The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-30


The EXHIBITION IN CLINTON iiAI..-The follow
ing is the translation of letter written IN French
which the proprietor OF the collection Of old painting
in Clinton Hall, sent us yesterday in reference To a
criticism in some obscure journal, of no circala-
ton and less character:-
NEw YoRK, 2sth March, islL
MR. JAS. GORDON BENNETT,
Editor Of New York Herald:
Permit, sir the of your este med journal. for
the purpose OF redressing injustice which would
have passed in silence aributing 10 the ignorance Of
the authors, had not found 10 certainty
that they were persons jealous and interested whose only
object was to njure and diminish the merit pciurr
IN o,aer mat republic might perceive the ieriory
Inc dinterested manner in which you have criticised
my P,ctnTe the truly profound knowledge and Judgment
which confess Ia the person by You examine my
gallery all this, sir me that with good Will Won
VIII accept VIII not say my defence bu, that the
old painters, whom they have dared caumnate Thre
days ago, two days before the opening OF the gallery
young gentleman representing himself as Connected with
some Journel requested permission from those in my en-
ployment to examine the pictures. believed was not
my place to refuse him his coming the second
He may have been stenographer, who might know per
iecy his art; bat regret on count to saw il he ss
no connoisseiT in paintings. He asked catalogue but
did not usetook short hand no,es-exhausted The pa
encs OF the people in my employment, and away
about o'clock in the evening
The next morning the Republican did itself the honor
to insert two columns OF a critique pictures.
not necessary to be much Of Conaoissemr to at a
glance that he had not been in the habit 'o passing ud
ment on such matters. Notwithstanding that he has
reality eniogised somewhat portrait Of Batour aud
other pictures, entirely modern and only copies. He
ticed iay orahy enough s. John by iienean although
he did not know the of the author, which he
called Geners, as msprnted in the catalogue and which
was prevented from correcting from the haste In which
he asked 1T and from this it easy to perceive that he
was not capable OF discerning either the style coorng
of Geneau, having heard OF his name; #
he had he would have rected the the catalogue
will not dwell ON the two original pictures OF Giovanni
neither those OF Petro Tesla from Bonysi gallery
and which persons connosseurs in paintings inNe or
and who five years ago in Italy told me they
had suspended in that gallery will merely say thit
from which took extract, which viii submit to all
visters says, "that the best works Petro Iestu
were in the gallery OF Bonvisi at Lngne. These pictures
hold from person of great worth possessing high
character who bought them himself at the Palace Bonys
This gentleman is still in this city, and in turn bet
ter than person. defend the authenticity Of their orr
GIN if that not well attesed by the best critics.
French, English, German and American who have Wis
tied all the collections OF Italy
The Nativity" of Correggio, from the same gallery,
lac says is only fit for sign board" In these expressions
the ignorance the jealousy of parties
by which this critic allows himself be nfamed-for
nothing so fine as this picture II be regarded with at
tention-those figures OF Angelo smile simple
and natural that smile in turn excited the cheek
of the observer-he becomes enchanted. What can be
finer than that holiness and that finish 1t is than
faithful representation is real II isnatura; produced
without artfce well without effort The beauty oil
the Virgin ravshng and there is in this picture jec
ideal that surpasses that Of nature Each figure bears the
stamp OF truth by the incredible variety which the author
has drawn from his resources It seems il head
hand, or whole figure Is moving before you " 18th
grace without equal That is the picture that luminosity
and jealousy has dared to qualify i'll such terms is
only lit Tor sign board"
will not further denomnate critigue irusfe but
may observe that c0nnoseurs of merit already made
me the offer OF Of money considerable enough for
that picture and they would not certain appropriate
It sign board" would request every honorable
person to examine the picture No than this il
qured to overthrow these unjust imputaiOns and to
prove that this collection the vctim Of coalition OF
traders jealous Of its superiority over theirs.
would not have been desirous of giving publicity to
the present statement ,were not that even il were
not the proprietor of this gallery should for the honor
Of the fine arts Of which am admrer have the justice
n pnal " "a rs tVna
you MIR Editor the liberty of using this letter you
judge fit emitting every real and personal OIL
fusion to any person whomsoever and accept sir my sin
cere respects
THE DmEcIoR OF THE CLINIon GALLERY.