New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-04

face nor aoure vake npccIa thoughts or stir definite
emotions; and tho mind leaves them to dwell on the
truhfulncss OF tho drawing which Is indeed marvel OF
accuracy and ease the sober richness OF the coiorng
which, gorgeous IL is In inharmonious, ana inc
exquisite decacy OF touch that gives the precise texture
and quality OF the sufs the maiden wears; the robe
OF siken gauze with the threads Of silver nwoyen the
sash Of pearlcOlored silk, thick and heavy, with golden
lines running through 1t the green velvet bodice ana
the costly urban OF many hues that binds the head and
falls gracefully down the shoulders. She holds IN her
hand an Eastern fan OF stiff embroidery work; but 1t
suggests no chness OF mind heart She Is not think
ing Of her Dress her decoration, even her oyeness
her thoughts are locked within her own breast That
the artist who painted this picture could have painted
the other in every respect so unlike shows greatness
which few have attained In art, completeness OF
culture that is very rare and breadhof moral synpa
thy that Is rarer still.
We must not leave these precincts without an appre
ciatiye look at piece Of work by one Of our own
youngest men, who II may judge from this, and from
portrait OF dogs in the recent Brooklyn exhibition Is
destined TO arrive at eminence This is study of lions
head painted from fe at the Central Park The creature
young only 20 months old-a fact which explains the
OPEN innocent expression OF the countenance and the
absence OF beard. These two featuresthe beard and
the savage look-greaty assist painters In their lion
portraits and the absence OF them renders more difficult
the task Of giving what the general public would accept
as a speaking likeness OF the King OF the
Forest; an innocuous, whiskeress and some
what lverdantlooking lion, not answering expecta-
ton. But there are young lions, who nave
not sprung upon unwary travellers or drunk IN
nocent blood and these naturally display more OF the
eonine capacity than OF the eonne character That Mt
Thayers portrait of his youthful majesty is accurate We
believe on general principles Except in artistic view
the point is unimportant neither "the young indi
ydua" as Agassz would call him, his friends, are
disposed to cay or in fact, to take notice OF the per
formance But regarded "A work Of art, the likeness Ii
important as testfyng TO Mr. Thayers conscientious
ness The selection OF this particular subject may be
taken In evidence Of this 1t is not what most would call
taking" Pet dogs are more popular; cats ana
canares better please the delicate taste Of modern
sensibility. The truthful head Of a lion finds
no fitting place in fashionable dwellings. In
parlor It might hush conversation; in a
sleeping might suggest wakefulness In dining
room il might awaken thoughts OF furnishing meals in
stead Of enjoying them calling up casts at which men
and women are present not eaters but eaten In
fact one pcturedcaler did not to place this lion III
his gallery for the that It not likely to nd
purchaser. But the artist though possibly willing to
sell tive do not know about that-clearly did not paint
it for the market He painted for the practice, having
In view the discipline not the dollars. 1t may be added
by the way that this IS In the end the suret method OF
obtaining the dollars and absolutely the only means OF
deserving them Mr.. Thayers work bears all over the
marks Of entire sincerity. 1t bears, too, the
| marks Of training bestowed eye and hand. For
| drawing there is not much range the facial lines
being covered up with hair; but wherever drawing Is
possible 1t is faithfully executed. The Uranium Is well
developed and such formation of the bones of the face
as presents itself is Indicated with decision. In color
nothing more could be desired The tawny name Just
fes the epithet bestowed on it from time immemor1a
and that all that need be said. The power OF the face
is the eyes, they not bloodhrsty yet or ferocious
but bold steady, audacous; not lurid, but luminous
with the possibilities OF flame, without the hame they
fascinate but do not terrify The whole work Is inter
esng both itself and the early performance OF
young asprant who is willing to begin at the beginning
who is determined TO come face to face with his SUP
ects, and who to describe all that he sees anC
| nothing more.