New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-07-29
The Fine Arts Exhibition NJ Paris.


The exhibition az Paris this season pro.
duced. for entrance fees s., COO, and the sale Of
CATALOGUES - 600 and for taking charge Of canes,
umbrellas, Sc, $1,000 IN aggregate of $4,000.
I he cost of the gallery constructed for the exh-
biton in the Court Of the Paais Royal was S5.2O0,
and thus The net proceeds to be applied 70 the
pu,chase Of works Of art amounts TO only 800.
The first Prize, an honorary medal, was game
BY the Statue Of Sappho, exhibited by the sculp-
tor Prader, who died before the award of the
medal. The Sappho is not considered as Pradler's
best work. nor can it be ranked in the highest
class of works of art. The award was probably
made a. Il re ,ogntion of the high desert of the
Tan snted artist.
The catalogue contained l,1j7 numbers, Of
which I2S0 were paintings, ~ works Of the
sculptor 81 engravngs, 81 autographs, and Go ar.
chtectural drawings and plans. The number Of
exhibitors was about LOO, no person being al
lowed 20 FL more than three numbers.
One Of the principal pictures exhibited was an
in mtnye painting by Horace Vernet, intended to
commemorate the recent taking Of Rome by the
French. The picture covered nearly an entire
side Of the principal hall, and the figures are hall
the ,i2e Of hie. The great difficulty, and one
which NcEne,, as judicious critic informs us, has
not succeeded in fully overcoming, was to produce
a historic painting instead Of II mere panorama.
IL IS indispensable thst ID the former there be some
one object to which all the action CT the piece
tends, central point; this is not accomplished by
the artist; the eye wsnd~r- r"stis~si,' Gom group
TO group and from figure to figure, and seeks in
vain for some spot on which to rest.
The scene chosen for representation is the TAX
ing Of an outpost near one OF the bastions, by the
FRI nch. The inside OF the bas,ion forms the
foreground Of the picture, the middle space is oc
cupied by the Notifications in front of the bastion
and the back ground shewS the wide spread Cam
peena, the scene being complete in it5 historical
correctness. NeInet has sought to supply the
want Of the central point above mentioned by
the intI oduction Of strong light in the middle Of
the picture. Here is introduced group of SOL
dieTs, among which il the commander of the out
post, who, uiam ed but iull of courage, just as
they are eating their supper, are surprised by a
party Of French Infantry. 4 lamp, whose light
bar puIpos'ly been partially concealed, but is
tossed by the wind, throws it's strong beams upon
There is no want Of truth and exactness in this
picture. Indeed, much that would have added 10
it's value mere work Of art has been sacrificed
10 truth. lie has been careful tai give that cold
difuse light which imnt diately pre- edes sunrise,
that being the hour IN winch tse scene depicted
actually occurred, light unpleasant, to the eye,
every one who has paid attention 20 these
things, knows. deep blue fills the picture frame
down to the center; and then come the blue UNI
forms of the French and Italians. The light ofthe
lamp goes but little way to relieve the eve from
the impression caused by 50 much OF single color
The execution of the work IS masHfcent the
national characteristics Of the com1atants are
perfectly preserved, and the tightening ofihe fire.
arms Is ss'u!ly employed as means ciobtaiaing
lights and shadows. No distinguished personage,
not even an officer Of high rank appears in the Pic
ture; the canvass discusses every where IN lie
band to hand. contests, in which the bayonet AMI
sort of rude animal courage rule. In all the
merely echGuical detGs, in It's entire execution,
one recognized at once the unsurpassed skill Of
Nerne hut the great distingus hipg feature OF his-
tore painting IS wanting. The pictRre is 20 BE
added % the seiles concentrating the deeds OF
the French armies-ond il is well fitted for it,
place, for It i flied WIKI G-eds, though i repre-
cents no great action.
MeIssonler exhibited three sinai nut exqais .e
pictures; a man who j. sk,llfly proy.n. the
sharpness OF a sword, two Braves in intense ex-
citrment listening al .eyho'e, aHi young man
at work. These small but extraordinary pictures
have led TO the production of Z whole series upon
similar subjects, which are by no means bad.
Antigua spuPil OF Deiarocse, exhb-ed d pc
ture, which va. much admired, OF q family Of
peasants seeking safety from ;reshet .y es.er 10
10 the roof OF their cottage.
ARRIVAL or THE Us. BEIe PoRpolsE.