The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-04
ART MATTERS
Seious' Great Paiutings-Jerusalemr IL Her
Grandeur and In Her Fall.

SelOus' Great NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. - AA"H
Grandeur and In Her Fall.
Under the above titles will be presented In
short time to the American public two paintings OF
rare interest by Mr.. Selous Christians have ever
turned with love and veneration to the scene OF the
savours passion. ana the desire to become better
acquainted with . spot hallOwed by the blood OF
God dying for the salvation OF mankind mas ever
been widespread aspiration In the Uhrlstian
world. Nor Is this interest confined to the Chris
tan sects, II they look upon Jerusalem the cradle
OF their faith the Jews scattered among the
nations OF the earth look back with sOrrowful
pride to the time when the city was the glory OF
the chosen people Of God whether we regard
It historically or relgously, we cannot fail to be
deeply Interested In all that pertains to It's past and
present. 1t Is impossible to forget that from this
cradle have sprung forms OF belief and institutions
that seem to defy time Nations languages and
religions have come ana gone since the Jewish
priests offered up
SACRIFICES TO TUE LIVING GOD
The temples of Greek and Roman are crumbled
In the dust or stand In magnificent rum to
bear witness to past glory; but the Hebrew
faith still exists In spite OF persecution ana the
scattering OF the nation. From the same SOIL mas
risen the Christian faith which alone will oullive
the parent religion. Here have Uanspired all the
incidents connected with the great work OF the
know more about city which has experienced so
siQnallg the favor and the vengeance OF God.
It was no light undertaking to endeavor to pre-
sent an authentic picture Of Jerusalem IN her
grandeur to resuscate her gl0res and build up, by
patient and lab0rOus research, that city which the
Roman agent OF Divine Providence RACED until
there was not left zone stone upon another"
Fortunately the materials for such reconstruction,
In all essential particulars, had been preserved In
| various ancient works OF authority, and with
THE NEW JERUSALEM
as basis the history Of Josephus, and such light
as the excellent survey Of Jerusalem by the Eng.
lish engineers could throw On the ano,ant to.
Yxrapny the artist auer years q labor: pro-
existed in "- the time Of the SAVIOUR.
which shows us vivldy ell the main points OF
interest. From the Mount OF Olives we look down
At the base the Valley OF Jehoshaphat Is SPAWNED
by the Red Heifer Bridge, and just beyond the
carefully and elsborateiy painted The minuIeness
with which even the ornamentatiOn Of the building
Is reproduced is absolutely marvellous. on !ne
right the principal buildings which strike us are the
Grand Theatre, HerOd's Ampnitheatre and Stratos
Tower. In the distance Her0d's Palace. noble
anime. On the lett the Aqueduct, skirting The Field
OF Blood is lost In the principal baths OF the upper
and the Keep Of Antonio are some OF the other I'M.
pOrtant monuments. Indeed, IN whaJever direction
| we turn some OBJECT OF
| DEEP HISTORICAL INTEREST
or striking beauty meets the eye, and the more
closely we examine the work the more we are
struck with the wonderful research and patien
labor OF the artist. Nor IL the merit OF the wori
by any means confined 10 evidences OF pains takini
labor. The magnificent city has been placed in
landscape and made the ce1tre OF what Is essen
TALLY historic picture. IN the foreground TN
Christ IA" and WORKED in number Of sTDsidiar,
groups that suggest the story OF His betrayal ant
doom with considerable force. Tue management
NJ hasQ nrnu md
trail IDEA is a triumph Of compositions; but we az
not purpose In this article to enter at any length
into the consideration Of the technical execution o.
| the work, which we reserve for another time.
"JERusALEM IN HER FALL"
Is scarcely less interesting; and though the R0ries
have forever departed there Is something so sacred
the ruins tnaS the majority OF people VIII sWe
than on the picture OF the city whlch mas vanished
forever.
| but the scene has changed. In the foreground we
groups Of travellers and their Arab guides, with
here and there some Turkish soldiers. The Temple
has disappeared but ON It's site rises the Mosque Of
Omar. Most OF the ancient landmarks have dlsap
Of Mo6ammed. The locality alone has not changed
| and the ruin and decay seem TO lend an increased
charm to the scene Of the savlour's passion In a.
| that constitutes an effective composition TIL
picture Is richer than It's companion. There |
something mournfully picturesque In the crum6
| the city. Our sentiments accord with the air
| quiet gloom OF the evening shadows which ar
stealing over the landscape. Even the sun goe
sUBDuED spLENDoR,
and there Is evidence everywhere or feeling Q
oppression, as If the memory OF the great GRIM
committed ages ago still hung around the plac
ana tinged life with an air OF sadness. These re
markabe works have been brought to this countr
| by Mr.. Derby, and Will soon be placed on public ex
hibitIOn. In 0 future notice we snail enter NOR
minutey into their technical handling. The
have already been exhibited in Europe with grea
success, and limited number OF proofs or the en-
craving have been sold at high prices In England