New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-04
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY or DESIGN.

The National Academy of Design opened It's annual
exhibition this year under circumstances of more than
common interest s new rooms having Just previously
been occupied by two collections of paintings, both
extraordinary, and one of them excellent. The first
was the English collection, mainly made up of dupli-
Gates and inferior original Pre-Raphaefte works
then followed the Belmont collection, with pictures
carefully selected from the studios OF many OF the best
artists DOW living in Germany, Belgium and France,
and fairly representing the renown which they have
gained throughout Europe. This collection was closed
to make way for the exhibition of the Academy; and
when we consider the greater number OF works which
this exhibition includes, and the fact that TO grea
extent it s made up Of the works OF artists whose
regulations are not yet established we must admit that
IT well sustains a comparison not only with the pre-
vious exhibitions of the Academy, but with those
European collections to which We have referred.
The idea that our people are only materialsts, and
that they are incapable OF approaching the line arts
are nsensible TO the intellectual and refining influence
which art exerts, is fast losing ground and in fair
way 10 become obsolete. We need no greater evidence
of this truth than TIE fact that through the recent most
depressing commercial revulsion the actors have filed
the theaters that the opera has been unusually sue
cessfu that the exhibitions of pictures have been
numerous and successful than hitheto and that our
mineral artists have had and better orders than
ever before
The annual exhibitions OF the Academy are strsinsy
deficient in historical pictures, for the obvious reason
that we have not the organized appliances necessary
to the study of that branch OF art; while in the depart
ments Of genre Landscape and portrature, where our
artists have the means Of study IN constant practice
from patre we are behind school in Europe, and, in
many of the qualities essential tofne art, stand already
with few exceptions, in the foremost rank. One reason
for this il doubtless owing the absence OF academies
which always ncucae conyentionallties and manner
sm. and without which the artists are thrown al once
upon the resources of nature, as consequence OF
which their works, no matter how naive and simple,
| hear with them an air Of freshness and truth.
The portrai,s in this exhibition not very rumer-
ons a. COMPARED with former years and Of consid-
cradle interest no. only being OF distinguished per-
| sons but As works of art. The fine pencling and
able likeness in No. ll3 Judge Ingraham and
No $50 james 7. Brady, in Mr.. Elotts happiest
manner Iudeed all his pictures are Characterised by
a da,hinc yieor. In Nos. 50 Mr. Hsleck, 10 C. IL.
Ward esq.l. and 81 the Portfolio, Mr.. Hicks main
tains his rank in potratue, giving expression without
e1,ggeratiop and color with truthful and powerful
| simplicity. Mr. Baker exhibits his usual delicate
manipulation in Lis portraits of children and No. p a
| gertlemsn lie a good likeness.
Mr. Healys portraits of ladies are very striking and
attractive, though ii is somewhat strange that three
subjects should be treated precisely in the same
way. The portraits by Mr.. Pratt Mr.. Carpenter, Mr..
pove Mr. Stone Mr. Stevens, Mr.. Fisher, and others,
are quite equal to their works in former exhibitions
In the department Of genre pictures there are come
new names. Mr.. McClurg exhibits four pictures, the
hest of which are No. li6 Comfort the Afflicted and
800 Tpe Album. In these pictures there Is feeling
Of delcacy, both in sentiment and color No. % lAp-
pie Gathering, by Mr.. Thomson clever ana not un
pleasing. Nos. "a Haunted Mountain anu % ,Anses
on T,ipoa are the most striking pictures by Mr.. Car
Tor The latter is historical and If not free from e1
srrers,iop Mr.. IAmbdin has four pictures and IN al
there is visible falling of from the one be e1hioet
lac. year Perh.p. the best Of the four Is No. O.
.Corysle.cent), the sentiment Of which : more Tor
;uIate ;hsn he execution Of The vorh. NJ kosslitr'