The New York herald., 1870-06-17
THE FINE ARTS.
Prizes Of the Paris Exllibftlon-Preparine
for the Medals-The Successful Com (
petitors-Bent Of Genius-The
Schools, Modern and Ancient
Work Of the French Art.
ists-A Hungarian Pris- q
on Scene--American
Productions and
Criticism.


s-al p aHta A heetts tH
sfa et as f4 pcef PARzs, June Q, 1870
is now quite long time since the Exhibition OF
Fine Arts was opened to the public; but have de-
layed until the distribution OF medals awarded TO
the most meritorious artists shoud-py rauIying al
most to the letter the opinions expressed-have
given me confidence to continue ana 10 oohnrm Sne
preliminary remarks which offered In my last con-
tr,put,on 70 the HERALD. 1t may first be well to
apprise the reader that these medas-forty in num-
ber-are awarded by an elective jury OF painters the
electors 6ng the exhibiting artists, and can only be
given three times, and three separate occasions,
with the minimum interval OF one year, 70 the same
candidate for honor. After receiving his three
medals the artist Is reported hors concours hav
ing nothing further to compete for, saw
ing that ne has become eligible for the
decoration Of the Legion Of Honor, su-
pfeme reward only and rarely given to exceptional
merit by the Emperor, who, at the closing Of each
International Exhibition which has been held during
his reign. has distributed these high distinctions in
person. when given. at the close Of each annual
exhibition the Minister OF the Fine Arts represents
the Emperor in awarding the crosses--if there be
any-and In distributing the medals In the name Of
the jury.
The opening of the Exhibition has fully confirmed
my first anticpations, expressed In my letter OF
the Goth OF Apri for the works Of nearly all those
whose names i mentioned have either been re-
warded by the medal, or their authors have be-
lOnged to the class hors c0ncours, and deco.
rated, to which we have just alluded. Among the
latter are Brune, Dubufe Giraud the elder Bouge
reau, Plassan, Wyld, Paslni &c. and among the
former we find Bouver. Becker, De Beaumont, Giraud
the younger, Tony Robert Teury (son Of the Acade-
mlcianl Zamacos, Saintin. Van Marcke. voemot,
Reynault and the rest The two very important
works-almost the most important Of this yearAof
Tony Robert Feury and Giraud the younger, are the
pictures which attract the greatest amount OF pub
lie attention, and they the interesting from
the fact that the aims Of the two young artists
so widely different from each other. Equal mantpu-
lative ski-a skill hardly to be surpassed-is manifest
in both; but we observe that Fleury has composed
his picture 1.-THE Sacking of Corinsh'D while follow
ing somewhat tho closely, according to our judg-
ment the rejected traditions OF the classic school,
ana has had, we think, recourse. far beyond the
bounds OF discretion, to that everrecurrng scholas
TIC, poecal license Of introducing the nude where
the nude Is not only not wanted but actually out
OF place, out Of character and unmeanng. The
painting is, nevertheless, work OF high merit, and
the jury has designated 1t for the Grdnde Medafle
dHonneur over and above the ordinary medal
already awarded.
The younger Giraud, In his ''Bird Charmer," has
followed totally different route, and has devoted
all his energy and powerful intellect to the portray.
ing Of what may be termed poetic reality as com.
pared to the poetic fiction Of his rival. We prefer
the reality and the rich gorgeousness Of the color
inG, the noble daring of those startling contracts OF
hue and line (which less skilully treated would be
become mere tne strongest proofs OF fne
compel our admiration even were we disposed to
cayil We have heard with pleasure that her Imps
this fine work. and that IL will ornament OF he
salons OF her charming Partisan residence. In this
connection 1t Is subject Of regret to the lovers OF
here that the Princess has ceased TO exhibit her
works, for her water color drawings OF lfe.sze fig
were generally most dcservedly admired, and
the last time they appeared In public carried or
well-earned medal.
We have sad that technical Skill and irreproach-
able manipulation characteristic features OF the
French school,, and truly so; for every artist here
knows how to paint, and most OF them how TO draw,
while fine cOloring Is rather gift, an intuition
than quality to be acquired by study. Still, the
French artists, on the whole. may be set down as
and their works evince great study in the direction
to which we ailude But when we compare them TO
the Germans of the Munich or Dusseldorf schools.
even to some OF the Flemings, we are inclined to
think that they fail to maintain In the higher and
more intellectual aspirations MS OF pictorial art
anpulators Of color on canvass. Their works lack
that profound observation OF lie and character for
which the Germans are so remarkable and they un-
doubtedly ail short in or neglect ~ pourtray, that
analysis Of human feeling, as expressed by coua-
tenance and attitude OF which the thoughtful
Germans infuse so large portion in their works.
There has been French religious painter who
RAM and there is not In the whole exhibition of this
year q French picture comparable with the "Dernier
Jour dun Condamne." by Munkacsy, Hungarian
ain Hungary, three days previous the execution,
the public Is admitted into the prison to visit the
cr. minal about TO expate his crime; the money
given by the visitors Is destined to purchase
masses Tor mis- SOUL" Nothing can surpass the
intensity Of feeling or the variety of expression
depIeed in the countenances Of the personages OF
this composition. The logged, semlprond, YET
despaikpg resolution 0f the condemned man, the
vague curiosity oI one or two OF the spectators the
unaffected pity OF others, the halfrghtened gesture
OF the child about 70 throw u coin into the recep
tacle for onerngs placed the noor OF the prison,
the concentrated hate OF another lOOkeron, perhaps
an indirect sufferer by the crime about to be ex-
plated, are all masterpieces OF conception ana de-
hneation. The color OF the painting Is, perhaps,
somewhat black and the work, as whole, may be
deficient in that exquisite execution often found In
paintings OF the French school or minor merit; but
what triumph OF mind ID here
There are other works Of similar Class In this
yrai years exhibition and shall aIIde M to them IN
marvellous piece Of brilliant color In Regnaults
''sal0m6 the Dancer holding the basin and the knife
These two pictures have obtained medals
We have fine landscape redolent with the glow
ing hues OF evening BY Renie, who must have found
When PS@bus into Tbsts bosom fen;
She bush'd at Arst-then put out the light
And drew the modest curtains Of the night
splendid portrait is exhibited, as usual, by Mile.
Jacquemart tnedaed aso) OF Marshal Conrobert-
70 this an exceptionally fine work from the hand OF
Hepert, the director OF the French Acad-
at as b1 b0Tang ana ssns a2
leaning the margin OF well, In all the bloom OF
vigorous youth. and looking you proudly, perhaps
poor old crone with eyes already dimmed by age
and sunken cheek, too plainly denoting that she
init t1n CAf NTH