The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-26
ART MATTERS.
Exhibition Of the Seewart-Knoedlcr Collection
mt the Lcavitt Art Rooms.

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ExhibleIou Of the Stewart-K noedler Collection
mt the Lcavits Art Rooms.
Il must be peculiarly painful to o man who has
spent good many years Of his life in bringing to-
gether collection OF paintings to see them sud-
denly scattered under the hammer OF the auctoneer
In the case Of Mr.. Stewart the pain is. no doubt,
deadened by hts absence from the scene, and per-
haps by the growth OF new affections. Attracted
by the charms OF Paris he has decided upon
making that great centre OF all that is brilliant
and refined in human civilization his future home.
and those who have known how really enjoyable
LIE IS there win envy his fortune rather than blame
his resolution. Sooner than risk the chance OF
damage to his pictures In bringing them to Paris
Mr.. Stewart resolved to dispose OF Them. This sale
Will give opportunity to picture buyers TO obtain
quite q numoer OF excellent cabinet pictures.
Though there are some pictures OF large
value the collection ID principally made
up of works which are within the reach OF
buyers who are moderately rich. 1t would be
dlffcult to ind number OF paintings more adapted
TO the requirements Of sale, Ior almost every taste
will be able 10 na some subject pleasing TO IT, In
deed the only fault that we are inclined to charge
against the collection Is the small
REPRESENTATION OF NATIVE ART.
There are o few pictures Of our own school scat
tered on the walls but 10 find that they might
easily be passed over without nO.lce In one in
stance especially this would be objectionable. I'm
der the unpretendlng ute Of 'Spring Foliage"
(75*h We have one OF the most Charming and truth
ful studies OF nature we have ever seen.
THE ELABORATION OF THE LEAVES
ana wild field flowers Is perfectly wondrous. The art
sJ has carried imitation lar 1t is pos siblerur
ther, indeed, than It would be desirable, except on
rare oceaslons-as proof oil the power ana feeling
ing little picture soulless copy Within it we see
the evidences OF power OF artistic composition
which Is, indeed, rare. None but close student OF
nature, who was also a deXterOus technical work
man Of high order, would have painted TINS little
gem, which to us Is worth Q whole exhibition OF
the careless landscapes we too often see after
our naive ARTISTS This "Spring Foliage" ought TO
bring high price, and we hope the art patrons will
mark their appreciation OF home merit by displaying
generous rivalry for It's possession, II only to teach
our artists that If they put work and knowledge
into their paintings, the public Will treat them as
highly as they do foreign artists OF reputation.
Among the foreign landscapes two small subjects
come to our mind differing widely in manner Of
treatment but both possessing merits OF very nigh
ORDER. Noes "sOuvenir de Dleppe" gives us very
miserable but very picturesque cabin In the fore
ground, with some verdure ana IN the distance the
OLD tower rises Il ON the sands
CLOTHED IN MYSTERIOUS GRAYS.
1t is excellent IN drawing and composition, and
strong In color, which IS boldly anu decsivey laid
on. Diazs "FOntalnebleau' IL quite the opposite OF
Noel's charming realistic little work. ''F0ntaine-
ground Is In deep shadow. and che high light OF
picture Is seen through vista III the dark trees
falls gently This effect has been delightfully."- treated
the painting OF the water beng ,on i9 =, ,s
technical excellence OF The WORK 1t Is ul OF mystic
rious power and snggestveness II is impossible 10
look at 1t without falling into rcverie OF course
but the man who stand be ore 1t without having
something suggested to HIM by these gloomy shadows
1t Is probable the mass Of people wont ike this
painting, because 1t Is TOO strong and says too much.
They wont understand IT, but We cannot nelp that.
DUTY OF THE CRITIC
to tell people what they ought to like and this little
picture deserves attention Quite IN a different
genre, nllang's miniature picture OF ''Soiterino"
(32) turns our thoughts to 1.-THE p0mp ana clrcum-
stance OF glorious war TO say Inas the w9rH
grandeur and subllmlty OF the terrific struggle mt
Solferino would be to display total ignorance or
the SUBJECT but without gong SO tar we will say
tna 1t Is acmlrapie rendering OF an incident which
occurred pretty often during tnat hard contested
fight mounted officer Is quietly watching the pro-
gress oil the conflict. while 10 his left company
OF yoltleeurs are retreating az pas ggna,dstlque.
killed the artist has not lett US III doubt OF that
fact. On me let We see "a lew wounded men, left
bic, and the action OF the figures
VIGOROUS AND NATURAL
There Is not bit OF exaggeration, and those
often beneld Just such incldents "The
Landlords Portrait" by Brlllouln, is another
school, and has all Its excellent drawing and bril-
liant coor The expressions on the faces OF the
group Of soldiers VINO are watching the progress OF
seriously IN hand are capitaily rendered the
whole composition Is marked by Keen sense OF
are well and freely drawn. Florent WIllems and
Victor Van Hore are represented by composite
story out In the texture, treatment and the manage.
ment OF light Inc execution Is delightful.
"rHE UNFORTUNATEs."
b. Ritter is an excellent genre subject In low life.
1t ia lull OF dr0nry and OF the poetry OF poverty.
which we can best admire when we don't happen
to feel II. This painting has many warm admirers.
But we are warned that We must pass over many
other gems OF by pressure on our space and Will
lew important pictures. which are grouped togeiher
in the catalogue :-Leroux's "O1ering 10 the
Is sa work T, Is
has gone back IN spirit 10 the Roman period and
painted real women Of flesh ana blood. His draw
has introduced so much that olive tnge we often
meet In Italian women that it strikes US at first as
broken in the drapery by the Introduction of a
very pronounced blue garment which 1t would have
been better to have lett out Beyschlag has great
deal OF
and colors well. He Is represented by new sub.
care. "Grandmother's Birthday" Is delightfully."-
painted, well composed, and tells q simple and
affecting story. The study OF the child bearing the
flowers could only have been painted by q real
artist, who had both technical knowledge and much
as wei as sympathy with childhood.
Perraulr5 "MOther and Child" Is another worthy
WORK. full OF refinement and strength. 1t Is well
drawn and remarkably rich IN color. There Is about
1t that poetic realism which Is the very highest
quality Of modern work. COutures wonderful
little work, the 'Decadence OF the Roman Empren
has already been the subject or a long notice in
these columns, and We have only agaia to express
our admiration OF the strength and unity OF its
composition, correctness OF drawing and richness
OF color 1t Is precious gem. With regret we
notice there are many notable works OF great
artistic value That we have passed over without
notice, but we hope we have said enough to induce
any one interested In art to visit the collection and
BEE for himself.
ATT ADMIT CnAY