New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-29
ZINE ARTS.
TIE THOMPSON PICTURES.


The catalogue does not eXaggerate when IL
calls this tho most numerous and costly CORRECTION oi
paintings offered to the American public Precisely
how large IL is we cannot tell for Of pieces are st
at our writing unnumbered aud unhupg IL MS threo
large rooms, and Judged by appearances migh' III
another. Mr.. Thomas Thompson, who died In TINS Guy
last Spring, the son OF picture collector am roh
his father Inherited love of art, and passion Tor own
ing its works In 1852 lost by conagraon in Boston
collection which had cost him more than 100000; Dut
nothing daunted no began again to purchase ana keep
with a zeal that accumulated this body OF more IMAM
1000 The collection Is as might DC expected
very prOmiscuous. IL comprises examples oI many
schools and masters ranges through great variety o
subjects and is Of almost every degree Of merit Mr.
THOMPSON was doubt far judge OF pictures lie
had we are told. studied art and was acquainted Win
art deaers but men who have passion for aceumulat
ing seldom fastdious, ana IL was uhaNodaoie
that good many Indifferent things should crowd IN AT
his hOspitabo doors. Some pictures nc ptrchaseu Vi
needy artists to relieve their poverty, and some nc
bought of young artists to give them start In their ca
reer II need not be said that in such cases the money
was commonly gwen the artist, not to the art Very
many OF tho paintings evidently into his possession
in this way. We observe tho crude attempts OF men VINO
afterward became famous owing their fame IN some de-
greo TO the good friend who smiled on their young aO
ton; and some bear the names Of men who DID nothing
more and are forgotten Here some forty pieces by
Albert Bers,adt all done in his earliest manner, crude
cold at interesting examples OfbeginIers work. but
containing no indication OF future briliancy.
1t must DO remembered, too, In justification OF MT
Thompson, whose Judgment certain visitors were as
posed to rate below It's WORTH that the taste ~ afI was
vicious and false half ago 1t is indeed sur
prisng that collection that was begun so late as 1892
should contain small portion Of works belonging 10
the new age with the exception OF Bierstad hardly
one OF our living artists Is represented by even
single specimen of work And VI tue foreign artists most
familiar to by their productions or their reputation,
scarcely "A occurs on the catalogue Tie eApaha
ton Of 60 singular fact must be- not that Nh thompson
was desttue OF TASTE but that his taste was educated III
an older school He had made and lost large gallery
before the present one was commenced ana III s"Honns
that he had formed habits VI Judgment aud selection he
could not break through.
These such pictures as Wero thought excellent
and desirable ny Years ago. They are much such pic
lures as QUO sees in foreign galleries on the continent ana
~ Enand-neither better nor worse than tho pfoduc
lions that adorned the walls Of parOrs and dining
halls and chambers, when the older people among MS
were young. Some OF them abomnaby bad; some OF
them WERE no doubt reputed exceedingly good in their
day; not few OF them strike works Of noble or
tender occasionally Scam of genuine ovo''noss
shines out from among them, making regret the line
when such things more common than they are now
As general thing the subjects unnteresting The
rage for classical themes Gods and Goddeses
figured gcIy. the Roman my biology were
popular. Nature not observed observe IT, ana
society was artificial One looks at Of these paint
ngs without discovering one touch Of pure natural
timent The landscapes unearthly and the hunian
ties no less There not much appreciation of
human character in It's best FORMS life through
out artificial and the artists painted ii they found It
painted 1t heavy and thick. with coarse lines ard strong
color deep contrasts Of light and shade. that gave
all their work, whatever tho theme, distorted look
The rage for the old masters" which prevailed gen.
Grafton ago leaves strong mark on these galleries To
POSSESS them in the original being impossible, copies
considered better than nothing poor copies better
than good painting by living men. Aud here we have
them-Tian and Rubens. and Caracci. and YerOnese-
without doubt original" Kneller and Reynolds, and
Leby, Cuyp and Teniers and Jordaens represented
not uniayOrably, II We recOlect rightly. There are
interesting portraits Of the distinguished Court Indies Of
the time OF King Louis XIV, There two or three
credtabc portraits by older American artists along
with some dscreditabe portrait Is ascrbed to
Thomas Gainsborough. II not more to Copey. The
name Of Turner is attached to two landscapes which,
however, not eminent examples OF his skill
Nearly OF the pictures numbered in the catalogue
bear no name but marked unknown" among them
are some OF the best pieces in the collection, circum
stance that suggests carelessuess the part Of Mr.
Thompson himself. More than of the Bierstadts is
merely supposed to be his" II the genuinoness Of
paintings easily authenticated as his can be doubted
our confidence in the commences OF less easily auheu
Gated pic considerably shaken. On the whole the
collection had better be judged its merits SO Judged
1t will be found OF rather uncommon excellence for
size and general character. Mr.. Thompson fairly
besieged by artists and professional dealers in pictures.
lie bought freely, paid cash down; lie good pur-
chaser and had all the tricks OF the trade practced
him. But he knew the value OF money, and he knew
pretty we'll the market value OF paintings and while in
some instances he paid more for picture than it
worth, he has often paid less
1t should be added that the collection s for the
first time displayed TO the public view. The
took pains arrange them. Occasionally friend was
invited allowed to visit tho where they be-
slowed but beside Mr. Thompson himself IL is doubtful
IL anybody has them all His death unlocks the
that he jealousy guarded from the public
eye. Mr. j. H. Young, the director OF the Fine Arts Ex
hbition OF the Boston Athengum has done his best
catalogue and describe them. and has been than
usually conscientious IN assigning to them the place they
deserve To hold in the history and the rank Of art Little
any attempt Is made To represent the works as being
other or better than they are To reduce the chaos
20 Of order slight task the public must
form its opinion In regard 10 the beauty Of the
rate parts. Curiosy-mOngers Will find many bit !
for their money collectors VIII be glad OF the oppOru
nifty presented for filling up gaps In their departments
coDnOsscurs will be able 10 crafty their eCCcurc,es OF
taste; dealers Will pick up mor5rs for stray customers;
and there Is plenty TO interest general buyers 4 What
Americans may be permitted to call " old pictures"
The lovers OF the arr, OF whatever school, viii bo
attracted 10 the studios OF living whose best
works will gain In estimation and popularity when com
pared with these. The display and the sale ~ this vast
collection VIII improve rather than uJurc the fortunes Of
our own artists.
CARD FROM MR. BIERsTADT.
tn n he IT,,