New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
TrcrrrNAv's BOOK or TIE ARTISTS.

r,r.lv Inns n more appropriate and generous prep
.,,tio,, heen brought TO the composition % Inter-
sr vorl, than is manifest in the present Significant
volunc Dir. Tuckerman has devoted many years oil
wise research and study 10 the most fruitful branches
ofmodcin culture: he has given the eye of u poet
and the taste of a scholar to the contemplation OF the
noblest works Of art: a long residence in the most
polished European capitals has made him familiar
With the world-celeJrated productions Of sculpture
and painting: while an intimate personal intercourse
with accomplished artists Of the day has FURNISHED
him with a profusun of a0ccdOtes ana details III IT,
card 70 the habits Of az site life which he has luicu
20 excellent account ia the Illustration OF MS worn
u gives history " lie progress OF aIt Ia iu'
try from it's early dawn the East before inc
lutionary War to its present comparatively Po'"',
cash; with ample biographical notices q Us i'c0'
distinguished representatives, and cIluc"I "'SCI,P
lions and estimates Of their chlcL pIO"u0'o"''
volume is written in animated ana hoNl"S s'S'0'
.T.t1. TO elaborate. perphaps for "A superficial pop
ular taste and occasionally Hlore dIi'ANc '1'l JIG
,phiect rconires: bit always diversified with agree
r. ,,,cdotcs and personal sketches Which happily
,lieva the methcdcal course of critical aesthetic dis
cussiOn
In the Introductory chapter, Mr., Tuckerman treats
p+ fine historical development and present condition
pf American art. offering many valuable Suggestions
both 10 the artists as body, and the portion OF the
public who are especially inteTes t IN Their pToduc-
tiops A great change IN the relations OF arr has
taken place within the ast ten years. In many IN
stances as Nir TuckeTman tells us artists among us
have received a more liberal remuneration than
would DO justified by European prices. The vocation
is no longer pgecarioUs one, bat affords iar re-
ward to talent aud industry. Bat as yet, no UNIFORM
standard Of oxcecnoo has been reached even III tno
productions OF the SAME artist.
manner KS ~ is termed. In the works On painters a'olu
~, .,' t6. .i,, fr,l Raphael 10 Wi,kc. Two classes
w 49, t kind. or degrees Of style identify difrr-
81 prrods OF tac are~tic career but in America me NI
o,3 W. ~ So can sometimes hardly realize That
ilr Same l Is responsible for me various WoihS AT
irbutcd thereto. wide j. the interval b'lWeeh ttuuS
srd finish cyprt, and indifference, between ie 'St
sud worst piciurs-sO many are experimental I'D lI'I
work so tow regularly progressive. Ihe linNl,cl ti"'
"a. IT, nrtssure II necessity, the hurry ara hustle OF
Efe thcahsence OF just ana firm critical lhh1,Ii @nI
Is only temporarily corrected oy The intervention Of sone
hagut moment az inspiration anu il-A flcu @ hll''
are among the manifest causes OF thS aciia.nv ~
quality IucouIlee endowment, and "dcy9ton 10 In9
inreiiutc" explain these ucorgrueS Of artst-he anI
tT.cfic, Am Ame,ia. A kuack az catching likeness
has often lccn tIe whole capital or al9pnl'I AmlvH
whcse portraits IN many Instances, arr e Sle '''o
rs1ls of euleared prOgrnors IN family homes, ah" rs
such, cherished despite tie violations Il MaWihE' uuu
10 ob.r there is s,se Of color know ledge
S5y & , far cr iacy, the Soccd artist will
execute dazzling historical or aliegOrl' ~ WuiNs' Oic
times on iI.ce scale and find their exhibition in tie
11',,i n rtrfs AMPLY rrIunneraye II seldom hap
pens also, dat really skilled di5ugh slnau ana ,lUlS,,
Who's best portraits are deservedly considered tuuhs
Of sAil taste, WILL FOR certain pne ana IN celi,h
places and FOR special ends, turn s art mt" Trade
dash Oh seuesses cheap and FAST Al his purse aud com
lronse hls fiue that those only acquainted win ms
calefuyexecqed works upon egeonnlerng t4"sS i
pr0uitu ults O. reckless tnrf VIII gaze nclcuu'
iously. and perchanee Indignantly, thereon.
