The painting was sent to Paris where the “celebrated Leon Noel” drew it for the lithograph. Mount’s experiences with the Art-Union were few and unpleasant, so he must have been very pleased when the New York agent of the noted French firm of Goupil, Vibert, and Company, seeing the painting at the National Academy of Design in 1847, sought permission from owner and artist to make a lithograph of The Power of Music for international distribution. In the 1840s the American Art-Union commissioned many paintings that were distributed by lottery while each member received an engraving of the painting. A fine print could spread the fame of a painting and its artist literally throughout the country, to tens of thousands of art lovers. Many nineteenth-century American paintings found a second and much wider life in reproductive prints, both engravings and lithographs. Although the title is wonderfully apt for the painting, the poem surely could not have inspired it. Both poem and painting evoke the pervasive life-enhancing effect of music on the human spirit, here specifically the music of the violin: “He fills with his power all their hearts to the brim-Was aught ever heard like his fiddle and him?” This line is representative of Wordsworth’s poem, and it is not chauvinistic to observe that Mount’s painting is a greater work of art. Nearly forty years earlier Wordsworth had written a poem that he called “Power of Music,” and that his visitors surely knew. Leupp, who, while traveling in England in 1845 with his friend William Cullen Bryant, had visited William Wordsworth at his estate. It has been known by several similar titles, but the title by which it is now universally known may have been suggested by the man who commissioned the painting, Charles M. Part of the collection of the Century Association in New York City for 110 years, the painting is now at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It is with the black man who listens that we identify. There are two white men inside the barn with the musician, and they too respond to the music, and the critic just quoted describes their responses, but it is not they who draw and hold the viewer’s eye. and inclines his ear toward the musician while his eye, looking at nothing, melts with delight at the effect of the ravishing sounds.” 2 Ibid. He leans his right shoulder against the barn door. The image of the handsome, aging black man listening with deep pleasure and comprehension to the music emanating from within evokes the same response today that it did when first seen: “We never saw the faculty of listening so exquisitely portrayed as here. From the beginning it was praised by press and public alike and, as one critic wrote, “this picture will insure Mount a permanent reputation.” 1 Literary World 1, no. This article was amended on to remove a reference to Newby having played on stage with Ringo Starr in 1960 Starr had not yet joined the Beatles.The Power of Music is one of the jewels of American art, a painting so touching and imbued with such empathy that it has become an icon. “People sometimes don’t believe me when I say I’ve no regrets,” he said. In 2016, he began performing again with the reformed Quarrymen. He went on to teach high school mathematics and lived in Alcester, where he played in a charity band called the Racketts. John, Paul and George, they just wanted to be musicians.” “Music was never going to be a living for me,” Newby said to the Sunday Mercury in 2012. While Lennon reportedly wanted Newby to continue on tour with the band in West Germany, the bassist declined and instead returned to university. A charming man, always a pleasure to meet.”īorn in Liverpool in 1941, Newby was famous for his brief stint with the Beatles in 1960, playing on stage with Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison for a few gigs. Latterly he’s been one of the Quarry Men too. “He deputised for Stuart on a few dates when the Beatles returned from Hamburg the first time, end-1960, including the momentous Litherland date. “RIP Chas Newby, fill-in Beatle and fair chap,” wrote the Beatles historian Mark Lewishon on Twitter. RIP Chas Newby thoughts and well wishes from everybody at The Cavern Club.” “Interestingly, he was also the first left-handed bass guitarist in the Beatles. The Cavern Club Liverpool, where the Beatles began their career, wrote on Facebook: “It’s with great sadness to hear about the passing of Chas Newby.” “Many of you will know him for playing bass guitar for both The Beatles and The Quarrymen, but to us he was laid back Chas with the big smile. “Both Pete and I and the whole Best family absolutely devastated to hear the very sad news with regards to one of the families closest friends Chas Newby passing last night,” said Roag Best. A brother of the former Beatles drummer Pete Best confirmed the news on Tuesday on Facebook.
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