The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-14
ART IN FRANCE.
EH ambition of Painting and Sc ulpture M
tho PaIaSs dc pIndustric.


PARIS, May "a, 1872
The number OF works OF art admitted to this
years 'satOnn Is 2,067 including pain ting sculpture
and architecture. THIS Ia a considerable decrease
II compared with the amount OF contributions sent
in for the competition or 1890 whentn NUMBER ex-
hibted was 3,2so. The quality however, compen-
fHates this year for the quantity, and more severity
than usual has presided over the decisions or the
4 jury OF admission. The impression conveyed after
first visit to the exposition Is that the French
school Is feeling Its way towards something more
solid and anstere than has been attempted for
the last six years.
There evidences OF n transition period and
She ableatr dc gesere less trivial. No salon in
France has exhibited SO few nndites and consld.
ering the painful circumstances under which these
works OF art were executed, the trials undergone
and emotions experienced, we must admit that the
Efforts made to silence and shun all revengefal i'm
1 pulse are most praiseworthy. Tie so-caed
patriotic productions have not only been due to
second rate painters, but have been inexorabv re-
rused, blamed and censured This measure has
r naturally given rise to much discomfort.
Painters who however Inferior drcamt Of carry
! Ing OF golden medal they succeeded in gather.
: ing an indignant crowd In front OF some canvas
representing brutal episode OF the late war
never win end clamoring that the government has
q
] is betrayed. ~ ,.s'E, :s...,-4,.. .
Two remarkable paintings OF the patriotic kind
: one by NJ. Detaile, the other by M. Ullman-wcre
taken down from the walls after having been ac-
Ecepted, ana one even purchased by the govern
ment. IL occurred to the Jury that, notwithstand-
, Ing the merits OF the two paintings, they might
give rise TO unpleasant comments bctw zen German
and French visitors, and after having mildly repre-
asanted to their authors that 1t would be ont OF
place to hear discussions or dispute in peaceful
competition Of the arts, found both artists quite
willing to withdraw their pictures. which arc now
n belng eXhibltch at M. Couples One OF them has
been purchased for the sum OF %, DOOR BY FOREIGN
4 amateur. Government had offered only 5,ooOf for
n the same.
A satire by Alfred Emile Merry is the only painting
(which creates patriotic sensation, and tina! Is
! laughter. The generality OF visitors would ever
Il real meaning II note In the catalogue hnd not
entitled IT "Ila Farce Prime 10 Drot.'' After that
4 keys are typical Three very ugly balloons have
Il overturned a beehive to get at the honeycolnb
4 which Hes shattered TO pieces on the ground, but
II the triumphant spoilers have no sooner approached
q than they are stung by the whole swarm Of in
4 scots. The picture is da'kened with furious mad.
81 large monkeys dclincate Their agony.
Portraits are the great feature of this saioa;
* be doubted when It is known that Mile. nellie JacGuc-
IS mart, Nine Hcnricttc Browne Carous Dnran San
N dry, Dnbue, Jalabcrt, Hebcrt, Comte Caliv Picard
n tratiss have reproduced the features OF well known
a characters In the literary and artistic world and
"A though tne merits OF some are much discussed
N none arc Inferior.
y Tie portrait OF M. Theirs, by MILE Jacauomart,
81 originated much gossip long before it was eX-
N hibted, and the eminent artistic whose wonderful
"a portraits OF Marshal CanrObert and OF NJ. DuruH
remembered by AL Americans, has been exposed to
all the jealous criticism OF less talented painters ever
n since her fame became universal 1t is reported that
n having heard II was the intention OF the Hanging
Committee to place the portrait OF M THEIRS in tho
Il has lnl ahA tnpl am
ously hurried to- the gallery and ordered that her
production should be hung in the Salon d'Honncur.
