The New York herald., 1870-01-09
Gnnnil,s Pictnre Gallery.


AT Goupi's four pictures have lately attracted spe-
cial attention." -"Damascuso by Church; paul Be-
fore Agrippar" by Victor Nehlig; Resignation" by
Carr Brandt, and 1ne portrait CT dog by W.
J. Hays.
The subject OF Mr.. Churchs picture captivates the
imagination 1t recalls to mind all the brilliant de-
scriptions OF this most ancient city in the world by
Lamartine and many other tourists who, more for
tunate than Mohammeu himself have not only seen
but entered it. There is tradition cur
rent among the Mohamuedans that when
their prophet .beheld Damascus from the
summit OF the western hills he was so transported
by the beauty OF the scene that he halted suddenly
and would not descend to the city. "There is but
one paradise destined for man ~ he exclaimed; "as
for me, am resolved not to ch oose mine in this
world" Kelly. in ms "Syria and the Holy Land"
aluties to this tradition, which he shows however,
TO be apocryphal. His description OF the scene
might well have suggested it as grand subject for
picture. An in.erminable plain, he says, seems
stretched out beneath you; for the low chain or
Hills that bound II on the east melt into the distant
horizon and are lost to sight as they mingle with
the fiery sky OF the great desert In the foreground
an unbroken expanse OF gardens and orchards ad
vances up to the very foot OF the clr which you
stand forming circuit OF more than fifty miles,
In the midst OF 1t, about two miles from the west.
ern hills, is the beautiful city, with It's pic
turcsque minarets, its domes and glttering
crescents, like feet riding OF anchor upon
little sea OF the most richly variagated foliage.
In transferring to canvas the majestic oveness Of
such view Mr. Church had, OF course, an oppor-
tunity to display many Of the qualities which have
characterized Ills previous pictures and have maze
him famous as landscapist. The mountain
shadows are very finely rendered. But certain
forced effects are not satisfactory. Even the some
what strange light OF the setting could not
reveal distinctly at such o distance even what
little he shows OF Damascus. Tne vivid greens and
heavy browns are not happily narmonlzed, and the
river seems to he running up hill In fine, this large
painting OF Damascus" is not so great work OF
art as THE Valley Of Lebanon, exquisite little
picture by Mr.. Church which was exhibited some
time ago at Goupil's
Nehlg's "Paul Before Agrppan Is admirable in
composition and drawing and Is vigorously painted
but 1t seems at first sight to have somewhat less
vitality and action than several powerful works
which have placed this artist in The front rank Of
living figure painters. The ditlicuty, however, Is
inherent in the ssubJect for as impossible to
paint the eloquence Of Paul as It would be to
paint a lovers sigh or the fragrance of q rose.
Brandt's 'Iessnationn is characterized particu-
lary by the peculiar luminous vapor enveloping the
answering the desired purpose Infinitely better than
the niabns with which the old masters used TO en-
circle every head OF their saints.
Landseer himself would have praised Hays iife
ike PORTRAIT OF q Dog" Animal painters rarely
can add TO their specially remarkable skill as land
scapists, but the sky, the background and various
accessories In the painting tell the story once and
We see by the rued fur Of the dog that the wind OF
alowerlng day In the hunting season Is blowing.