New-York tribune., 1867-07-16
FINE ARTS.

Messrs c.. T. Putnam e. Son send us pho
tograph of group called Puck Riding on a Grass
hopper designed by Mr. l.. Kuntze, which certain
gentlemen propose shall be cast in bronze and set mp
in the chdren's play-g ground in the Central Park
The group is and "a haf-feet high. the figure of
Puck being fe-sze and the artist asks $500 for it
when completed in!bronze. This group made part
of the recent exhibition Of the Academy and we said
nothing about il because there nothin pleasant
to say and we have long ago expressed very frankly
our opinion Of Mr. Kiintze's work This group IS far
from being an Improvement on what he has hitherto
accomplished, and il would have been merely break
ing a gTasshopper on a wheel to have criticised
seriously or severely such tTiho as this.
But, now that some one seriously proposes TO have
this group east in bronze and put up IN the Central
Park it, indeed. any beside the artist has SELL
ously pIrpOsed such a thing, we must express an
earnest hope that the Commissioners will not permit
it, II is perhaps. rifle; but riies have their
serious side and we are sure we shall carry every
rightthinking peTsOs with us when we say that
no place in the whole Park ought to be more jeal,
Ously guarded against the intrusion OF ugness and
falsehOod than the "Children's Playground; and
this group of Mr. KintZes is wholly ugly and wholly
untrue. The child has an ugly face and an ugly
body; his attitude is stiff and awkward with hard.
nnyiedipY lines and surfaces; If he were made OF
plates of boiler iron riyeted together The grasshop-
per is also bad but, being stiff and angular creature
in nature the artist has done better with him than
with the baby But, without any intention 70 rldl-
tos tins TG% ~ Tssess Oas Sd hnf ta ana tn mo
for freezing icecrea such as one sees IN the WIN
dows of pastTycook Ii is no worse than these per-
haps. bnt then it surely is no better.
Now. the Commissioners owe IL TO themselves and
the public TO prevent the admission OF poor work
like this 10 the Central Park any plea whatever.
Nothing but our best ought to be allowed there. Let
ms make IL an honorable distinction for artist 10
have his work placed within this nclosure, and let
every bar be placed in the way Of those who either
from motives Of self interest OF vanity, would turn
the Park into an advertising agency, or an Omnia@
gatbtYRm for rubbish.
Mr.. James Hamilton of Philadelphia has sold
three of his pictures OF Magara-"1he American
FALL "B Bhe Horseshoe Rapids and The Whirl-
pool Rapids for $500, 10 Col Barton ii. jerks,
machine builder of Bridesburg suburb of Phila-
delphia.
The Print Room of the British Museum has
been enriched by the acquisition Of q volume con-
tanning 29 sketches with pen by Stothard and ex-
eeuted on scrapsOf paper backs Of letters and the
Ike, which are generally drawn upon both sides. by
means OF the pOstage-stamps, the dates OF many OF
these examples asceTtaIned 10 be about lolO.
The letters directed 10 Stothard at No - New
man-st., where he lived many years and died. lhe
sketches are intended as trial designs OF fgnres,
heads furniture and larger compositions OF subjects
among which may be recognized several Tor me
A0res MGQdsiRe One of these recalls the celebrated
monumental group, The Sleeping Children" which
was carved by CbaptTey, and upon which much OF
the fame OF that sculptor s popularity based although
IN reality he had nothing 10 do with the design. IhH
is probably the drawing which is engraved in The
Life of Stothara" by his sister, Mrs Bray page 1884,
We have also Omoyia sketches OF interiors and groups
which are composed of the most delicious harmony
OF line and grace IN eontour-sueh as Knot OF girls
seated on the floor Here also are his calendar, de-
signs for silver work, bits of drapery, carvings, &e.
showing bow thorough artist he was working IN
the true old spirit, and bringing art TO the most Of
dinaIy services, thinking IT nowhere degraded.