The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 4, No. 23,
September, 1859, by Various

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Title: The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 4, No. 23, September, 1859

Author: Various

Release Date: August 4, 2005 [EBook #16430]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY.

A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE, ART, AND POLITICS.

VOL. IV.--SEPTEMBER, 1859.--NO. XXIII.

THE LIFE AND WORKS OF ARY SCHEFFER.

No painter of this age has made so deep an impression on the popular
mind of America as Ary Scheffer. Few, if any other contemporary artists
are domesticated at our firesides, and known and loved in our remotest
villages and towns. Only a small number, indeed, of his original works
have been exhibited here,--yet engravings from them are not only
familiar to every person of acknowledged taste and culture, but are dear
to the hearts of many who scarcely know the artist's name. Young maidens
delight in their tender pathos, and the suffering heart is consoled and
elevated by their pure and lofty religious aspiration. An effect so
great must have an adequate and peculiar cause; and we shall not have
far to seek for it, but shall find it in the aim and character of the
artist. Scheffer has two prominent qualities, by which he has won his
place in the popular estimation. The first is his sentiment. His works
are full of simple, tender pathos. His pictures always tell their story,
first to the eye, next to the heart and soul of the beholder. His
admirable knowledge of composition is always subordinate to expression.
His meaning is not merely historical or poetical, but is true to life
and every-day experience. "Mignon regrettant sa Patrie" is felt and
appreciated by those who have never sung,

"Kennst du das Land wo die Citronen
bluehen,"--

and "Faust" and "Margaret" tell their story to all who have felt life's
struggles and temptations, whether they have read them in Goethe's
version or not. Added to this p