The obstacles to the highest artistic success pre-
sented by the condition Of American society are
lastly weighed 10y Mr.. Tuckerman, and made the
ground Tor charitable construction OF imperfect per
Torrance Among these, he speaks Of the want OF
cosmopolitan schools and galleries, by which the
student Of ait may profit in the principal cities OF
Europe.
In the New World on the contrary although admirable
pictures aud may be found IA large cities and an
sdtoae supply Of the iterat OF Art they not as
seces.jIe Tor DO they fud interpreters readily
Eurupe-sO tD8tfhc novice unless renark3Oe Tor moral
enerGy ard zeal Is liable to be confirmed IN practical
faults and ucon gruOus ideas before observation ana
study lave hntCd their existence Hence II HHt WI
sSTy fIsadyanta &C. united great excellence in other
aualiiies; 9eie. I ; aid texture with false per-
color exact unit "h oi Ih ~ 90, "a GO
sppcfiVeshi iu the graduation or uuts WIN ndu hnEc
ro,nuon Ia e votares % art ia all countries ana arise
from incomplete endownents; bat they are more ire
oucut ana garug here, because the corfccuNcs WHEN
tekho~Ig''gg", IT, PC tsf' l,y1y scans perfect
ana lrfIe'ua' ~. Of The vovs,dS or an exquisite
outline and in the garplece or family portrait az
av i.ile is latUry quicl 10 discern any great devil
alton from truth AID natule In personal experiments VIA
pencil aud modelling slick. In WOld, TIC cuucdtoh "l
rfp,iv unconscious and partly The result Of earnest
ts derived from Tic constant presence OF tie best
works rs, great measure wanting % onr young ART
ar,t the Indication u az aptitude and facility in initial
iag natural or artificial objects lneApucdpe ON any Dut
intuiiiye grounds ana eXhbi ed perhaps 1hdef clen
stances totally unsuggcstye Of Art then the encourage
nlent ., friends an oVer.csmae OF the promise inns
fOreshadOVed an isolated practice, anu h some cts =
marvellous stumbling onward, until some generous 9at
tered. confident, and not incapable yft allog,er Ine
Gated disciple into c2reet WLic' ayfouns 10 tDS
trick a mechanical toll an uumeling facility patient
advancement, triumph OF genus. SOMETIMES inc ap
81 tile inspiration Of exalted sentiment have rescued
Tie wOud-be artist from years Of commonplace industry
achievement and conscientious sclfdevoton
Nor is the general tone of social life in this coun
try favorable TO the highest aspirations Of the artist
Our population is too much absorbed in the chances
of commercial speculation to cultivate the fine sense
of beauty and harmony in which the true artist
finds a cOngeuial atmosphere. This Is well put by
Mr. Tuckerman in the paragraphs which we quote.
We have onlyto mark the prevalent aims OF American
life and anayze the spirit Of our times and people TO feel
how small the chances are that any such benign inter.
delicate power lives Ia the awakening soul prompt to ded
itself TO Art There is rst OF all pressing upon his
senses beeaguering his mnd the ideas Of material
success whereby not only fortune, but w.t. IS measured
in prosperous land then the fever and hurry bred
y commerce. political strife and social ambition, nsen
sby oncr0ach upon artistic selipOssesdon; AGAIN the
ease with which H0tOriey may be gained through the
press and personal anenty, and the obtuseness with
which 1t is so often mistaken among us forgoiy and
finally the absence Of that intelligent and enthusiastic
sympathy prompt 10 detect the beautiful, emphatic IN
yindicatIng the true which encOmpassed the old painters
with a vital atmosphere Of encouragement aud animates
the best modern artists OF Germany and England by the
honorS Of mun6cent patronage aud national distinction
Art springs from, aud 10 modified befOe suggested by
Individual character TO unapprcciated degree; and
this subtle yet shaping elements obviously more exposed
and ndurang processes here than IN any other
civilized land In Europe encounter at every step the
artistic organization; here II Is exceptional Where trade
and politics material luxury and utiltran haDitudes,
overlap finer iustuctswhere there Is so much struggle
such devotion TO the immediate, such faith in enterprise
and assertion Of elfhOOdbut small allowed for
repOsc observation and sympathy; and thus the refined
sense the delicate feeling. the keen insight which CHAR
~ IL. rI.unrD Ir.Dn. ..r.A