The New York herald., 1872-10-30
ART MATTERS.
BeImont's Collection or Paintings st the
Leavitt Art Rooms.

The private view oil the Belmont pictures
brought together last night at tho Leavitt Art
Rooms o brilliant and distinguished company.
For some time those interested In art have been
aware OF the distinguished bankers In
tention to dispose OF the collection he
has been gathering for so many years.
The character OF the works and the fact
that they had occupied place in gallery which
was recognized as one OF the best in the city give
an Importance to the present collection which did
not belong to any other that has been exposed
for sale In late years. For the most part
the paintings are by foreign artists most
OF them men OF worldwide reputation What Is OF
more Importance Is that in nearly every case the
work Is a good example OF the style of the man
whose signature 1t bears few works are by
American artists, but If we except one by E. John
son, they are chiefly worthy OF note as marking an
epoch in American art. From this point OF view
they have value far above what
TIE TECHNICAL SKILL
displayed on the canvas could give them claims to.
These works, however. do not count more than
half dozen. The chief strength OF the collec-
tion lies in the foreign works, and certainly
the array Is calculated to give sincere
pleasure to the most exacting amateur.
The French, German, Belgian, Dutch Swedish and
English schools are all well represented by such
names as Try0n, Gerome, Mcissonicr Meyer Won
Bremen, Caame. Achenback, Bonhcur, verlat,
Knaus, Diens Schefhout. Weissenbruch, while
modern spanish painters are represented by re-
markably brilliant example by the lamented Zama-
co.'s.
The number OF works Is not so great as in former
sales, but what is lacking In number is made up In
Importance. No collection Of the same high char
acter and where
THE LEVEL OF MERIT
was so equal. has ever been offered to the American
public. This, Of course is due to the circumstances
under which the pictures were brought together,
and the careful exclusion Of inferior or second rate
works
We regret that neither time nor space viii per-
init us to notice the exhibition at the length 1t de-
giancing at few Of the principal works The The
names OF the artists we have already mentioned as
o. the st
value OF the collection. One OF the pictures which
will make the strongest and most lasting impress
ably IA Mountain Scene." by Calame. It is full OF
vgOr, and has been treated with great breadth and
freedom lis, however, In the marvellous way in
THE SPIRIT OF THE SCENE
- caught and arrested on the canvas. There are
the quiet and gloom OF the mountain, with the
overhangng cloud which portends storms,
while the mountain torrent rushes down In zig
The composition is perfect, and so nicely balanced
that no object obtrudes itself, so that we are en-
ssynr to s % the uS s ~
details. Yet everything has been carefully studied,
from tho rock in the foreground In cool gray to the
dark purple hills in the distance. This picture Is an
admirable example OF the highest landscape art,
and possesses those qualities OF
MYSTERY AND SUGGESTIvENESS
which are SO sadly absent from even the best ex-
amples OF the American school,
nsg is Is S
called "The Poacher and the Priest" There is
vigor In
that DctrayS q master hand. A Wcll-tO-do.lOOkinR
priest Is in the act OF lecturing submissive, hag
garaooking nrl,E rustic The air Of confident supe,
laws Of nesns IAN and s,nn, show 'f tnat s ne
Wish the lay@an. The latter is too much oyerawed v
to reply, and stands meeky before the priest, evi.
dentlyevishing for the moment when he shall be
sent about his business. The story is conveyed
with
ADMIRABLE FORCE.
Everything In the composition Is subordinated to
been painted with the closest attention and are
iound'ln the works oH the best artists. ' Wy
GERoME
is represented by his 'Dlogenes," work Of great
power certainly, but not an agreeable subject.
The sury philosopher is seated in hts tub, in
the act Of lighting lamp, while trio OF inguisl.
without IN the least disturbing the seli-com-
The drawing Of the figure is very bold and mas
tery, but the color Is not pleasant.
1.-THE BABY" BY Meyer Won Bremen, Is one Of & the
this artist His light effects were not yet lowered
to the level OF q trick when ne painted
this canvas. There Is a delightful sense
Of atmosphere, pure, soft daylight In this work
which makes US regret the many very inferior
works Won Bremen has since manufactured. The
composition is simple, but there is a deal OF touch.
ing nature in 1t. In cradle baby lies asleep and
two younger children are kneeling by the side OF
the cradle anxiously watching the younger child
while he sleeps. Out OF this little incident the
painter has managed to make picture Of
REMARKABLE INTEREST
We should like to have noticed the works by Bel
lange, Achenbach, Bouguereau Bonheur, Zama-
co.'s Troyon, and especially one by Meissonier,
with the minute finish for which this artist is re.
markable. We shall, however, return to this sub
ject In few days.