New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-09
ART ITEMS.


Tho liveliest season in the art-word of Europe is
the deadest for art with The month of June
lie the very carnival for artists in London and Paris and
the great exhibitions open In those great capitals
mpar extraordinary interest all artistic undertakings.
American artists do not figure prominently either in
the French or the English exhibitions, though Crop
seys landscapes in the Royal Academy said 10 be
among the finest exhibited. An American artist now
in London writes in a very complimentary manner Of
own landscape artists when compared with those
Of England. He says: ut is paying American art
poor compliment 10 say that the landscapes in this last
Academy Exhibition in Tenth-street, as q whole, and
in particular instances, rank infinitely above those
In Trafalgar-square." Kensett, Church, and George
l.. Brown are rated much superior TO any THO Of
English andscapsts, and Cropseys picture is said to
be the best landscape in the Exhibition Of the Roy al
Academy. The two paintings of Brown exhibit
ing in London are said 10 have beea highly successful
In attracting crowds OF visitors. TIE critic s
very barsh in his judgments Oh he Pre-Raphaelites.
Not only the subjects choeen by them trivial and
unmesniDg but the treatment Of them h feeble and
certain the drawing ungaoeful and faulty and in both
figures and LANDSCAPE painting you will Ind not only
most abec slavery 10 obsoete conventonsties but
utter want Of ths. beautiful consideration, study Of
nature, without which you cannot expect as1thng
approaching tru. art" We canno, dispute tho correct
ness Of this sweeping criticism, because have not
seen the works upon which il is made. But what we
do know is that to the examples and teachings
Of the Pre-Raphaelites better kind Of art, shSwn
in illustrated publications, than has been before
since the days Of Hogarth. The Pre-Rsphaeltes may
be full of eccenricities; but they have shown AZ
earnest desre 10 nfuse into the minds Of their country
men hearty and bonest love Of nature which is in
riking contrast the efeminacy and hippancy which
had characterized British art for the last half century
-Kensett was In London, early in June, but he IA
now probably, in Switzerland, where be expected to
spend month.
The average number Of works Of art exhibited at
the annual exhibitions Of our National Academy Is
about four hundreds tho number in tho present exhib
don Of the Royal Academy in London is eleven hun-
dred while in the biennial exhibition open in Paris
there are four thousand. These numbers fair in
dication Of the relative importance attached to art In
the three countries. There several American ar.
tists who figure in the Paris Exhibition. Mr.. Fagnani,
who though an American citizen hardly be called
an American artist, 10 ranked among them. He has
four pictures in the gallery, one Of which is por-
trait Of Richard Golden, and another Of Garbaldi.
Mr.. Z. Fl. May exhibits two, one called the :" Last
Days of Christopher Columbus," which has had the
honor of being carricatured In Charisari, and the
other scene from Wsverley, "The Fight between the
Baron Of Bradwardine and Balmawbappe," two names
which French type-stcker could manage to set up
correctly, and which appear the catalogue ss de
Bradvardine and Balmonbapp." May also exhibits
portrait of Captain Bonapane Of Baltimore. now in
the French army. The other American exhibitors
Mr.. C. p. Cranch, and Mr.. M p. W. Dana, Of Boston.
Mr Biard, whoee Pirate Ship" and Scene on the
Coat Of Africa" have made bis style and genius fan
ar on this side Of the Atlantic exhibits large number
of paintings of American subjects He is realistic
painter, and his treatment of such subjects The
Packing of Slaves in the Hold Of TN American Slave
Ship" Slave Auction in New-Oreans," Railroad
Travelling in North America" aud "Slavedrves
Catching Slaves with Bloodhounds," must have the
effect of giving the Paisans wholesome lesson Of the
"pecuar institution"
Mr.. sonntag the painter Of "a Dream of Italy,"
in the new Dusseldorf Gallery, goes TO Europe next
month, and will take a large number Of studies Of
American scenery with him to psiat from in Europe.
The only new work Of art recently put on exhibi-
ton here is Mr.. Rothermes timely painting represent
ing the reading Of the Declaration Of Independence in
Chestnut street, fhlihdeipns' III h Oh Nio" m "i'
Derby's Institute Of Fine Arts, In Broadway, from
which Mr.. Jarvess collection Of the old masters has
been removed. Mr.. Rothermel would not be injured
by studying the productions Of the Prc-Isapbaeites
What we miss in his "Resding Of the Declaration Of
Independence" Is that homely esrnestneSs which
gives 30 great charm 10 the new school Of English
and Belgian art.
The death of the yosng sculptor Paul Akers, in
Portland on the 2lst of last month, has not excited 30
much attention as the melancholy event would have
done but for the absorbing interest felt In the war;
He was a native Of Saearappa, in Maine, and was
printer before he turned his attention TO sculpture He
was IS years old at the time Of his DEATH and, had he
lived, would doubtless have achieved distinction In his
art. His best known work is the Dead Pearl-Diver,
now owned BY Mr.. Derby.