The McArdle Notebooks > Dawn at the Alamo
Reuben M. Potter to McArdle, September 1, 1874
Page 2 of 3
you do not mention where you locate the death of the
former.
The walls of the Chappel [sic] in your plan may well be
viewed as the mantle which covers the face of Agamemnon,
hiding an expression not to be portrayed, but only to be im-
gined from what surrounding visages exhibit. Have you
thought of putting any objects on the top of the church wall, or
elsewhere, to give a hint of the terrible unseen. The only
thing I can think of is a group of Mexican soldiers who
have just reached the parapet by escalade and are
looking down into the interior of the rooftop fabric as
into the crater of a volcano, each with face & attitude
that show him too much appalled to fire. I do not know
that the point of view admits of this. At the time of
the assault the front wall of the church was of the same
height as the sides, the apex or gable having since been
built. By leaving it out of the picture, the view I suggest
might be facilitated.
Of the titles you mention for the painting I like best
"The dawn of the Alamo." Would it be improved by saying
“"The prophetic dawn of the Alamo."
As for my unlucky inscription, it would have been
better had I written "I am baptized with the blood of
heroes”" yet it is only through the context that
Introduction | The Notebooks | The Paintings | The Artist
How to Use This Site | About the Digitization
Index of Subjects
Home
Reuben M. Potter to McArdle, September 1, 1874, The McArdle Notebooks, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.