New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-28
CITY ITEMS.

/ Academy was said 10 be cnhsetsfhr' " ~" Wv
mate Of sr, superficial study and insight INTO nature
and prevailing exirsvsgsni snd hsshy mode OF exc
.,,,o, Tbi. va. stated in the most genersl manner
without reference 10 any particular picture and there
Cor orr own part we should prefer to leave it, But we
,.ac, that IN order TO have the facts come home TO
the pube and 70 artists have any serious eject q
.,,s.tirz the downward tendency some examples must
be employed.
nj. said why end fault particularly with this eshi-
bs,,ou, nis not much worse than those which have
zone before it, A. TO this we cannot say, no, having
been familiar with the Exhibitions OF the Academy and
indeed never having bu, one Of them before and
that some ten years ago. We have no, criticised the
exhibition now open because Il better than
others bu, because it possesses certain very strongly
marked qualities which stand in great need Of earnest
condemnation and resolute avoidance, BY all parties
II the evil be an habi,usl and deeplyrooted one, 50
much the more need that il be Get forth In is true
Light and thereby removed We are, however, not is'
uorsn that the tendencies which have noticed among
the pictures Of the Academy are by no means original
with them or theirs exclusively Modern Art has sosn
doned Nature for poor kind Of ,rckery, not only IN
this country but in England France. Italy and 0erma
n.y. and except few gifted and unwearied souls who'
here snd there maintain the tradition and the aspiration
for better things artists lost upon false paths which
lead to worse than nowhere. Not dreaming that AT IS
hsndcrsft but rests upon the deepest and nos'
subtle principles they waste their lives in seeking du'
bous and fortlitous success which, when attained Is
nothing more than happy accidents not conceivins
that the artist Is no, an ims,or they copy antique or
csricsture modern nature not knowing how to endow
their pictures with what is substantial aud permanent
they whitewash them into daring gsudy aimsine's
and not driven to Art by any lfedeep, overmasterns
impulse they despair at the outset of ever coming nesr
the awful boundary which still grds about the old mas
ters as Il they more than earnest men oil genius
who saw into nature with their eyes and by patient
thought learned TO repeat what they saw. Nothing
shews more conclusively the sad weakness of modern
art than this involuntary as well as voluntary comics
sion tina, the old masters not be approached,
But lie, US come back 10 the Academy.
Perhaps more striking evidence Of the truth Of all
our structures could not found than in the first picture
of the catalogue Iii. called Cor,es" and processes to
the Mexican sdventurer at the moment when
his soldiers discovered that he bad destroyed their ships
The artist has just enough dexterty with the brush to
prevent the absolutely uniformed from seeing the true
character of his work but do not how il can I'm
pose on any who has only little knowledge of art
In idea and in execution, it exemphes every of the
faults have spoken Of There is unity in the de-
sign and no regard to nature in the mode in which
painted Cortez IL represented theatrical dandy In
dress fresh from the band box practising an unknown
and uninteligible sort of gestcuations Two ladies'
equally theatrical and inexpcable figure In the fore
ground while the fierce westherbea soldiers, who
were just the point of tearing their Captain pieces
are engaged their account without reference
the other gentlemen and ladies' present, in very strange
and alarming ess Of posturng The color is dis;rbut.
ed over the picture in the same manner-red, yellow
ciple but that which the Indian paints himself to
make the greatest possible display.
Huntnaton's pictures somewhat improvement
upon this but they far from satisfactory To pass BY
the portraits and notice only the historical compositions
of this srtst have No 10, Mercy fain,ng at the
Wicket Gate :" No g. Lady Jane Gray interrupted a,
her deyotons in the Tower; and No 222, "Piety aud
Folly" In the first of these the figures much on,
of proportion being reckon, near eight heads
bigh) they out of drawing otherwise. Besides
the picture tells story thst is worth telling The
In II have not character enough apparently to
der ordinary conversation toerable. The picture
does not proceed from that depth of feeling which II
not the first Ia of the most indispensable requisites
in picture Il does not haunt you after leaving II with
any revelations of passion of beauty but msnly
with the painful impression of most dsocsted and de-
formed shoulder. IL bad enough 10 make Mercy &
gantess out 10 put ner joints out Is worse.
In the other pictures by the artist the de-
fecis to DO found In conception Ia drawing and in
color they evince low estimate of art superficial in
sigh, into nature and gross extravaganza in execution
We might pursue remarks into greater detail Tut
doubt that enough has been said prove the
truth of our general assertions Every artist must feel
that the pictures have spoken of form exception
the OF the exhibition at large In our next no.
| ice We shall discuss works of more merit
OPERA-The regular season having closed, we
10 have the benefits Of such of the leading ar.
lists of the corps have before presented their
claims to the public. First of these 10 signors Proc who
this evening, presents Donizetts Elisir D4mors In
which she susains Adins, character already converted
into her name in the minds of Opera goer this City
To the natural attractions Of tho benefit of public ia
vorte there thus added the inducements of piece
heard before since the advent of the present comps
n.y. and cannot doubt that the fair beneficiary will be
greeted by crowded aud genial audience
On Monday evening that mpli,hed artist sig RA.
PETIT will try the temper of the public by bill of
common variety and richness. The performance will
commence by composition of LindpaIntner. for a
Flute, Csrionet Oboe and Bassoon with French horn
Obgato. This will be followed by the Second and
Third Acts of lombard which contain the gems Of
tina. magnificent Opera Sig Rapetd will then play with
one OF his pupils young man OF remarkable genius as
we have been assured the violin Duo, by Msuer which
he 90 successfully performed with svoh. The even.
ings entertainment will conclude with the Second and
Third Acts Of Lucia when Benedict may be
heard 10 his fsvonte part II all this taken together
with the universal friendship for Sig Rspett does no,
draw together of the most brilliant houses OF the
season, We shall be greatly disappointed
Oh Wednesday evening. Maestro BARILr takes his be-
neft and on Friday sig. sANouAIco. OF these enter.
tanments, we shall speak hereafter.
BOARD or EDucATTOS-U dnesday-CoMPARA
TIVE EXAMINATION OF ALL THE SCHOOLS The follow.
ing communication received from Aid Walker the
( County superintendent Of Schools:
To T0rnsead Harris Es9 Prudent
sTR; IL is my intention 20 institute comparative
animation OF all the Common Schools In the City st some
convenient pls 81 early date and shall be muc
grsihed II the Board OF Education should think proper
70 sppont committee 70 cooperate with me In taking
the bes, - make this examina alton thorough
! and satisactory. With great respect sc.
WILLIAM II. WALKER