New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-27
THE FINE ARTS.
Lessing's NIarryrdOm of Huss.


Our recent critique Of this picture has, we are
happy to say, not been without effect. In com
munity like this, where public taste is only in
process Of formation, a full and intelligent discus
sion Of the merits Of a work of such pretensions,
must be useful.
The Erening Post OF Saturday week contained a
long and labored disquisition defending the pic
ture and handling us without gloves. TWAS from
the pen Of DR.. K0ner, German gentleman, most
respectfully recommended, and we believe, per
sonal friend Of Leasing. Before being taken to
the Post the article was offered to The Tribune.
where it would have appeared had the patience Of
the author allowed him to wait till we had room
We should have published it, not for its intrinsic
value, but because Of the personal request OF the
writer and because we like to let an opponent be
heard in our own columns. And now we propose
to notice, with all possible brevity, some few Of its
structures, but by no means because they possess
intrinsic sense and point enough to call for re-
ply In community sufficiently aware Of what
is true and false in Art to possess a standard OF
Judgment of its own, dissertations so Aimsy
might be left to their own speedy oblivion
Uut such ia not the case here. Those whose duty
it is to contribute in the education public taste
must be content to DO again and again what in
better circumstances would be unnecessary, and
to devote time and labor TO correcting the errone
Gus suggestions Of incompetence or mere personal
partially as well as to the better work Of original
criticism and ex PLANTATION. We notice DR.. Korners
defense Of LessiDg's Picture, moreover, because
it has been expressly Endorsed by the EreHiag
Post, with an insinuation from the Editor that We
would have modern Painting constructed on the
essential principles of the French tragedies Of the
time of Louis XIV. From this we charitably in.
fer that the Editor never read the article on which
he could thus remark. But hear the Doctor;
The critic in the oour,e Of his theoretical Introduction,
eudeavos bring the depreciation OF Lessngs picture,
ell the artistic productions Of modern painting 10 Ger
many, under merely the two heads genre and ideal art
ana 10 50 dong Gays OF lhs Oetsn aI ueals
imitation of downright vugar externally, or lis scars 10
ssy into the heaven Of the idea until u becomes divine"
Here he gives evidence 20 every one Wh2 mas seen even
single Of the msny exhibitions Of psntngsn Germany,
that he knows nothing OF the productions Of he modern
German Schools, or has Al least mol benel1 mem WIN
prscsed eye with he impartial eye Of the Until
atsd For mere thousands OF paintings OF modern Ger
man ART which divide onesl1ed classification OF these
works Of a housand-fold, among themselves they
form succession Of thousand inlemedis'e stages be-
tween the two dOcrna divisions Of The critic which he
stvles d" oesre9 and "idealsrtr The accusation
on the ground Of dOcrna theory OF art would not be OF
much consequence here II the doctrine Itself were not
Obsolete me-
As to the talk here about an obsolete doctrine it
is either the pardonable blunder of man who re-
plies to what he has not understood, or the wilful
dodge of one who seeks to throw in the eyes o.
the public good part OF the dust which, as he
says in another place, we have failed to see in
the picture.
A, we will suppose to be a man with short legs
who has disguised the fact by articles Of frock
coat, tight-strapped trOwsers and highheeled
boots. B, discovers and proclaims this fact. c,
the friend of the deficient gentleman, writes
long newspaper article crowded with learning
metaphysics and sentimentslity, not to disproye
the fact, but to exalt and glorify the peculiar
style of Disgusting it and to brand as obsolete
every judgment which does not forget the defor
nifty in admiration of its disguise. Such is the
procedure of our critic. In the Martyrdom o.
Huss, the artistic soul, the aspiration and unityoi
genius, is wanting. Leasing has sought to dis
guise it by sundry articles. We proclaim the
deficiency and prove it, so that every person
clear eyes and impartial judgment must be struck
by the fact. DR.. Korner comes. in and says We
are wrong because the distinction between idea
art and genre art is obsolete.
Apparently the good Doctor would have had Us
write an encyclopedia, leaving nothing about the
doctrine or practice Of art TO be implied instead
of a newspaper article, which can treat only in
general manner such topics as must be referred
TO, but are not Immediately under discussion.
But would our commentator deny that there is
any distinction between ideal and genre art He
says there are thousands Of pictures which can
rigidy be clsssed under neither head. No doubt
Of thas, but the distinction is nevertheless valid
So there are only three primary colors, bus they
may be combined and alleged 50 as to produce
thousands Of varying shades, which cannot be
clsssed as either blue red yellow. So the ideal
and genre styles may be blended till their distinc-
tive character vanishes and new styles are form.
ed But it is tedious to pursue this argument far
Their. 1t is permitted to suppose the mass Of
people to be possessed OF brains.
The following hits as IN another place:
The depreoiAior Of Lssslnss picture wanting in thor
oueh acquaintance with existing ART" Of Wtcl he lays
down sume principles with view determine the post
lion OF he DUsse dOr school Apart from his defective
rhhractezing Of several modern schools Of painting he
saws There three distinct sch Europe VIZ the
Germ an, the French, and he English thus naming me
Fnysh school a. AZ essenl. ones while even In whsf he
ssys n has accomplished. II l. hardly worth mentioning
This however, might be psrd0ued II be had and
characterized The fourth, The very important modern Bel
qn srk-a school In which The works Of Gppers Key
x.r Calst Van Roog. Sieve O. Caisae Gsirnaerf &c
leave I'll the Engish painters ~ The modern school, ~ o
d. present and peftafs 81 De- predicts that % M be n
ne German. s1d sii more from he Fie1ch school, ~
ufa ma cCmpOslACu AID e1cccat cO.Urng ls The cuuc