The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-05-12
The Fine Arts,

Baptist Church. 10 A. NJ ''''''~
The Fine Arts.
| national ACADEMY oP DEsIoN.-We iateiv
visited the National Academy of Design, the
twenty y-fourth annual exhibition of which has been
| open for about two weeks past, and we must con-
scientiously aver that we derived infinite pleasure
and satisfaction from this visit. The academy ia
situated in Broadway directly opposite Bond street.
where six commodious and well arranged rooms
have been recently erected, five of which are do
voted 10 painting, and to sculpture. II u
universally admitted that the present collection v
superior, both in respect to variety and excellence,
to any other that has yet been exhibited in the
city of New York. or in any other part of this coun
try. few tedious hours can be most agreeably
whiled away in the exhibition of this institu-
ton, where you can see and acquire a knowledge
of some Of the best creations of Durand, Cropsey.
Huntington, Gray, &C., and are enabled to cal
culate the extent of one years advancement in tho
art of painting. In taking cursory survey Of the
whole collection, we have selected the following
productions, for the purpose of passing few brief
remarks on their general merits or dement's.
No. 229-A oaWdieiight e6ecf.-This painting. by
Prausehedder is evidently intended to represent the
effect or candelght, which effect the artist has
produced with consummate skill and success. The
scene is in all probability placed in Rotterdam. and
the three principal figures seen in the foreground
are market women and purchaser formed into a
gronp round stall, which Is heavily laden With
candle is standing, forming the main feature OF at
traction in the painting. Behind and on each side
are observed several buildings of the city, while
| the pale rays of the moon, shining through tho
| passing clouds, are visible on the background.
| The front group just mentioned, which are rem
dered conspicuous by the light of the candle on the
stall, is unquestionably a masery representation.
The painting being placed in excellent point Of
vision, so naturally is the light of the candle
dered, that, when subjected to close examination.
the eyes appear to be affected by its bright
ness, and you imagine for a while to be be-
holding the actual light Of candle before you.
The design of the artist, in the delineaon OF this
scene, must be admitted has been fully realized
No. 3s.-Thanatopsis, by Durand, the subject OF
which is taken from Bryant. This picture, which
is, undoubtedly, the gem of the whole collection.
is of very complicated nature, but whose exc
| cution and general finish abundantly testify the
extensive knowledge the artist possesses OF nature.
| II represents beautiful and wide-extended land
| scape, embracing variety OF objects. On one
side is observed line Of rocks, extending far as
| the vision can reach, and gradually diminishing in
| size they advance in the perspective. Their
| fattened SUBMITS are covered with trees. On the
| other side, we view several eminences, likewise
| clad with various kinds OF dark forest trees. In
| the middle Of the scene a lively riyulet, whose
verdant banks anon diversified with shrubs
and bushes pursues its mcandering course through
the smiling plain, until lost in the waters OF lake.
The scenes in the distance, ana the atmosphere, |,
! arc rcr"irIcd with soah exapiSite delicacy and
warmth of coloring, as can only eminatc rontne
| pencil OF true artist; while the meilowness Of
! the setting sun, whose rays impart TO the whole
landscape "a bright golden iingc, ~ inflated with
faithfulness and accuracy that must satisfy every
| admirer Of nature, and blunt the edge of cri-
| ticlsm.
No. SD Marine, by Huntineton. 1t is the IN
tenton Of the artist TO convey, IN this picture, an
idea OF the wilder scenes OF nature and, IN haal-
ling this subject, he certainly evinccs considerable
| skill Of design and boldness of execution. The
| long range Of bold and towering cliffs, az anst
which the angry. pillows beat with merciless fairy.
| heaying on high the rebouDdng spray, and the
| heavy, lowering clouds. floating past, through
which the obscure light Of the sun Is partially vis-
bic, may be pronounced "horribly grand and
leave upon The mind impressions OF gloominess, of
dread and Of awe. We are Of opinion that the
cloudy sky might have tolerated somew hat darker
shade, which would, undoubtedly, have heightened
the effect Of the scene. The other Objects however,
the sea, the fishermen in the foreground, and, in par
ticular the extensive line of rocks, which char
actcrzcd by grandeur OF conception, minute atien-
ton To every part and the execution Of bold and
| daring pencil, are, without cxaggcfatOn, unexcep-
tonabe and stamp this picture as one Of the best in
| the collection.
| No. 23O.-1mrc di Serrps, by Cropscy.--T This
picture gives you representation Of the Tower of
| Scrvus, which stands on the Campaigns Ronagna,
in a dapidaied condition. The cOloring Of the at
| mosphcTe is warm, 90 which the light OF the sun
| gives peculiar glowing brightness. The ruins OF
| the lower. in front OF which you observe sLep-
herd boy tending flock of goats, and the long line
of rocks, beautifully disappearing in the distance.
are managed with considerable ability. The
whole is good and pleasing, although from the al
most total absence of vegetation, and the drcary
aspect Of the dilaped tower, Il imParts the idea OF
| solitude. melancholy and transieniness.
No. 2.7l.-Nrcnc en- me RfHc, by Grittcn, an
English artst--The subject of this painting s taken
| from the scenery on the Rhine. where nature
presents herself in all her oyeness, sublImity and
grandeur. Ihe scene - pleasing, although Il
lcced more appropriate subject for the display of
his genius. II represents a small village, with a
| partial view Of the majestic Rhine, IN which you
see several boats moored to the strand. The rocks
| in the back gruond. covered with denscly
forest trees, and the distant view Of the towe ring
| ruins Of some old castle, whose hoary walls and
lofty batlcments spread over the scene the fascina-
| ton Of romance with the vcnemtion of antiquity.
! are skiiuy delincatcd. The coloring Of tho
whole, may be observed in several other pro-
ductons Of this artist, is stnckingy characteristics,
| being mixture Of light grey and yellow.
No. ~. 0.-Landscops, by Durand.-This picture,
executed in the artists most happy style. uniolds
| lovely landscape, whose beauty OF scenery ,nyo-
UNFAIRLY likes the gaze Of the observer VINO ieeis
| the desire TO be placed in the calm and tfanamlhy
of those shady groves genial 20 the mind, wrapt
| in contemplation and wonderment. The two trecs
in the fore ground whose branches meet and inter
lace forming a neatly finished arch, display care
| ful and elaborate execution, while the beautiful
vsias the village spire in the distance, the water,
and the atmosphere, whose dreaniiness gives to-
| The whole a peculiar charm, highly commend thus
picture and will, undoubtedly, make Il one OF the
| fayofitcs.
| The want of space reluctantly compels ne 10 ter
inmate our rather agreeable task ior to-day. ~ =
| our intention however, 10 embrace the earliest
opportunity Of paying another visit 70 the National
| Aead, my Of Design, with the view of selecting
some more OF the paintings for our special notice
and observation and 20 continue this mode Of pro-
| cceding until we shall have exhausted the whols
| collection.
| United States District Court.
N ApNInAfTr.