The New York herald., 1870-01-20
FINE ARTS.

The National Academy and tho Americas
Society Of Painters In Water Colors.
The National Academy Of Design Will give recep-
tion to artists and journalists this evening ON the
occasion Of the addition Of works to their third
winter exhibition, including tho third annual COL
lection Of the American Society Of Painters in Water
Colors. Water, :he natural and universal solvent
1.-THE mud which the Creator has made Hts own We
hicle for moulding and beautifying forms the veye-
table ana mineral kingdom. was naturally selected In
rude ages as an agent with which TO mix paints" IS
Is by the child the savage whether mixed
vegetable coloring matters with the colored cays
that must first be moisIened. 1t was the only SOL
vent used by ancient Egyptian and Grecian painters,
even when considerably advanced in art From the
date Of the earliest Egyptian tombs 1t has been
only veh,ce proper for fresco painting. At the pres
ent day painting IN water coors is q highly mpor-
tant branch OF finished art. Conspicuous among the
water color painters Of France are such names O.
the late Victor Adam, as Camelet, Gussave David.
Edouard Frere, Jean Louis Hamon, Paul Marry,
Monthelier Riv0re, Sannier and vibert, several OF
whose works were recently exhibited In tho Avery
collection at the Somerve Art Gallery. The Eng
Standby and others, mas attained great perfecu0n
during the l2o years. 1t justly boast OF tho
architectural views OF turner and lrout wooded
scenery OF Fielding, and, Notwithstanding all their
defects, the remarkable productions OF w. H. Hunt
ara ~ sp G1 5ns ~
coors IS OF comparatively recent date, but the tnid
annual collection OF the american society Of
Painters In Water COl0rS" promises TO confirm the
impression made by the two previous collections
that In the hands OF It's President Mr. .. Coman Of
Bellows, Lunlley Ward and their associates, this
interesting branch Of art Is destined to make rapid
progress.
New Painting by Constant Mayer.
The title which Mr.. Constant Mayer has given to
the new painting which he has just completed II
.sThe Witch's Daughter" The Salem wtchcraft 10
OF the darkest, bloodiest pictures In New Eng
land history. The events and agltations OF that
dreadful period have had Q peculiar fascination
alike for novcsts, writers OF tragedies and painters
Hawthorne was fond Of br0oding over the mysteri
GUS psychological problems which 1t involves. Cor.
nelius Matthews made 1t the subject of TRAGEDY,
.'Wltchcraft,n which Philarete Cnases translated
and published At Paris. whittier has chosen 1t as
the theme Of poem, one Of the most touching pas.
sages OF which Constant Mayer has successfully
aimed to illustrate. In this passage the wltch's
daughter Is thus presented
The schoolboys ieersd her - they passed.
The new picture by Constant Mayer in illustration
OF this painful scene escapes to greater degree
than some OF his previous works an alleged excess
OF grays. is strong and rich in color The figures
are well grouped. and the entire painting is more
fully alive with dramatic action than any we have
lately seen from the pencil OF th0 popular artist The
drift Of the poets idea has been not only faithfully
followed, but also happily carried on and expanded.
Besides the jeering school boys and their victim
are shown young girl and mother with . babe in
her arms. All the village sc0iers are under the
same dlaoolca spell Of the prosecuting spirit or the
day. Their faces and attitudes and gestures express
the mingled fear and hate engendered By superssi-
ton. The c0untenance Of the daughter, VINO Is SO
unrighteousy subjected to the consequences OF the
unrighIeous condemnation Of her mother,
Is III itself q study. II reveals at Onco
an orphans grief, bitterly disappointed
yearning for love and sympathy. Q keen
sense OF injustice and q natural instructive alarm
The whole scene, With It's Accessories Is powerfully
rendered. Mr.. Constant MAYER, who is to sail ON
Saturday for a European tour will nave the satis-
faction OF leaving benind him, In the 'Witcn's
Daughter" one OF his best claims to favorable re-
memDrance for much longer period than hls.cx-
pecIed absence The picture Is. we understand, to
be exhibited soon for the benefit OF tue Sirxngers
Society.
Exhibition for the Benefit Of the Patriot Army
All spanish rumors to the contrary, notwithstand-
ing the Cuban revolution has not yet ended in de-
feat, an exhibition OF pictures, many OF which
belong to wealthy and distinguished Cuban refu-
gee. win be opened In few days at the Somerville
Art Gallery for the benefit OF the sick and wounded
Of the patriot army Of Cuba.