The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-06-28
From The q Chri.tien Ino,irer. .,

Collection or the Works OF the Old Masters,
AT THE LYcEuh GALLERY, NEW YORK.
Mr.. Hazlitt said of the time-honored works of
Art, They are not good because they are old, but
old because they are good % Ope of the satisfac-
tons of the traveller who visits for the first time the
galleries of Europe is the conviction which strength
ems as ne goes from work of high to another
that there is mesning in the reputation of the Old
Masters. So potent is mere fashion, so over
whelming the influence of heartess conventional
ism, that one is led sometimes rashly to conclude
against all pretenson; but the estimation in which
succeeding generations have agreed to hold the
painters of the older schools, is happily not to be
cassed among the results of poor imitatveness or
servile submission to the dcta of others Their APP
peal is to something beyond technical rules, and
above the power of prescrpton and the response of
the imagination and the heart asks no sanction from
connoisseurs or critics.
1t seems strange, since pictures afford so large
portion OF the pleasures enjoyed by intelligent
Americans IN foreign travel, that collection of pic
lures like that whose title have placed at the
head Of these remarks should attract so little aten-
ton in New York. The reason assigned is the
number of counterfeits that have been pamed off
upon our community in times past antique works.
possessing neither merit nor Commences, and dis
honoring art by asking admiration which no person
Of common sense could bestow
But the collection al present exhibited here is the
property Of a person Of unimpcachable rcspccta-
bllty-s point OF great importance it regards the
commences Of the pictures and possesses pictures
which, in the opinion of the best Judges, have a
value wholly independent Of the name and reputa-
ton Of their authors.
The Martyrdom of St Lawrence, by Titan.
would, If IL had been exhibited alone, have attract
ed more attention and interest than il has yet CON-
manded, as the centre Of magnificent collection.
The Slight into Egypt" Of Murillo, certainly
bears no unfavorable comparison with the famous
TRINITY" Of the same great master-one of the
gems Of the British National Gallery. Besides
these, we have specimens Of Ruysdael, Holbcin,
Wecnnx, Jordaens, Spagnoletto, Rembrandt, and
more eminent names still; Fornsrina ascribed TO
Raphael by good judges; Madonna Of Carlo Dolci;
an Ecce Homo, by Guido, etc, etc.; the whole COM
prising works that would be highly priced in any
gallery IN Europe.
We examined Mr.. Nye's collection with some
care, before visiting the principal collections abroad
in order to form such Judgment the unnstruc,ed
observer may Of the value Of these pictures and 1t
Is no more than justice TO say, that our opinion Of
the Lyceum Gallery was even higher after we had
seen most Of the great galleries between London
and Naples, than while our range OF comparison
wellnigh limited 10 tho achievements Of our
native artists, and the copies Of the Old Masters
which have reached this country. We are the
more willing 10 make this observation, because our
opinion OF these pictures is confirmed by that Of
those among us who have right TO judge--artisis
and connoisseurs, as well az mere lovers Of the
beautiful.
Mr. Nyes hope in bringing his collection to New
York was, that IN this great centre Of the wealth
and enterprise Of the nation, the idea would be
adopted Of making this gallery the centre or nucleus
Of great national one, which we must have sooner
or later, and which viii probably find it's natural
position in this city. Bot have thus far been TOO
much occupied, whether with revolutions abroad,
or gold-hunting, or Presdent-msking at home, 10
fffr otIr N The 6pc IN 40 fHr
mode. We seem to be awaiting period Of leisure
which may never arrive, before we set about the
means Of that refinement which alone can make
leisure valuable, or even safe.
We are happy to observe that strangers visiting
the city have learned to consider the Lyceum Gal
lery one Of the legitimate shows. This, with the
,hrong which 6ls the Ar-Union Gallery daily, as
well as the Dusseldorf Collection, gives us good
hope for the future, while we lament the compsrs-
tive carelcssncss OF the present