410 The American Naturalist. [May,. 
THE PICTURES OF PROF. E. D. COPE IN THIS NUMBER. 
The picture which occupies the frontispiece of this number was painted 
by Mr. George W. Pettit of Philadelphia asa labor of love, and the study 
of the head of aremarkable man. Without at all compromising its accu- 
racy as a portrait, Mr. Pettit has succeeded in imparting to it a great deal 
of the intellectual force which was familiar to all those who knew Prof. 
Cope intimately. As a representation ofthe man it illustrates the advan- 
tage which a faithful painting has over a photograph. The latter is an 
accurate reproduction of the object as it was at a given minute. l 
appearances have equal value during this short time; the accidental and 
transitory as well as the permanent and characteristic. Indeed some ofthe 
latter may and usually are masked by the former and possess less than 
their true significance in the resulting image. On the other hand the 
portrait by an artist is a composite of a great number of pictures preserved 
in his memory, in which the salient characteristics survive and the tran- 
sient and adventitious expressions disappear. 
This is well illustrated by the present portrait which was begun tem 
years ago or more, and has been so gradually evolved that it may be said 
to embody the essence of the original’s aspect during that period. The 
beard is shown as it was worn during the greater part of the subject’s life, 
and as most of his friends will remember it. During the last two years he 
had dispensed with it entirely as is manifest from the picture which has 
accompanied the greater number of the sketches of his life in newspapers 
and journals. This picture while pleasing in its expression, enforces what 
has been said of the advantage which a portrait study by an artist has 
over even the most agreeable photograph. The intellectual expression im- 
plying alertness and activity which is so manifest in the painting (as it was 
in the face of Prof. Cope himself) is in this photograph subordinated to a 
general expression of content and repose of all the faculties. The painting 
has been purchased for the American Philosophical Society, and will be 
added to those of the distinguished men which adorn its halls. 
It should be added in justice to Mr. Pettit, that since the photograph 
was taken from which our illustration was made, he has improved his 
original work very notably, thanks to the suggestions of the relatives and 
personal friends who have viewed the painting, and to the inspiration due 
to his realizing the importance of his task. The late Russell Smith has 
also painted a portrait of Professor Cope which it is understood has 
been presented to the Academy of Natural Sciences. 
The picture which follows is of a plaster bust of Prof. Cope by Mr. 
Eugène Castello of Philadelphia. It is naturally difficult to do justice to 
a statue in a half tone print, but it is easy to recognize in this work also the 
superior result which is obtained when a faithful artist interprets nature 
for the public. The expression, like that in the painting, is ip. oo and 
