The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 04, No. 23, September, 1859 A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics

The opening essay offers a warm tribute to the painter Ary Scheffer, whose tender, emotionally resonant canvases have become beloved fixtures in American homes despite the rarity of his originals. The writer sketches Scheffer’s humble origins, his cross‑cultural upbringing, and the simple, heartfelt spirituality that infuses his work, inviting listeners to picture the man behind the familiar engravings. The tone is intimate, as if recalling a trusted family friend whose art quietly comforts and uplifts.

Beyond that homage, the issue unfolds a lively assortment of short pieces: a breezy travelogue to Martha’s Vineyard, an evocative sketch of a Cuban shore, a witty domestic comedy, and a brief foray into mythic drama. Interspersed are thoughtful reviews of recent American publications and a reflective essay on the role of the professor at the breakfast table, together offering a vivid snapshot of mid‑nineteenth‑century literary and cultural life.