New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-19
FINE ARTS.
ART AT THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB.

hibitiOns OF choice paintings But is not wise III heh
TO call critical attention. as they did on Thursday even
ing to the works displayed on the walls AT mas never
constituted feature OF the Club. Probably IL never WI"
be conspicuous feature there certainly VIII never DC
very attractive feature unless spirit comes over
the members or a change is made In the arrangements
Of the At present these very unfortunate Inc
art gallery is situated on the ground floor In an acciden
tai apartment which made no portion OF the oiIs"a
building and mainly link between the mousse
and the billiard ROOM II thorou ghfare traversed IN
cessanty by members on their way TO ana from 'nc
alleys and tables. In the evening 1t Is noisy ana con
fused above any in the house. so that it Is mposs
bic TO secure there the quiet necessary for the enjoyment
OF pictures.
The Climb counts many artists among its members, but
not enough to make an impression the multitude or
affect at all the genius Of the institution oflgihahy
national and patriotic its name indicates the tD Is
still prevangly political and social in Its character
There is handsome library room but very few go there
The members love most to read the newspapers and
magazines TO discuss topics OF public interest and 10
spend the hours in pleasant personal chat There little
announcement for artists to bring their works here for
criticism inspection, or sale. The management, by &C
cepng production OF the easel in place OF the usual
fees to draw out their resources by making econ
omy coincide with ambition. But such devices seldom
succeed The artist will send his best work on such
conditions and poor work destroys the reputation OF the
gallery and Keeps better pieces away
ia that the collections OF become less and less worthy
OF admiration and the efforts Of the committee to I'M
prove them meet with very poor reward Art requires
delicate nurture and every advantage 1t can obtain III
the way Of aesthetic environment and sympathetic asso
citation Where none these natural facilities are g'en'
1t cannot be expected 10 flourish
On one or two occasions as at the last ladies' reception
the display Of pictures very creditable-OlhOiu
charming scene on Lago Maggiore was there; 80 was
NJ deiic OF
Mr. Knoeder sent some choice pieces from his coleetioh
But that was special OCCASION and the pictures A'
the shrubbery there in compliment not 10 te INC
Arts but the fair women. or the display OH lhur'
day evening we would rather not say much IL was
about as large as it usually at the monthly meetings.
and Of the average qualyperaps not quite as Hoou as
common. The largest canvass was an " Annunelauoh'
by Augero; an nspid work. lacking in every KIND oi
positive merit poor In drawing, fiat in color, ana eohNe
tlona in desg-for the modern mind possessing neither
charm interest meaning.
The next canvass in sze-we take the sl'hu1ru VI
measurement as being the most cOnyenlent-"i' scene
in the war Of the most amblike and ndolent description
the paintcr whereof we did not care To know n Ca
Scene by Bradford quite unworthy Of him. was renaAa
BILE for perfect Jewel Of iceberg that sparkod III the
distance Beard represented by one OF Ills Disagree
able nictures IN which he tries show how little differ
ence there IS between men and the lower animals; PIC
lures that have single element OF
M
vey no lessons Of swccnese ~ l'. VI h0heness lh9
nreseut work present, L. asiL.uc iOrm tho opinion
held by certain natutdists ihat and monkeys arc
kindred by blood. II change that man OF sentiment
and even Of ima .'ioH, we have been assured MI
Beard is Will 20 40 such violence to TIC hAts'
human sensibiNtes.
Mr. Fagnan who exccls in the Invcr Of deprivns fine
countenances their expression nuci an unhappy
porrat OF Col Shaw whose ciuiccHl memory cannot be
associated with weak face that has touch IN 1t OF
heroism. and no CLEAN OF joy
Mr. Pope put in feeble portrait Of Edwin NJ Stanton,
from which the friends OF the great WarSccreary VIII
turn away dissatisfied We trust that this is not to he
the Clubs only permanent memorial Of the grand man II
should hold 1t privilege to honor.
We will not push fault finding further. OF col
lection something good may be said Launt Thompsous
bust Of Prof Morse faithful and admirable piece OF
work. strong and full Of character II is the sculptos
last piece. and OF his very best better than the Bry-
ant Mr. Carpenters portrait OF the late Rev John Pier
pon is the best of his have seen, and the best
likeness Of the brave old soldier there is any
where Mr.. Hicks had portrait Of DR.. Edward
Delahed. an official thing apparently and, there
fore more formal than the artist might have pre-
ferred but. doubt fair representation Of worthy
man, and having one quality that Mr. Hcks's portraits
usually lack-smplicity Of accessories. OF Hayes
Bull Moose IL is unnecessary to speak. His best work
is always excellent. and this good specimen For the
rest there WERE and there touches Of color figures
groups Of figures that pleasantly detained the for
moment but they too small, remote or incidental
TO make a deep impression, relieve the somewhat
monotOnous medIocrity OF the exhibition.
MR.. pRANG's COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS.
We should have been glad to say a word
earlier about the pictures belonging to Mr. Louis Prang
OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT celebrity. They exhibition
for several days, and sold Thursday and Friday
Of this week AS a collection of paintings did
- H.,
genius and few possessngsmuch intrinsic merit
works OF art Though pretty. Often-sOmetimes more
than that very and gracefu-they lacked charac
ter and individuality, The present owner OF Mr.. Fergu
sons Views Central Park has delicate bits Of
landscape painting OF charming sentiment and finished
like gems Brichters four pictures OF the Seasons will
gladdeDlhe heart Of their possessor Samuel Comans
Duck Pond and Bacon's Doctor" are good in their
way George Lambdin's Wild Frnit " was the best pie
ture TO mind landscape, in the whole gallery.
The interest however did attach 10 these particu
larry 1t the fact that here many, not ALL OF
the originals from which the chromolithographs
made. Close together knot the half dozen that
gave Mr.. Prang his fame Tats Group OF Chickens"
the first attempt OF the process dainty piece of
color, attracted special notice Near it Eastman
Johnsons Barefoot Boy" little cold, gray picture.
Beneath that Coomans's Family Scene in Pompe"
the subject OF Mr. Prangs last and most unequvocal
success. Further of, occupying conspicuous place,
hung the welknown "Boyhood Of Lincoln" Mr. John.
sons original picture, but not the one from which the
chrome taken. The original Of the birthplace OF
Whittier" there and of Browns Yosemite Valley"
On examining these pictures could not but be struck
by the fidelity of the copies in close to
deceive the unwary gazer OF the subjects
selected with view to their fitness for this kind OF
reproduction, that fidelity was in measure guaran.
teed in advance Be that be, the resemblance
is remarkable. The simpler the painting the better the
chrome Coomans's picture, though elaborate, has
subtletes Of depth or surface The Yosemite Valley"
is good as the original, which is not saying much.
HIPS picture OF Whtier's home gets no justice at Mr.
PraDgs hands, but Mr. Johnsons Lincoln does for the