The New York herald., 1871-04-23
FINE ART S.

INE Ak ,.
The time is rapidly approaching when the artists
will be taking flight into the mountains, the woods
and to the margin Of all the beautiful lakes which
are sprinkled like diamonds through all the North.
ern and Eastern States. AS the foliage develops
itself and the atmosphere assumes a summer hue
the temptation for the OF the palette and the
pencil becomes irresistible. In the meantime, how
ever while we are waiting for tine fruit0n
OF summer, the artists are clearing out their
accumulated stock by private sale. and in the
art galleries and auction rooms Thus many excel :
lent pictures at the disposal OF the public. Is
an unpleasant thing for the artist to find the cor
ners OF his studio filled up with the works OF unpr0-
ductive genius but 1t Is gift to the public which
Is generally appreciated. when he places his pic
lures the salesroom where the public ge. pos
session or them II they wocraa enough uur-
chase. Whether the motive be selfish unselnsh,
the benent to the public Is the same. We are always
glad to get hold o: The gems OF our local studios
Private and Public Galleries.
For the works OF foreign artists we are indebted
general rule to the enterprise OF professional
picture dealers. The owners Of works by Euro.
pean masters OF any great merit very seldom
put them up for competition. They regard their
private galleries the sanctuarles and the shr1nes
where the gems OF ART OF which thcy are the fortu-
nate possessors should properly reposc in perpetual
honored heirloOms OF the family and evidences OF
their own refined taste. Thus We never hear Of Mr..
Aspinwall. or Mr.. Marshall 0. Roberts, or Mr..
August Belmont, and many other gentlemen per-
mitting their pictures-selected as they have been
with the utmost care, and purchased at fabulous
prices-going into the salesroom to have their
merits decided by the skill OF the auctloneer the
liberallty OF the purchasers
But for all that, while the creme ne la creme OF
pictorial art does not often under the hammer
there are many pictures OF exceeding merit TO he
had almost every day at the art galleries. Many or
the best pictures OF American artists find their way
into the homes OF our citizens through these chan
nels while many OF the really meritorous works OF
the foreign school, especially the Dutch. the French
and the Dusseldorf, which are evidently the
fayortes are represented occasionally. We confess.
however that we snould like To see more merit and
less mediOcrty IN tins class. In most instances
the pictures OF such artiss as vcrbockhoven Pccrus
Lyendccker, RoDbe and several Of the Dusseldorf
artists very poorly and often very dubiousy re-
presented. Of course we are greatly at the mercy
OF the picture dealers for this, goo deal more than
to the conscienousness OF the auctioneer, who. In
nine cases out Of ten, knows little or nothing about
the picture he ~ selling, beyond the comparative
price it ought to bring under the hammer We
must educate the public taste for art to a higher
Themselves against the Chances df buying very poor
specimens OF art under the title of loud sounding
name.
We would suggest, In this regard, To the gentle
men who own fine galleries or rare works, an ex-
tended iberality towards the public In the absence
OF such superb galleries OF art as London and Paris
and the other leading cities OF Europe possess
which are regarded as the property OF the people
we are confined to the private collections Of our
wealthy citizens. Therefore generous ltberality on
their part would be most acceptable ana aisny
useful.
The sOmcrvillo Art Gallery.
During the coming week-that IL to say, on Tues
day and wednesday evenngs-lhere viii De a sale
OF paintings at the Somervllle Art Gallery, on Fifth
avenue. The catalogue comprises variety enough,
Including thirty-one artists OF the French school,
led or by Rosa Bonheur, Diaz, Pecrus, j. l., Brown,
Corot (who has gem in landscapel Bongureau
and Tinot. Dusseldorf Is represented by twenty.
three artists and the American school by fifteen
artists, including IN the list Blerstadt De Haas,
TAFT shattuck, William aud. James Hart,
Election upon the whole Is a good one. or
the III pictures on the walls we might safely say
warrant the prophecy that they will bring high
prices. Two or three viii be sufficient to indicate
the "wooa scenc," by D'az, an exquisite study the
New Scholar" by Rethel; Baron's Scene M the
Garden Of I aa sSs
nand liberal prlees provided that the company oc
gifted with good taste and Judgment.
signed to SOmeryille Art Gallery by Messrs Goupil
and snedcor. Many Of them are, therefore, familiar
SALE AT JOHNSTON 4 VAN TAssELIs
very good sale oil pictures took place at the
salesro0m Of Johnston Van Tassell, 50 Liberty
street, on Friday and Saturday. American artists
were most largely represented, some Of our most
prominent painters being In the catalogue. As a
general thing the prices realized were not quite
equal the value Of the pictures fact which Illus
trates that q good many purchasers got bargains
which they viii not regret
TuE ARTISTS IN THE STUDIOS are nuishng up
their winter lab0rs.
Po.yeiI's Portrnit of Collector Marphy.
Mr. Powell the historical painter, has sustained
hts wellearued reputation In portrature-one OF
the most dlIiicut and highest branches OF art-by
hili length portrait OF Collector Murphy, which not
only astoni sizes the friends OF the Collector as :
apital likeuess. bat also Is 50 afon1n mafAso !"