a That she then saw 1t put in the most advantageous
light selecting inferior pictures to be hung round il
M IN order that his should benefit by comparison, and
tnat she dld not Leave the Palais until her orders
Nile Nelie : Jasaaemart did 20 to see her picture
n would like TO see the same honor paid TO the
~ portrait Of the President had been shown to tho
= portraits OF two -emlnences Of the Church, wht
FL hung in salon care. Mme Thiers came in iitt'
later, and prererring Mile. Jacquemarts choice, tn
cerning the portrait Itself there arc not two d
ferent opinions. It Will be the official likeness
ii is tho faithful reproduction OF the man ali vii
have not seen him may have faDcied on reading hi
you Els FACE sci IS the image Of MS history
ustlce, nc eu wants to come to the point as n
looks ont dsGern l1 Win v, n, the fun gaze Of cain
are marked by thought more than by age: there is
Is healthy CLEAN OF freshness, too, most peculiar
w penetrating expression He is dressed in dark
L brown frock coat. and his right arm rests on
81 table, on which lie two volumes, 'Tacitusi' and
~ 'Vauban,n the two great men whose impress is
"a stamped on the mind OF this interchangeable thinker
and tollcr whose leisure hours are devoted to the
" culture of the arts II Is not fun lenpth portrait
On and thus the shortness OF NJ. Theirs figure Is con
IN ceaed; his position is simple. and has been called
IS matter Of fact and commonplace; but why a man
should take an out of the way attitude tn age o
III sevcntysx and not stand as is his wont at the Fri
~ bune, ts not yet explained.
~ POrt. Its that are being cxpoend with moro IN
tee to much criticism are the two OF NJ. Carolls
Duran; on they are very attractive, certainly and
velvet, satin, lace or Silk more admirably The
81 dawn, the gloss, the crisp sensation, are sterco
~ typed; the rich toned shade between thick folds
IA ana the lustre Of surfaces are real But NJ Duran
Is on fatal slant: his toilets exhibitions OF the
fashions and all interest In the portrait OF the per
la son represented IS lost IN admiration OF fine clothes
n Gerome and others are just as panstaking Will
n accessories; their Jewels glitter, their far Their
N always harmOnize
"a N. Q. Duran places canary -colorcd bows on dar;
q slate velvet, and scarlet fan is held up close 10 fair
hair. Nothing but the consmmate art OF execution
M would gain forgiveness in such bold, glaring at
n tcmpts. This remark can be made OF ali who have
~ executed the best OF the numerous portraits ex-
n hibited, even excepting those which will come in
n for special mention here. thought forces itself
"A arc the dresses ladies have selected while standing
81 Tor ther portraits, and this is t:-Where were they
q while thus adorned On looking back at dates We
the most ps Many II The heron9s 's sess s
a as In hight the country was bleeding, Paris
81 was starving. We should have preferred the
- sombre ap9 ,becolpng drapery Of high-soulcd
N women, who, for time had cast ornaments aside.
n The Alsacennes, which abound, teach this lesson.
u Gustave Dore has sent in his, and the example, has
81 been followed by Nine. r. Browne, Charles Marchal
Il and Others There may be fewer tears on the eye
y lashes OF real Alsacennes than their images dra ~
3 from the tender gaze OF art connoiseurs. Every
n one pities the pretty peasant girls all in black.
a either embracing the trcOor looking SO lovingly
s at something French that they did not 50 much
= care for few years ago, or n they did, were
& not sympathiyed with for so dDing. #U
a very touching picture-apd Justly SOS that Of
= M. Protais It Is only entitled "Reichshonen," aud
represents rider and horse. The latter Is NOR
Il tally wounded, and, ma1dcned by pain, snorts
= along, at every leap losing its blood from numerous
gashfe go 9n III nsfk and hanks The rider is also
left arm lifeessly holding the loose rens, willie his
y head is thrown back In q struggle for one more
gasp, a.i mis- right arm lifts on high the tassclled
y tranpet he can flourish no more. There Is agony
ia the boys hope; the stiffness OF his youthful body
holding UP to the last and the battle of viii with
"a pOwerleSSneSS transform this humble trumpeL Ger