New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-04-23
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DESIGN
The Tbirfy.Ninth Exhibition.

BLOWING In" JOHN LA FARCE.
In beginning our examination of the present
exhibition Of the Academy, We take Mr.. La Farge's
picture starting point, because II furnishes
complete Illustration Of the prncip PIE which many Of
our bes;-known artists are working reduced 70 alb
surdiy. A late critic, in speaking Of Claude informs
thai; he introduces in lis pictures, ~ Gn unuti-
lied EARTH" Mr.. La Fargo, in the little work we are
at present considering carries us back still further In
time, and shows the beginning OF things, when the
earth was without form, aud VOID and darkness was
npon the face Of the deep Let us look at TIE picture
for moment aud learn just what the artist has repre-
sented tried to represents then let If we can lind
out why lie has worked in just the way be has.
Out Of persons who look this picture there will
hardly be one who viii in it anything bit blind
muddle 81 color bit Of canvas, which might well
have been put into the frame with side up with
the other Near the center there is dark nebuloua
MACS with nucleus Of intense black, which gradually
ghtens either hand paasug, the left into gray
ISL cloud and the right nto similar cloud, diver
sfed by two patches Of COLOR one. in the upper right
hand corner Of blue, the Other the before
toned black nucleus, Of green. Tn careful examina-
on and spurred by cordial desire to get at the artists
intention, We are enabled TO make out something,
In the lower left-hand corner which we accept
for water; the oue patch, We feel pretty sure,
is meant for sky; the green patch. We conclude
stands for grass and by making believe very hard,
Ike Mr. Swyeer's Marchioness, We can see that
DARK coneshaped body the center. is tree. This
is positively al that can be made oct by dnt Of
hard guessing ard great goodwill and, now, if the
reader thinks that looking At the picture with
aundiccd faded csc. or are caricaturug IT, let him
look FOX himself lie VIII and that We have stated the
literal truth and haye little doubt that Le will give
US credit for having resisted what must have been
strong temptation to treat the picture with rdcue or
contempt.
Bnt we have no such intention. We do indeed con.
slider the theory upon which the picture in question 10
painted-Gad it is only one of a large number-to be
wholly unsound and unienable but VIC are well aware
that it Is painted upon theory, and painted deber-
aely and, therefore prefer examine it carefully
and discuss the reasOnabeness OF that theory if We
prove it unsound and believe it easy to do So the
picture will fall OF itself and We shall be spared the
necessity Of condemning it.
What Mr.. La Fargo has aimed ct in this picture il
simply to produce certain chord of color which shall
of itself without the aid Of form any but the very
slightest attention truth Of detail to general
truth express the sentiment-a phrase which use
Tor want of a beter-of q particular place. at par
tcular time His theory II may be allowed 10 speak
positively Of what We only deduce from his picture
s that color do everything; at gil events, eve ~
thing that is worth doing in painting that what ann,
be expressed by color alone. is indeed little .,,o,-h
the doing. that even positive untruths are 4 m i'm.
portanee whatever. Thus. this canye w.. h.v.
wind blowing strong enough 10 drive II foo inland
but too weak 10 raise tho slightest ripple on rho ua.
which reflects the grass above faF ly az thu mos,
tranquil puddle by the road side. could do Thi,
msstatement does not however, disturb the artist in
the least he is not painting tr tn of form nor truth Of
cause and effect; he is trying to get an ex
pressive chord OF co.or. and the wind NAV
blow with US much inconsistency as it pleases
30 long as 1t does not interfere with his
AIM 80. again. the fog is driving from the east
and the sup is obscured there is sunlight all to be
seen EXCEPT the little bit in she upper right hand
corner where We catch CLEAN of the blne sky; vet
the tree, which have consented to believe is meant
by the cone shaped blot Of dark green in the middle
casts strong shadow toward the west. AS for detail
1t utterly ignored there were no such thing in
nature Not the slightest hint Of the elisenng masses
Of swayng seaweed that cothe those rocks with gar.
ment OF olive green. gemmed ali with shining pink
and yellow and orange and purple periwinkle and set
with star fish innumerabe while the water st as this
Is lighted from below with rainbow beauty from the
many colored seaweeds and that grow so ticky
on the rocks beneath. Not hint of the rocks them.
selves at whose feet this strangely quiet water lapses,
If indeed motion, slight this belongs to r.
Not hint Of line cleavage structure Of any sort
to tell Of their history or interest In their present.
Not hint of what this green may be- whether grass
sedge wsterweed whether II be in flower or fruit
all the artist wanted Of il was its greenness that
might accord with his other hues and SO that gave
him that, he cared for nothing else
Now believe We have stated Mr.. La Faryes
theory with correctness. At all events have tried
to do so. He is coorst by nature. He enjoys it,
thoroughly so far as it is possible to enjoy 1t BY ITSELF
without any regard to FORM without any suggestion Of
form. II Is never SO completely disjoincd in nature
where there is the most mystery aud the most
confusion. The thoughtful eye always can detect what
natures color signifies. 1t is indeed wonderful how
sharply organization is distinguished from that which
s unorganized; II makes itself felt even where Il is not
clearly understood The structure Of the smallest in.
ect or seed, or seedvesse Is easily perceived to b
tructur and not meaningless soherence Of particlea
md nature neyer-we believe are right in saying
,ever-allows her color interfere with our under.
handing u that structure. Look oTsr a,y m esaeh
A