New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-05
FINE ARTS.
DuBurFE's PROpIGAL sow.

/ dp4OlaflOu a gallery ~
paintings ~ those which he exhibited u the ACADEMY
and aferyard sold at the OF George Leayitt G.,
Although many OF the finest pictures ia that collection
sold az prices entirely incommer,urae with their
value and in many instances below their cost -
general results doubtless satisfactory 81 Derby
has Just returned from Europe with small but oxqu.ta
collection Of French pictures which Includes that most
mastery work Of Dubuic The Pr0digal s)n. This euor
nous canvas could never have lcft France h'd no,
been FOR the apathy and Indifference IN matters RI
which has tiled upon th1t afflicted people. The -ame
causes which have enabled che people 81 LONDON 20
for in their lives what absolute perfection M aching
means which have given us gooi fortune Of keeping
among Us for year the brightest ornament Of tho
lyric stage in existence have also enabled Mr. Debgfo
collect and bring 10 America Of the most elaborate
works Of cOtemporanoous art, and 10 'e them ia New
York at prices below those they would have brought
year in the studios Of the artists But nothing which
he has hitherto done in this especial held has ho ssuh
canoe and importance Of thi, importation ~ fhe mott
colossal product OF recent arrhe Fs Prodige NJ nu
bune.
n is picture too vast IN proportions % BOONE
the property Of any private collector II d oue side u
Mr.. Lcavts handsome gallery az the corner oi Broad
way and Tvelfth-st., and the workmcn br-'lY
engaged in upholstering the room. 20 make every
accessory Of light and color subordinate 20 ms
effect Of this immense canvas. In day Or twD
it will be thrown open % the public, aIsi
we may expect a renewal in this country Of tho beltri
controversy to which it, exhibition gave rise PARIS
the Spring and summer OF 1850. II then formed the pin
cpa attraction OF the Annual Exposition, and occupied
the place Of honor the salon. Il elected like every
great and original effort the most violent expressions y
denuuciaon and adhesion, but public opinion 81, I,t
settled down into the Judgment that IL was one ~ ne
most important contributions made In recent years -
the achievements Of the French School II is only ths
exceptional circumstances in which France lies 90 fh-
moment which have made it possible for Mr. Derby >
a mic la
so indicates courage bordering upon rashne'. 40
in America has house big enough for the a'commoi4
ton Of IT, and there few public organization. -i't
would care invest much money and space 30 pne
picture. We shall watch its fate with some interest aud
should be glad if 1t could be kept in New-YOrk
II belongs TO that great school Of dramatic comporo
Of which the most famous exempars among the Old m-
ters are those superb Suppers and Marriages OF PAU
Veronesc and the grand Alterations OF RuDens ani bt
which one OF the most noted specimens in modern times
has been that incompatible Rome dGpS Ia DcGdspcs u
Couture which enough in itself 10 secure the pray
crs OF e civilized world for the safety OF the LuXrm
bourg It is broad and brilliant work, full % o znS
light and color theatrical in the good sense and hot IA
the bad for without being false or affected la5grs -
present with the greatest splendor Of arrangement ini
decoration the full thought Of the artist. The scene =
the portico OF a vast and noble palace the East Ths
time is when you like. The artist has refused to -
slavshly bound by any restraints Of costume fr
local color. The dresses mostly % 'lt
rich and graceful fashion Of rho rs-
Nuisance not that the painter cares especially tor
historical keeping, but simply because the VIII 81 nan
has not vet devised anything artistic IN wealth
Of color than the OF those days There was but one
moment when people dressed better and that was the
ae of Phdias when form was worshiped and color kept
in subicCon-or perhaps today when form aud color ara
alike despsed, and men dress to save time AMI get real
lily into omnbuses. Stil one can look at picture
like this without being grateful for the taors aud gal
nj
OF light in the picture is rs 1t should BE- the P.Odga
| his glory. He stands atuud in q rich,
! drapcry OF scarlet, the marble steps 81 Tho
stately porch, the center OF a group Of superb
jewellers. At his left farhaircd woman leans fOrw1r
pernsng his face with eyes Of passionate earnetne.a
and the right ripper beauty wOoiug him, with head
thrown back and hands caspng his in the abandon of
the Icyel. He holds in his raised hand a cup Of
His dark aud beautiful face is but slightly flushed ID
is too much OF an artist 10 be overcome by the wild e
bauch. lie is looking forward dredmily at the group
before him, where poet Is reading his verses amid
garland Of girls, and further away a group of Oriental
dancers twmed in the may measures Of The East
At the extreme right trio of gamblers are throwing
dice rich warm light is poured over the scene. hight
enng every salient point and soitenmg al tls
shadows. A great city lies basking in the distance
and doves making love in the high 3r3hr,
OF the porco II is as fine picture was ever drawn
Of the Pride Of Lfethe JOY of mere material existence.
It ia the debauch OF poet and gentlcman-a materia!
paradise beyond the reach OF the richest of stockholders
There in the picture the representatives OF the lower
forms of pleasure In the background on the right there
are men who are grossly drunk The young gambler
the foreground who is winning the old ones money. u
his dismay and his dOxys fury, blaceg
you could lind in Natchez-under-the-Hnl Even tho
dancers in whose 1.-THE limbs the very poetry Of living -
seen. animals doing their days work IN an
artistic way. But TO the Prodgal himself a. to tho
artist and the spectator the scene Is the representation
of ali that the worship of the give Of beauty
and OF gihcenCe to life. In the severe and ascetc
drawings TO the right and left Of this reve OF color
and form you what life leads to which il devoted
TO the qualification of the senses, TO the mere cult
walton OF the artistic and the neglect OF the moral a III
ties In the one, the Prodga is herdng swine under
cloudy sky full Of carronbirds. In the other ne Il re-
turning in his rags and remorse Because he was
unmndful in his pride OF youth, Of something better
than art and pleasure he brought down to The COM
partnership of beasts But the germ Of good that lay IA
his OF art made repentance possible, aud 1ccepd
ton by the Father.
The faults OF this great work are obvious enough The
necessities OF the artists intention involved some <
them. The picture lacks unity and complctne>s The
group OF dancing-grls the left and the rioters snt
dicepayers on the right the completeness OF the
noble composition which forms the center But tho
painter evidently wished to present canvas the
entire history the rakes progress and these groups
give in concrete form the idea OF the iasrinon II
play and the seduction Of mere physical symmetry Ia
themselves these two groups are fine enough 20 Ju''lY
their presence The faces OF the gamblers are studied
ike Hogarth and each Of the three women on the irit
i a carefully considered type Of seductive beauty IA"
diaphanous drapery OF the the right OF the group
is a tour ds force of technical handling anu the me-
slender limbs OF the scrpcnne Egyptian on ih' .' 'to
drawn with audacous truthiuue-s.
TIE IRVING BUST IN PROSPECT PARK.
There was enough in the circumstances OF
Nam i |If-s N
ugton Irving i'm Brooklyn last Saturday, % make tde
occa.ion memoIab,e one. \ great c0nolur,r ~ W'I-