New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-04
FINE ARTS-MUSIC-DRAMA.
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART.
TFOURrH ARTICLE

Confirming our survey of the Dutch pictures,
o,ne 70 the little wouverman with Its White Horse,
tbout which this skillfu but narrow artist seemed
unable TO paint anything There Is another picture OF
,he same sort by younger brother with general
rIv likeness called "The Halt" zone Of the best pic
rs in the collection that superb portrait OF Dutch
preomaster by Van der Helst 1t Is in perfect state
~ preservation. and is well worthy the attentive study
~ any one interested portraitpairtinG 1t is one Of
those portraits Of whose authenticity you are as sure as
a. Won had known the subject II is the work OF a
master who knew thoroughly what he was
about and saw the end from the be-
cnnnr II is marvellous In ITS detail but
4 not painted Ike those microscopic faces Of Denner for
t,stapce which only intended 70 excite the admir-
alton Of rural visitors and induce them TO estimate how
many wrinkles so the square inch. This picture Ia
paind for the general impression. and it's wonderful
snsh merely assists the effect Of the ensemble The beard
"a 40 perfectly represented that you imagine you can
count the stubby hairs until you try it, The eye is pos
lively alive and the whole Dutchman is there caught
and fixed the canvas by the only power that ever
accomplished anything In art-geuius united with Seri
Gus and uuflinching labor.
There are three good pictures Of Solomon Ruysdael
which make for the absence Of his brother jacob
from the collection. One OF them is spirited heresse
and the other marine and view OF the Town
OF Alkmaar An admirable Fruit piece by "een1' anu
Flower piece by Maria Van OOsterwyck are fair exam
M ~ that patient imitation OF nature which has set
opy not 10 be surpassed and rarely equaed by su0se
Quent artists. The Quay at Leyden, by Jan van ger
Heydon OF the most remuneTatlve STUDIES III tue
nom II is not great painting. by any means Dut It's
principal fault is the most interesting thing about IL IL
il still lazy bit Of true Holland town e-a shady side
walk and little piece Of canal fecked with warm sun
light: bridge aud beyond its round arch fisherman
catching no fish. It is a peaceful and harmonious COM
position, spoiled by too much work. Tie quaint
redbrick houses are painted brick by brick.
The artist seems to have made calculation or the
number OF bricks in the house. and 20 have dOgged set
about painting them and filing IN the white streaks OF
mortar as II his salvation depended upon having every
one In Its place The result is contrary to the expeca
ton OF the painter You look at the bricks rather than
the houses II you can free yourself from this asclna-
ton Of detail you that this is really an admirable
picture. II would be perfect If il were not puperec'
The play sunlight and shadow is very skllIlu anu
pleasing: the perspective strong and satisfactory
II is rarely that better effect OF sunny distance
than that OF the point where the tranquil fisherman is
doing over his line. The portrait Of Dutch gentle
man. by Adrian de Vries, is fine painting, and WILL
doubtless make successful engraving IL the hands Of
Mr. JacQuemart
The great VeazQueZ is represented 10y al unimporant
fruit piece Of those early works in which he gained
skill and ease but which give promise whatever Of
the mastery OF later years The modern Spanish school,
there may be said to be one contributes only richly
not TO say gaudiy coored sketch Of Jewess OF Tan
giers by GOya. This is also mere study, but gives
iir enough idea Of the dahng vigor OF tins eccentric
painter Two pretty pictures Of the German school by
Jauneck give half the history Of the Prodigal SON
In the first the young gentleman is drawing his FUNDS
and packing his for foreign travel and in
e second he devOurng his substance in very joyous
company These quaint little sketches form a singular
contrast in spirit and to that grand canvas OF
Du0ufe which is as large and Intoxicating as cOu-
bnatou OF Verdi and O1enbach.
The Italian pictures are few but precious. The two
Venetian Scenes by Francesca Guardi the Ralto and
the Church Of Santa Maria della Salute, are admirable
both in composition and In execution 1t is worth while
10 observe the difference between the sober gray hues
OF this child Of Venice and the superb fantasies Of bril-
liant color in which Clifford INDUCES when he goes to the
lagoons for subject The Madonna Of sassoferrato is
An excellent example Of 1t is the cOnven-
tlonal Virgin Of sassOfeiTatO with the whtey-brown
headress ana pale drape and the face Is character
lied with all his usual sweetness and refinement OF eX-
preston. II s not given the prominence on the walls
which il deserves. II might well take the place
OF some OF those painted utilities which are hung
oHensvey on the line The series OF panel pieces by
Absui are mere wOrRmans handcraft and are valuable
only a. specimens Of his style Of work They represent
group OF children at play one at see-saw one at Kite
flying one at LeaprOg, and one at Artlery-the Iast
being by far There is group OF Bacchanas by
Poa and several sketches by Tiepolo in no way re-
msrkabe But one Of tie pearls OF the gallery Is the
Paris BordOne portrait OF Of the young Counts OF
te 5forza family Of Milan. IL power OF color IN grace
Of composition life and beauty OF expression In that
indehnable art which suggests all there is in the artist
and more than there in the sitter this picture Is one VI
the most noticeable in the collection
OF the few French pictures the one which will attract
most attention and give most pleasure is mere sketch,
TIE head Of the young girl the AaedcttOn PGternee
It's beautiful and touching study and far superior 10
many OF the finished pictures Of Greuze There are some
excellent pictures by Leonard de France, especially The
Foge-s scholarly and classical composition by the
learned POussin which came from the Shaftesomy
collection; but the visitor viii always 20 back TO the
and suffering face Of this lovely young gr ured
ly the sympathetic touch OF nature in 1t.