The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30
FINE ARTS.


The National Academy Of Design.
We have already noticed the forty-siXth Annual
Exhibition o. the National Academy OF Design, but
there is good deal more to be said about it. This
institution Is really, we might say, the only repre-
sentative OF American art and artists in the country
1t has absorbed much of the talent which noated
about in different other associations, and, it
were has centralized the genius OF the entire artistic
profession within It's wallis We look, therefore,
with some pride, and much more of hope to the Ma
tional Academy to assist us In elevatng the public
taste and rendering art what 1t should be-a chief
educator OF the popular character The Academy
has not vet reached this standard of merit. AS an
exhibition OF historical paintings for example, 1t Is
weaker IN It's forty sixth year than in ITS first. This
is sadly 10 be regretted for school oil art worthy
great nation like ours should have noble scope and
n higher mission than the representation OF land
scapes, be they ever excellent. In this branch OF
entitled TO the merit OF equality with any
country. IL may be said that artists are prac-
ticay favored by the climate and scenery that the
skies or Italy produce no finer studies; that
the tropical efrects of South America are
to be found In our own Southern states,
and all the Arctic giories OF winter scenery
in the frontier States of the North, and the
line, in Canada, but that all these advantages are
availed OF is due TO the Industry of our landscape
artists. Thus in
= :, -. yHE ACADEMY EXHIBITIONS.
as well as In other collections in public galleries aud
salesrooms, there is no want OF few landscapes
In the modern schools. We have only got to cast
cursory glance at the piles Of rubbish which We
sure find the walls-plctures in which the glory
OF the frame altogether outsnlnes the work on the
canyas-and our eye WIN light upon dozen or
50 ,s .! s~* ss.; .4 SsSI Ss r sss
This s especially noticeable in the Academy exhi'
biuon this year, and the TACT Is realized BY the
SignaLn with one grand effect and no more; out III
that effect Is the recital Of terrible story Ihan
retersons portrait Of the yacht ,s az
apply the Oit.quoed line Of Byron,
She walks the waters like thing Of life,
for the gallant boat Is fairly plungng as though en-
Hail buried in the surf she dasnes along close under
the quarter Of gigantic ship, reminding one OF
some little ocean storm bird flying on its light and
alry wings past majestic albatross, the fcathered
monarch OF the ocean.
The portrait OF the YACHT Is perfect. Those VINO
line OF her shape In the wild tumut of the sea in
which the artist has portrayed her. We should like
to see more transparency III the water There Is too
much opacity in some OF the waves. which dete
riorates good deal from the general merits OF the
picture. Mr. Peterson wants little study Of the
.brny Deep before his efforts IN this respect are
equal to his great SUCCESS In other points OF pic
ure which Is certainly one OF the finest IN the whole
AN ADMIRABLE SCENE.
embracing ali the characteristics OF winter land
.wlnter on the Adlrondacks,n tnat picturesque
region which In summer or winter furnishes fund
or grand material Tor the artist
PORTRAITS
are represented 10y at least dozen pictures which
have the merit OF real life, good handling and
natural coloring. Some fOf this class Of pictures
possess more tlan ordinary merit. We
are attracted by the head Of an old
man, by Ernest Longfelow. young artist, who
has had yet little opportunity, but who has evil
IDENTIFY made The most OF his time In the study OF
| old heads To be the son or great poet does not
| necessarily make man great artist, but IN Mr..
LongelIow's careful study and industry seem TO
have early talent Let us say here that
| the gentlemen or the hanging committee are not
always very discreet in the arrangement OF pictures.
Let us take for example, the Portrait OF Lady, by
J. b. Irving, whom everybody recognizes as Mrs
August Belmont piece remarkable for exquisite
peary tints delicate and udiclous in col0ring calm
side 1t is placed the large glowing, richly.coi0red
landscape OF William Hart-"fhe Golden Hour'-a
very fine picture In many respects, but fairly loaded
with an atmosphere OF exaggerated sunset ngnt
which one does not see once In a lifetime II so FAR
gifted as to see it at ALL The contrast between the
tone OF colOrs In the two pictures should have sug-
gested to the committee the propriety OF placing
| them I'm less close companionship.
There are many
LITTLE GEMS
both In landscape portrait and genre pictures, scat
| tered about the rooms OF the Academy which are
quite worthy or notice, but We reserve them Tor .
tufurc day,