The New York herald., 1870-06-13

GOuplPS.
We noticed last week--though too late to do so at
any ength-a striking picture by Mr. Thomas Hili
OF Boston, on exhibition at this gallery and en-
Titled
THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NOTCH, N. H.
The canvas Is large one, six feet by ten and the
scene represented thereon comprises space OF more
than three miles, between the Wiley House. short
distance TO the left OF the spectator, and Nouns
Willard and Tom IN the extreme distance 1t is the
scene OF terrible tragedy which occurred in that
locality August, 1925, by which the whole family OF
Mr.. Wiley, consisting OF nine persons, was
destroyed by a landslide. The house OF the willeys,
situated at the foot OF steep declivity,
was protected BY large rock in the
rear and remained uninjured. The family IN
their terror probably rushed from the house to
escape, were overtaken by the landslide ana de-
stroyed The painting represents the scene OF the
disaster the morning afterwards. The terrible war
Of the elements is over. Some dark, huge storm
clouds still hover the valley In the foreground,
cloudy columns, broken and dispensing, slowly float
upwards over the scene OF death and destruction, IN
their graceful and neecy beauty unconscious OF the
ruin beneath, and wrsathing the mountains with
fesoons Of delicate tracery and forms. Beyond the
sky, wonderfully clear and blue, Is through the
breaking clouds The sun shines down alike on
veal and woe typical Of the 0verrulng care whici
| Is over Just and unjust.
The rendering OF the mountain sides Ia good, well
studied and carefully, eengly, rende ed The traces
OF the recent tempest are everywhere visible, from
the torn and broken trees and upurned to the
| torrent rushing along in its fury, arl carrying
madly with it the spoiis OF the tempest.
There Is a considerable power in the broad
masses OF sunlight and shades ron the heavy
clouds above, well harmOnlzed with the general
idea Of the painting. Exception, however, may be
justly taken TO rather too great noDoJony through
out the work. There Is too little difference or COLI
| trast between the fore and background. Tie dis
tance Is good enough, but still nearer point than
| Is given Ill the picture would have ADDED much 70
| the strength and unity OF the whole. Some nearer
object might have been introduced with mucn enc T..
This all would have relieved the eye and MUD some
what from certain sense OF WEAKNESS as 1t regards
the three mile eXpanse OF mountain side and tor
| rent. The eOnly living figure introduced which
| gives a certain pathOs, is that OF dog the only
survivor OF the catastrophe, who tried with almost
human intelligence give notice Of the late of his
| masters family to a nelghDor living beyond The
| valley, and who is supposed later to have perisned
In the torrent. 1t stands IN the mule desperation OF
despair, and although greatly dwared both i'll i!ea
and execution by distance, throws in graceful ee-
ment TO the WORK as whole. Mr. Hill has certainly
painted powerful picture, with several OF the ee.
m9hts OF great painter In 1t; but he mas not paid
| tAat regard to effect which, II heavy and coaven-
| tional wnen carried to an extreme, when lacking
entirely Is surely destructive to general unity anu
/! power Of rendition.