The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-02

the golden age Of art they not TO DO found in
the richest collections in Italy We are, notwish-
standing, fully convinced that the landscape Ono.
! Hobbema (unless it be RuysdaeD could have shed
such a depth and gloom over the pool which forms
the centre Of the picture The richness Of cooring,
| too, is an indisputable sign Of Hobbema.
1t is rot surprising that gallery which contains
aHobbema should possess seven paintings by Rubens.
| His works 20 numerous, and his imitators
have been 80 successful that Rubenses are to 30
found in every second third rate gallery ia
Europe This is the place to acknowledge our utter
dissent from the received opinions respecting
Rubens We do not like them. Not all tho
brilancy OF his color, or the charm Of his compost
ton, can atone, in our eyes, for his grievous disrs
gard of the elementary rules of dsgn With the ex-
cepon of his landscapes and portraits, have
but one painting by Rubeps, the drawing of which
was irreproachable. We could not find moro striking
examples of this fault than Of the paintings in
the Bryan Gallery We should be inclined to pity the
taste of the Elders, whose gaze is fixed the am
pie proportions OF his Susanna, did not closer
glance reveal the fact that the gentlemen in ques-
ion have none OF that prurency of expression which
has generally been attributed to them. They seem
rather ashamed of the lady's want of clothing
''St Catherine" is jolly lass, with red cheeks and
fexen hair; We are sorry to perceive that she has
been unfortunate enough to disoca,e her wrist.
The Christ is an average picture; but the Lion
which Hercules is about to strange bears re-
semblance to hippopotamus. His best works
the 9 Portrait of Knight" which is marked by an
extraordinary ygor and energy ofpencil and the mo
Rubers harmony and richness of color We caunot
help thinking that Vandyck only painted the face of
the Portrait of Princess mo 800; the hand and
arm are assuredly not his, and yet, We fancy 20
/ The CruciiXion'-a subject which he repeated
several times-presents the same peculiar appear
ance-the face is that of corpse, the body yet
life in it. The Portraits of Charles must only be
considered as sketches, made to guide the SCULPTOR
they sadly deficient in color. We puzzled to
attribute the miniature of st. Louis to Vandyok.
He seldom cramped himself in 80 small space, or
finished his paintings Ia Mgnard.
We ought to say something Of a "Portrait Of .
JansensJ," in Philippe Champagne's broadcast man
ner.of finished portrait, with excellent drapery,
by Sir Peter Lely-of enc of Heff's usual archi-
tectural paintings-of Snyder, whose sun set
on the day which gave TO the werld Edw0 Land
seer-and of one two others painters who deserve
notice. But we have already consumed too much
space, dmust leave for the French school.
Nicolas Poussin is represented by three paintings,
more Of which We should take to be spurious, but
! which are evidently not his masterpieces. There
are traces Of his power and simplicity in ALL but the
dignity and exquisite taste which characterize him
in the Louvre viii be here looked for in vain.
For Claude Gelee d'Lorraine We have pous ven
Grafton We believe that the warmth, the life, the
poetry of his landscapes, have never been equallod-
We doubt if they ever can be surpassed 1t with
feelings Of disappointment that We gazed at the two
paintings which bear his name in the Bryan gallery.
The first we should, at rough guess, have pro-
badly ascribed to Poussin it reveals none of Claudes
warmth, and reminds one forcibly Of some of Pous-
tlu laIer Woke Inc Sm6iler picture, tn0ugn q
work Of high merit, and well worth the attention
Of connosseurs, does not display that richness Of
color and transparency of light which constitute
Clsudes chief beauty We would not have him
judged by them.
A couple of neat pictures by Mignard are not de-
fcent in his accustomed grace Lebrun is repre-
rented BY bold portrait, and Lefevre by noble
dolneAtion OF tho dne countenance Of Puget, the
sculptor. Sketch, in the manner of Giorgione,"
by the famous Vatican, il lively and syTituei; it
would be beautiful ornament to any bo.doir. By
Greuze We have several good heads. in his peculiar
Virsinia with dishevelled hair, and eyes raised in
prayer or agony to Heaven, is exquisite creation
sne OF the most delicious if not the most delicious
painting in the gallery. Both the Vernets here.
Moonlight View at Baia,'' by Joseph, is soft
AID tender, like most Of his moonlight scenes.
Horace is rather stability represented by picture
Of Napoleon At Charlere,'' which, We are told,
ornamented tho private study Of Louis Philippe.
Neither man nor horse are worthy of Horace Yer
nets fame.
A few native artists, Thomas Sully, Of Philadel-
West, Of New York, whose " Confessional" il CEN
sclentously executed, and one or two others, COM
plete the catalogue.
In this gallery We have, perhaps, been hypercriti
cal in judging of of the paintings but we felt
that the collection could bear severe scrutiny.
the pie asu1e Of visit to find tho sentemsnly pro
pIietor too happy to give one the benefit of his
gestions and information, without, like many We
have kn0 wn, thTusting his comments on the ear or
claiming dogmatically for his paintings an origin
Atty which cannot. in most cases. be contested.
The Patent ONCE Mt washington.
The east wing Of the Patent Office being nov nearly
completed Gays correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun,
the site Of which there indications Of early
commencement of work. Thomas U. Walter, ESQ the I
architect of public buildings expresses opinion that
the the wing essential per-
nanepcy of the centre building He estimates the entire
ooet $545000 granite other materials which be
are worth ST. 0GO-leaving the sum Of $3.50 600 Toe
plan OF the west wing contempates the construction OF
each story in continuous Of sixty three feet in
width and two hundred and seventy feet in length the
floors to be supported by arches sprnsing fro granite
piers in the sub basement and the basem. mt and from
marble piers in the principal and attic stories In
sequence CT the great descent Of the western half Of
basement Of feet in heighth entirely out Of
ground making story in this than in the ont
wing The architect shows the importance Of bring
ing the centre building nearly possible into har
mopy with the wings and suggests the propety Of alter
with those OF the new buildings This is conceived not
only TO the beauty of the design but also
the comfort and convenience Of the clerks who ocsupy
the they light Another incoDgruty In the exter
nal appearance is the rock work of the Of
centre building standing as it does in juxtapostion
with the smooth mai bic basement OF the wing Nc Wal
ter recommends q method Of obviaDg as far pos
eibe this objection that the rough surface of the granite
work be dressed off and brought nearly into
ty to the marble may be done without cutting iuto
rustics lie expresses the opinion that 1t would be
hazardous TO attempt to ruscate this part Of the
to correspond with the wing, it Is very doubfal
whether the joints would hold good to the depth of the
rutics. IL however, the wall Is brought to : smooth
eufacc and painted like the rest Of the building the
wsnt Of entire uniformity would not be observed.
Designed by the architect is the novel beautiful
and entirely FIRE proof construction Of the Capitol Lii
bray building It's present dimensions IN width, 81
feet inches the width "a feet inches and II IL 37n
feet high The roof ceiling, alcoves, shelves flooring
every part Of it's composed Of iron, good portion Of
which is handsomely ornam.nted Circular stsrcases
formed within the original walls The ceiling is al
yded into panels the centre being covered with ground
glass admitting flood Of light upon all below. This
BILE work is executed by Messrs James Bebse Co.. Of
New York assisted by Mr.. John skrying, as general
ptrinteDdert
The Commissioner Of Public Buildings has also caused
TO be constructed the top Of the capitol edfce
pumps which are always suffice nifty supplied with
TO deuge the entire building If necessary, in the event
OF smother fire.
NEW RouTR ACROSS The Case Anrs 70 Qprnnx