The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-11

In the field together. II they don't make an
excitement nobody can.
DISSERTATION OF ARr-PAGEs VENus.-There
is just now on exhibition at the Dusseldorf
Gallery, in the same building with Mr.. Chapins
church, picture by an American artist, the
subject of which is the last that we would
expect to find in such a vicinage It is nude
Venus, painted in all the voluptuous attributes
of early Italian art, and rivalliDg in the glow
ing tmhfulness of its flesh tints the master
pieces Of Correggio and Titan. Faulty it is
in many respects, but in its sensual Characters
tics it is full of the warmth and fire with which
the painters of the Erotic School loved to in
vest their creations. AS an effort of modern
art it is wonderful; for in richness, clearness
and purity of coloring it is not only exquisitely
true to nature, but it reproduces those pecu-
larities for which the works of the old masters
are SO much esteemed. From this description
it will be inferred how dangerous a subject of
the kind SO treated must prove in an exhibit
ton which is daily frequented by hundreds of
male and female visiters. We know of nothing
which tends more directly to deprave the mind,
fer the very truth and artistic excellence of
the picture leave but little for the imagination
to realize.
We can neither understand the ambition
which prompted the artist to make this indis-
oriminate exhibition of his work, nor the good
taste or sense of propriety of the directors Of
the gallery which induced them to give place
to it. They neither of them can plead igno-
rance Of the effect that it was likely to pro-
duce; for, as is well known, the picture was re-
fused admission, on account of its indecency
al the last Paris Exhibition. The same fate would
probably have attended it had it been present
ed for general inspection at any other of the
Continental galleries. Those who have visited
Italy and Germany cannot have forgotten the
reserve with which pictures of this kind are
shown to the public. Although for the benefit
of art students they are not refused place
when their merits entitle them to it, it is &C
corded on the condition that they shall be con-
eealed by curtain, to be withdrawn only by
those who have professional or artistic motive
for examining them. By this arrangement the
scruples of modest females and the innocence
Of children are protected against surprise, or
against what would be almost as undesirable,
the necessity Of absenting themselves altogether
from places in which instruction and amuse-
ment can be found.
Have we descended so low in our notions of
decency that we are to be told in this blunt
practical sort Of way that the safeguards with
which it is found expedient to surround
public morals abroad have no longer any
weight with us? If the nude efigy of the God
dess of Love can be thus enshrined with impu-
nifty in our public places, and under the same
roof with Christian congregations, it is plain
that we must be on the high road to universal
license and infdelity. This may be the opinion
of Mr.. Page and the directors of the Dusseldorf
Gallery, but we would fain believe that we
have not as yet arrived at such a depth of de-
graduation. If we are right in this conclusion,
the general feeling of the public will bear us
out for we maintain that greater outrage has
never yet been offered to the moral sense of a
community.