New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-09
rHE ENUIBgTV0N OP PICTURES
AT THE METROPOLITAN FAIR.

FIXTURES, which by the unstnted generosity OF owners
and artists acting together in large and liberal sprit
free from all small motives, and private or personel con-
alterations offers US view Of the present condition Of
the Art Of Painting IN America, such as, for conpre
AenSiyeness and the pleasurabe ease with which it
be studied has before been possible TO attain
Beside that the collection is one in ITSELF of high
valuo and interest; il is so thoroughly well arranged
and lighted that the enjoyment Of seeing it is greatly
enhanced We doubt if there have ever been 70 many
good pictures and few poor brought together
into room in this countryi certainly the number Of
excellent works and Of works which, from the wide in
terest and discussion they excite entitled TO serious
consideration far surpasses that of the positively bad
and Of the Indifferent
We presume that desire to have some striking pic
fure with subject that should appeal 20 our patriotism
In the most conspicuous place in the gallery prompted
the Art Committee TO hang Leutze's " Washington
Crossing the Delaware" in the commanding position it
occupies covering as it does the entire north end Of
the room. On several grounds We should have been
glad TO see it differently placed We dislike, ex.
eeediugy the spirit in which the subject is treated the
arrangement Of the figures and the style OF the paint
ing: aud we shoud rejoice If the popular verdict, on
seeing the picture again after its long seouson should
prove that the day is passing away when production
essentially commonplace, not to say vulgar can be
elevated to tie rank OF a masterpiece
1t cannot but be admitted by every man, who has a
tentively studied what is going in the world of art
In our day. that We are in the midst Of great reyou
tioD; that
The old order chsngetb, yielding place to news
that truth and are every day, calling the youth
And genius of the world to their service with voices OF
command that win glad obedencei and that art ever
and more, responds 10 the demand of humanity
for whose culture and education in all noble thoughts
and purposes she alone exists that she should feed no
longer with eneryating luxurieS nor with meats That
stir and the lower PASSIONS nor yet with dust
snd chaf but with food fit for race that dimly spies,
at length after long centuries of doubt and stumbling
t glorious future and giTds itself like giant for the
ssce
If this shall be thought too rosecoored statement
hy those who take a less hopeful view of the age in
which live, We can only assert that Onr times
have to our individual ear voice of less lofty cheer
and encouragement and especially in spite of all draw.
backs which, also, we have well considered do We
SecogniSe these nobler aspirations and tendencies in all
Chat belongs to the culture of our Relis seems
b be becoming catholic and TO be concerned
xore and more with our essential life; politics are be-
somng wiser and humane art is less and less the
dainty and exclusive food of connoseurs and is sriv
and wider aim than then in the education Of the
And, believing this we would have been glad 80 see
erownDg the walls of room whose contents add the
consecration OF art to the material products of
industry which crowd the remaining space prodiga
oyerteemng, some work. or set Of works, if by any
neans they could have been procured which would
have given US instead OF fIsehood simple trnth-ia
stsad Of theatrical attitudenizing, the charm of indi
Sdual manners-instead of the cold formaltes or the
ebrced extravagances OF the academy the manliness
and grace and careless Of nature. This picture is
in truth striking representative Of the school that is
dying ont but submit that such a splendid mani.
fssadon Of national yigor and buoyant life and spirit
this Fair Of ought TO have put in its place Of
highest honor, not drop with the mythical
Washington striking attitude. but something more
scal and smacking Of the time
Mr. Leuse Is represented here by six pictures which
afford an ample opportunity Of judging of his merit
Merit he undoubtedly has but il is Of the most material
kind. Everything that he does displays a certain rude
vgor, and he draws well enough pass muster among
GDcritic people. Nor is il at all surprising that he
ehould have achieved his present reputation for nothing
was to be expected than that his animal Ygor and
sricous style should take the unframed public In its
3alad days. But shall be disappointed if the public
30 not prove to be no longer green in Judgment Surely
here enough among who viii fail TO find in these
pictures that depth OF meaning srbtety Of thought and
power Of Interpreting events and human character .
which make the charm of so many modern works. !
There must be many who viii look with blank disap- /
sentiment upon this picture of Hester Prynne and Lit
tePearl. and wonder that man with soul in him
could read that awful book and straghtwey proceed to
paint this vanished fgurehead without trace Of any
Anman experience without the dimmest suggestion Of
The storm Of passion she has passed through the
night Of starless gloom in which she opes her way 10
God. We trust that there are few among those who /
cherish love for art any high OF its duties
who look without dspeasure at such utter failures
this TO reproduce the creation Of genips-faure oil
fe more discredtable because SO pretentous and so
bbudly heraded.
We have not time 10 examine the remaining pictures !
Of Mr.. Leutze He shows great confidence in the YER
satity Of his powers and takes oil subjects with
Indifference. His "Pro Patria"-" Florence Nightin.
gale in the Hospital at Scutari-is beneath contempt
u is absurd in conception, meodrsmatc in treatment
and in the badness of its drawing comprehensive |
miracle. His latest work. Venice Triumphant il as
unreal as his earliest he never aims at the truth but
oaly at effect and glitter; and produces at the best as
On this pictnre-wheh nearest to his abilities
nothing better than striking specimen Of scene paint
kg
Mr.. Leutze, great are his defects has yet some
substantial merits which the reader may gather some
idea Of from what hsye written above. We can IN
derstand his reputation, but that Of Mr.. Hicks IL
h not so easy to explain. How painter who is lack
ing in so much which goes to make a good artist
should be universally held if the newspapers truly
select the private opinion, not merely good artist