New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-05-05
FXHIBITYON or THE ACADEMY or
DESIGN.
FIRST ARTICLE.

A collection OF more than eight hundTed picA"irsi
made without reference to any unity of purpose ana
admitting almost without question anything that
offers, would, in any country, undoubtedly include
many things absolutely bad many very Indifferent az
well az some, where painting has reached the dignity
Of Fine Art, honorable TO the artists and credtah!e
TO the community in which they live. Should some
enerprsing person undertake 10 collect gallery OF
American paintings to exhibit abroad, the English
and French collections exhibited here, little
more than year ago there isevdeDce enough at the
Academy to show that such an enterprise might be
made quite a. honorable to American Art, az those
were 70 their respective countries. THIS however,
s on the suppostion that these eight hundred paint
ings be carefully criticised and that those which are
chosen shall be taken as representative pictures 10
which others of ike character may be added.
Looking at the Academy Exhibition from this point Of
view as an evidence ofthe possible in art among ne, we
have reason to be proud OF it. As proof beside of
the activity Of the artistic faculty among and Of
the warm interest taken art in this country such en-
exhibition is gratifying and promising. That it con-
tains much that poor, and much that is Indifferent,
il only natural, and no than would occur any
where else where good, bad and Indifferent alike find
admittance. That il Is much the largest gallery that
the Academy has yet opened, is encouraging; il as
certainly true that the poor and Indifferent pictures
are each year fewer and fewer; and it follows, of
course, that there is very marked improvement in
its character az a whole. The conclusion is that we
have larger and better exhibition than ever before,
and this result is honorable TO American srt-a term
which covers general culture as well ~ particular
production-and to American artists.
walk through the rooms reveals another very
obvious and pleasant fact namely, that the walls are
adorned with fewer portraits of gentlemen and ladies
than heretofore. Not that good portraits are not
pleasant to look at and worthy of being paintedfOr
come of our best artists do nothing else-but the
gradual disappearance of poor heads, poor by nature
and poor by art seems to show either that artists
have taken wider range, or that those who could
only paint these indiferently well, have discovered
that their talents may find better exercise in some
other walk of life. Perhaps may thank photo
graphy for this Poor paintings in oil cannot compete
with the portraits which may be had in a day, and
from five minutes sitting, in some of the photo
graphic galleries; and perhaps, too, there are men
who find profitable and creditable employment in this
new branch of art, who, but for that, would have
continued to vex eyes and our spirits in Academy
Exhibitions, with counterfeit presentments of their
confdipg and unhappy friends.
The gallery is rich in crayOns; rich, that is, in
character rather than in numbers. One is attracted
by these first entering Lawrence has several heads,
all with his bold, spirited, characteristic drawing,
chief among which is portrait OF Mrs. Kemble II is
fine picture and better mere likeness than Law
renee are apt to be. We look for Rowses but find.
we think, but two Of them One is lady of lovely
face but of singular conformation, tapering almost
to point. 1t will hardly do to suspect that Rowse
can do anything out of drawing, but portrait for
public exhibition had better be without pecularities
Al u n.
other side Of the room is the head of child by the
same artist, delicatey and beautifully drawn, bu.
it strikes U.S. with something of hardness of outline
about the eyes, perhaps arising from a want of
shadow. Saintin exhibits number of crayon draw
ings portraits of ladies and gentlemen Two of them,
we observe are cataogued as ladies' which to
be children; which they As the latter they are
excellent, but women they papable mistakes.
Several Of his pictures however, among the best
specimens We have ever seen Of tineness of touch.
Mrs. ildreth also excels in crayon portraits. That Of
her husband is fine picture, and admirable likeness.
Spring, Summer Autumn and Winter-alegorical
pieces by Oerteare well conceived, snd very beau
tifully drawn The -Four Great Prophets by him
also very finely executed but one can hardly fail TO
see that there is but one face among the four, mod
fed, it is true by difference of expression and
crsyons the excellence and delicacy which dis
tiuguish his painting, and which may be seen in
No. 245, cabinet picture of gentleman in a minia-
ture of lady no. 3i9l, and in No. 81, water-color
drawing in his best style. A Moonligh and Aurora
Boress no. $500 by him rather disappoints u.s.
Though richly coored, the borealis wants the fitting
coruscations which, after all perhaps it is imposs
bic to convey To that should rather admire
the attempt than crticse its OF entire success
+. johnson is wonderful in crayons, as indeed, he is
in colors--of which we shall speak presently. His
Roman Girl figure full of grace and dignity, has in
its light and shade all the effect of color, and soft
and decacy of outline altogether unsurpassed
in this line Of art. Pastel the Prise r, has the same
merits; the attitude noble, and face full OF touching
expression If suffering and endurance, and the rapt
look of deep thought. Til one comes to Johnson's
paintings in oils if not already familiar with them
can hardly help hoping that he restricts himself
10 the crayon Darby's pencil sketches are exquisite
for their perfect drawing and fine handling, and
never variable. These illustrations suggest the
question-which was the most fortunate, he in having
Cooper, or Cooper in having him We notice No.
l26 Lady crayoul, by John Pope, which is well
drawn; and We cannot help seeing Others crsyons
and pencl-sketches which bad-bad in design,
bad in execution and bad in taste; but is hardly
worth while TO point them out. But let u, not be
understood pronouncing all unworthy which W.
have not particularly designated a. pointing out
oil that are worth looking at. There are many which
are promising and some which excellent, a. well
a. many which Are bad. But We csnrot pause 10
eriticise each Of the SIS pictures.
We have not yet a water-color school among Us.
IL. 81, tharr