New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-05-29
Mr.. Bradford's "seaiers Crushed by Yeeoergs."

To the number of those American artists who have,
on many occasions helping hand by the exhibition Of
their works institutions of mercy struggling with the
money difficulties that often harras them in their beginnings
Mr. William Bradford has added his name by allowing
the Soldiers Orphan Society" exhibit for the benefit Of its
treasury his latest and believe, his largest picture Seal
ing Vessels Crushed by 1cebergs Of Labrador 1t viii be
found at the Somervle AriGalery No. s45 Broadway.
We sorry that add to concentrations Of
Mr. Bradford generosity commentator OF his picture We
surprised at his furet almost implied In his
choice of subject If cannot be said that Church failed 1t
perhaps only because chose less tremendous aspect Of
that subject Bat Church Iceberg not
nothing certain manual dexeriy In portions OF the detail
saved it, Ii tamey treated and what should have been
made as would have been in the hands of poetic painter the
great scientific imaginative center Of nieresthe transport
alton Of boulder-wos beed to the sembance Of inds
Greet ran pushing itself through the ceng OF brdecake
Mr. Bradford however has not been daunted by Mr.
Churchs ure but boldly throws down the challenge both In
print and picture 1t Is not In the best taste 10 insist so We
hemently on suprave merits Of Mr. Bradords work as
done in the printed description Of the picture which is dis
tributed the gallery TO vors but in positively bad
taste TO speak, that paper speaks Of all the attempts TO
psnt cebegs which been made by other artists This
praise the hand and sneeng censure on the
other at once provoke the shapes criticism Of the merits OF
NJ Bradfords picarea eritcism into which, however we
shall not enter No doubt Mr.. Bradford did not write the
production in question: but certainly be had the
right TO insist on Its suppression
What makes this picture failure 10 the entire want OF
imaginative sympathy with Nature and with man which per
yaes IT, II is the spotheOss Of tho commonplace This
has no terror in IT, convince ourselves that there is
danger This the way apparently that ships 10 port
in Labrador and this is the fashion in which c0rgo
landed The ice makes awkward wharf certainly but
then 1t Is clean The ice bowl dmnertabe looks
awful as this spots and heart cond sbrye up with
fear before the one as the other.
This picture good illustration OF the temerty Of our
Young Before they half 1edged they attack themes
that might make PAINTERS and sculpors consider An
old MASTER painting God Almighty" bad something to say
himself He painted after accustomed recipe and
didn't pretend think his picture anything more than
accepted symbol But young mems "Niagaras" and
"Icebergs" and white Mountains" and Rocky Noun.
tains set forth the things aud must join in the
senseless fattcry or suffer prescription.
Long ago. however, made q stanli and Mr.
Bradford now in like have assured Others that
his picture is great is not good GOOD" IL might have
been made with study with devotion. and with modest dis
trust Whether with the hardest study with the snceest
devotion could before the grandeur Of this
scene have no means Of Judging.