New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-29
FINE ARTS.
MR.. CONRAD p1EHL's "MAcBETH."

MR.. CONRAD DIEHLs "MACBETH"
Young painter from Chicago, Conrad
Diehl has placed on exhibition at the rooms OF
Messrs Weismann & Langerfeldt, No. $50 Broadway
a large picture, the subject of which is Macbeth
coming from the chamber Of Duncan and received on
the stairs by Lady Macbeth" Mr. Diehl Is stranger
to our public, and we ourselves only remember ms
name as the painter of picture we never saw but
of which the Western newspapers had at one time d
good deal to saw the subject of it also drawn from
Shakespeare" Hamlet and the Court looking on at
Che PayD This picture the artist has since presented
to his fellow townsmen and it now hangs, we are
told. in the City Hall Of Chicago.
Mr. Diehl is German by birth; but, as he came to
this country when very young he IS, in reality, an
American by adoption and education Since he
finished his first important picture-the " Hamlet
he has been to Europe, studying for whie IN Dus-
edorf and in Pars in which latter place the present
picture was begun, although, we believe II was nm
Ssbed in Chicago. 1t shows throughout the nfnence
of German models and German modes OF thought
and we must not conceal opinion that there Is no
5nfuence upon American art we more seriously oepfe
cate than that of the modern German schools OF
Munich Berlin OF Dusseldorf While we neither
env the learning nor the earnestness, the technical
ability nor the industry of these artists we do utter
Iv deny their claim TO inspiration They are SCHOLARS
men of science great mechanics but to the name OF
rtist they have little right still less TO that OF poet
sThat these men have exerted great influence there
IL ma dopbt. nor that under them Germany has seen
The arts revive that were her glory in the time OF
Holben, Cranach and Direr But the aiiuence OF IN
venton and the spendOr of execution that made the
glory of the sixteenth century, have been bnt ieeDy
revived in the nineteenth what was pure German
then as original in thought as in style, has taken III
this resurrection the varying fashions set by its lead
ers who thought the thoughts and copied the man
nerisms and treatment of the great schools Of
ITALIAN art Overlook was pale reflex of PeTuginO
and Angelica, and of Raphaels early manner; Cor
,,elus initiated the contortiOns of Michel Angeles
,erophets and sibyls if he did not catch their sub
Unity of expression; and Kaulbach, name almost
reverenced in Germany, but a oaleful example
wherever followed and to grow paler and paler
with the growth of a real art and true poetic feel
ing ia half German professor Of history, and half
soulless eopyist Of Raphael in his poorest time.
Tbese are the inaences that have made Mr.. Nehl,
and time must prove whether they are topreva with
him 10 the end This picture that he exhibits to-day
shows industry, shows German conscience shows
nurDose far removed from vulgarity, and mlnd not
contepted with the commonplace. But there Is
neither sentiment nor feeling conviction in any
portion of it-all is dead, and unlmaginatlYe ana
cold Macbeth may possibly have committed muir
der, for be has bloody dagger in hls hanu' winch
looks suspicious but If he have, he Is Only
ing to be sorry for it, while Lady Macbeth evidently
thinks he is joking and her own face IS as nnnoveu
and expressionless as if she were merely teing her
husband the time of day
We do not reproaeh Mr. Diehl with this failure to
reach the hight of his subject. Nothing more was
TO have been looked for We hardly know the man
living who could accomplish the feat and We can
only wonder that he should have essayed IT, one Oh
Che cOmmonest mistakes Of youth is, 70 venture De-
yond Its powers and Alr. Dehl has time enough 10
ind out the mistake he has made in attempting IN
the very beginning Of his career to do wbat the
greatest artist living would hesitate to undertake IN
Tie maturity Of his powers
fhera however two po.nts Of positive merit