New-York tribune., 1869-06-05
THE FINE ARTS.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF DEsIGN-FoRTf-
FOURTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

FOURTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION
North Room.
NJ Woterman,s "Lemuel CULVER in Lilli-
mt" No. loo is picture that in spite of its sioveny
,ecution deserves study. 1t lisa decidedly original con-
centop Of the somewhat hackeneyed subject and there
"a great deal of variety, ingenuity, and humor in the
detail CULVER who has fallen asleep on Level downs
by the seaside has been fastened to the ground Wild
ropes and pegs while the inhabitants OF all the neigh
borne region pour out their mighty captive. max
ing holiday II one supposes great fish or whale to
have been flung bodily the shore near any populous
district and then imaginos the incidents that would be
like 10 take place when the fact Is blown, 1t VIII DO
seen from what point OF view Mr.. Waterman has en-
deavored TO conceive this famous incident In MI
Lemuel Gullvers life On one sde row OF carts ana
carriages has been drawn up. one often sees in our
streets when procession Is passing, and places have
been LET TO those desiring and esurey View OF the
monster One Of the hackmen beckons with his whip for
another fare spite Of the emonsrances OF the passeh
ger who has supposed himself to have the sole right 10
the vehicle. Mr. Watermans inventions do not always
explain themselves. We cannot clearly make out what
the prestle figure is doing on the great staging Per-
haps he is exercising the supposed fend The most OF
the incidents are however PLAIN enough TO be read The
artist sketchng the PROSTATE giant and obliged to take
very long canvas get the stretch OF the legs the boy
who boy-ke moved by curiosity, looks over the
top Of the quite indifferent as TO what he sees
so long "a he sees something; the two cOnnOlsseurs
the man who los on Guvers ankle as one Tolls on rail
fence the lady who fants away at the sight Of the mon
steT the boys who play at tghtrOpe, swinging on the
cords that bind the captive; the old fellow whO in spite
OF the remonsrances and efforts OF his friends insists on
pokng Guver with his stick TO try II he be alive; the
boy who posts pacards the bottom OF Lemues shoes
announcing Lecture the Great Giant" for so we
read the lines the newspaper reporters with their books
and pepes taking notes. the sedan chairs that and
crush together splng the occupants all this make up
lively and natural Guvers face, too, IS by no
means ilmagned, there is halfsad, halfwearied ex
preston on it which we'll BELTS the OCCASION Nor should
the visitor fail TO remark the clever way In
which the landscape is sketched; the farsretch
ing downs with the people streaming over 1t
TO SEQ the show and the white city sparkling the shore
like grain Of salt as Tennyson pcturesquey says. in
one OF his deepest poems. We repeat II; 80 far as
originality Of conception, and the desire to make picture
with some thought in It are concerned, Mr. Waterman
has done himself great credit I'm this work. and the power
that he has shown to escape from the commonplace and
get out Of the ruls makes the more regret that he
should give SO little proof Of having schoocd his hand by
practice TO give the charm Of correct drawing beau
ful color to the expression Of his thought.
Miss T. H. Remngton's 4" "Panses," No. l0l are much
better than Miss Henrietta Granberry's, No. l55, in
strength and effect OF color, but they are not on the
whole 80 much like flowers hers, In the delicacy OF
their texture Miss Remington has been considerably
unsmable disposition to lie in strenks and refuse to be
graduated But her flowers look II she had friendly
feeling 20 them and that will lead her 10 do justice
10 their compilations time. The Misses Cranberry have
hardly done fairly by themselves the public this year
Their subjects too slight and unnteresting thcy
ought not to be content with all the time giving rs little
bits They are capable OF excellent work, they have
often proved, and though We hope they will
never stop making as careful studies they know how
wo think they might once year try TO produce picture
that shall show some power OF design and combination
Miss virginia Granbcrry's Morning Gorcs" No. IS, In
this room, however, and Miss Henrietta Grnnbeuys
Geranuns" in the East ROOM No. 2)9 are very clover
studies
Mr. Wilford Linsley's Brook" No. lOj shows pains
taking care but, though may admit that every rock
is separately correctly drawn aud truly coorcd, they
arc so out OF harmony with another, and with the
grass and leaves that thoy TO DO falsely painted as
indeed since Nature Is whole, and not disconnected
assembly Of units, they are. Mr. ldnsley ought we
think 20 work diligently for year or two In getting the
effects Nature, her way OF massng things ana settling
down her facts light aud shade letting the study Of
detail take a secondary place In his practice. for while
he has probably gone FAR with 1t as useful To HIN for
| the present.
The wrctched influence which that wholly bad painter
and sentimental man. late Mr. Cole cxertcd at one
time 10 an alarming extent upon our artists, and even
now exerts upon a few, is shown by Mr. Samuel L.
Geriy's absurd picture No. l2, called Bculah" II
there were Nursery Department In the Academy, where
pictures essentially snlted 10 infant minds
hlbted Mr.. Gerry's might be entitled 70 prominent
place m such a collection and IL would probably give
good deal Of childish pleasure 90 the little ones by bring
ing vyidly back the calcium gores OF tho last scene in
the Christmas pautomime. though the infanne nagina
tlon might be somewhat confused by tho mixture OF
Harlequin and Coumbnc in the foreground, with tho
frosted cake and lc forms Of the Christmas party
In the background But will Irust that tie children
could nnd something Ia H. for surely, no grown person
can.
"walting for Bite" No i1G. and The Woodsawyor,"
No 12i, both by william NJ Days, arc well painted In
parts. and carefully studied from life. Why the person
who can paint well his rather, who can show
such good intentions, and come near 20 carrying
them out Mr. Davis has done In these two pictures,
should be willing to exhibit such frame full OF feeble
ness as No s. "The Wandcror" In the corridor
not guess An arts; ought to reflect that though he has
no right TO make trade OF his art nevertheless his pie
lures when they painted arc the market like
other productions. who has things to sell must
look little his reputation. He will lose the public
confidence II IL that he cannot be depended for
thorough work. but that he is as like to make poor
thing as a good thing. II ia truism, that
q ought always 10 do his best,
but II does not seem TO DO as gen.
orally agreed upon, that ought not to show his
failures. There certain artists 10 whom man
would give commission except from charity nothing
Of theirs that exhibited being such to lead
to think that they might DO stimulated to do something
good. Mr. Davis Is certainly not Of this class but sup
pose person should his waiting for Bite" or his
"woodsawyer and being pleased with the promise thoy
show should ask the artistic paint him picture Would
he not be little anxious 10 the result Of his commits
sion II he should meanwhile happen TO upon the
"Wandererp Better for Mr.. Davis 10 have kept this
picture in his studio, with Its face to the wall.
Mr. Brevoors landscape, No. H. Is rather moro sug
gestye OF Mr. McEntees work than like 70 see, but 1t
s good picture Notwithstanding II IS not very care