and the United States.

A VISITOR.