The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-02

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DEsIeN.--ln our contem.
plated criticisms on this exhibition we had designed
to have began with No. on the catalogue, and 10
have gone regularly through with II, but on entering
| and casting our eye around the rooms, we at once
abandoned the idea, the walls being encountered
with an amount of unmtigated trash positively be-
| meath criticism. We had hoped that the earnest
and repeated expostulaions of the friends OF art,
would have induced the influential members OF the
Academy, more especially the hanging committee,
to act independently, and eject pictures positively
bad, from whatever source they might come-but
we are led very unwingly to the conclusion that
they must have received at random whatever was
submitted TO their Inspection for in no other way
can we account for the appearance of pictures on
the walls calculated alike to cast dscredt upon the
authors and the exhibition. That there was no ne
cessity for such course is evident from the snb-
stratum of high and genuine talent, the sterling ore
that runs through the great mass of dullness There
are enough excellent pictures in the exhibition 10
have formed OF themselves highly credltabe dis
play but they are comparatively fOiled by the vile
daubs, "whose name Is legion" that surround them
The great prevalence OF pOrtraiture Is an evil OF
serious magnitude. In the scale OF art, mere por-
trait painting, at the best, holds but third rate
rank nor any country hope to attain distinguish
ed emnence in art while the walls of its academies
are crowded with the "counerfeit presentments" OF
all the Smiths and Jones' who are ambitious OF
transmitting their aiming faces to poserty The
legitimate object of exhibitions of art, especially Of
new schools, struggling for fame, should be not
merely TO delight the public eye, but to refine and
improve its taste, and they should consequently be
composed chiefly Of works of fancy and imagina
ton; efforts in the higher walks Of art. No matter if
for time their numerical force be weak, better
select array of excellence than an heterogeneous
mass of inferory. It needs but that the artists of
this country should do themselves the justice TO en-
able them to form school such as the hardy
original and vigorous genius OF the people may just
ly lead them 10 aspire to- With these remarks we
proceed to an examination Of the works more
worthy of notice in the collection
In the large saloon we found group of lovely la
dies, attended by some of the leading cogmoscenti
Columbus, in chains, to Cadiz-E. Leutze. This
work is unquestonably the gem Of the exhibition,
and emanatng as 1t does from quite young man
and artist, is truly surprising effort The compo-
sition is finely conceived-there is an open gran
deur and dignity about the figure of Columbus, wor
thy of any pencil, ancient or modern. We are not
prepared to bestow unqualified appreciation upon the
style of color. We tear that Mr. Leutze (who is at
present in Germany has become sOmew hat tine
tured with the dry and arid style OF the modern con-
tinental school, We earnestly hope that he will
free himself from such associations, and drink deep
ly of the divine spirit of the old masters by whose
immortal works he is surrounded. In color we
would havea him study here, but there in drawing,
he may ind excellent masters among the German
moderns but all that is necessary for him to attain
the very opmost height in his profession, is to tenn
per and refine his own brilliant and fertile fancy, by
an earnest and confdng study of the antique, to-
gether it'll industrious Practice from nature.
No. 54-Views Of Mount Etna-T. Cole, N. A.
Without the aid Of the catalogue we should not
have discovered this picture to be the work OF Mr.
Cole. There is IN it. it is true, much beautiful pen.
celling-indeed it Is excellent IN its mechanism,
work of art, constrained to say il is lament
ably deficient. We look in vain for the mastery
broad effects of light and shade which have hlther-
to distinguished the works OF Cole. There is a
picture, reminding us rather of the teatrayish al
fairs which delight the present generation of Hol
land and Germany, than OF an artist who has been
deservedly celebrated for the solidy the DEPTH and
the grandeur of his effects We are informed that
the picture has the merit of faithful resemblance
to its subject. That is something but let us en-
treat you, Mr.. Cole, if you have unfortunately be-
come enamored Of this new style, to spare no effort
to break the spell, and return to your first love-
S. Willowwemock Creek, Sullivan county-M
Livingston.-A very sweet landscape, executed in
good natural tone OF color, with free and bold
brush.
81. italian Peasant Girl at Prayer-J. E. Free
man, N. The figure of the girl in this picture is
prettily conceived, but the accessories are mise
rably managed as 10 mar in II all that is good.
Much should be bestowed upon the detail of a
picture of this size, which Mr. Freeman has evil
IDENTITY not given In the present instance.
49, Lake Scenes, Sunset-A B. purand, N. A
Of foliage is charmingly managed, and the effect Of
sunlight is fairly sustained. We could have wished
the water TO have been less cut up-and we think
also, considering the tone of the sky, 1t is shade
too dark. The picture certainly does much credi
to Mr. Durand, whose merits as an artist are various
and great
Ia. Raphaels Last Ilness-J. F. Fink H.-This
is ambitious effort in which we regret the artist
did not approach nearer 10 success. We would re-
commend him to severer course OF study in draw
| ing, from good antique models, and from the life
IA(,n hat
more necessary branch of knowledge, to one who
| is DESTROYS of becoming good historical painter
Asrespects color we think he Is on the right road,
though much wanting, we should Judge, in expe-
rience. The figures are tolerably designed and
grouped.
100 Portrait of Miss Josephine Clifton Boord-
ly. This is of class of pictures, from which we
say most Observation-Disclosures preserve us. We
of whitening and brick dust; nor can we be induced
to relish shadows in portraits which would be too
muddy tor mud in a landscape. With regard to the
dra ing of the picture it has the merit of originality
but we would hint to the artist, that as the COM
mon prejudice runs in favor of attention to certain
rules laid downin Handarks works on art, he had
better in future curb the exuberance of his fancy
We say this in all humility.
SO. Portrait of s. Newton Dexter, Esq Of Whites
| town-D Huntington N A glorious portrait-full
| of life, spirit and animation Faultless in dra wing
and brilliant yet harmonious in color.
We shall continue our remarks tomorrow. We
were pleased to see the rooms we'll filled with beau
| ty and fashion. The ladies, dear SOULS however
were much engaged generally in examining
the portraits of their acquanances, that they had
time to admire the gems OF the exhb ition. Park
| Benjamin was there annoying every body by his
voclferous criticisms We observed that his lauda-
ton invariably bestowed upon the more worthless
productions. Marsh the poet was also there-pdr
| mobile fratrum-but we were surprised to perceive
| that the modern Arisarchus and Catullus did not
| recognise each other
We anticipate that this exhibition will be the
/ inc, puhI Fnyfb he navf In
dependent of other attractions, the company which
| will be found there, between the hours Of IL and 8.
| will be highly neutrality-suspicious. the elite OF
| the fashionabes- and literateurs
| OF Gotham.
| LITERARY AND PHILosoPHICAL.-We appear 10
| have spasmodic mouthing every now and then,
Of the terms retrenchment and reform, and how lit
i Al.