New-York tribune., 1872-04-12
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FINE ARTS-THE DRAMA.
FINE ARTS.

It is pleasant to be able to use the language
Of eulogy toward institution in whose welfare we are
all so much interested in that OF our National Acad
emy The private view Of the Spring exhibition, last
night was one OF the most enjoyable OF recent
years. 1t cannot be denied that for several
seasons past we have been brought TO consider this
opening night as an occasion Of duty unmixed
with pleasure. Tho work OF criticism was uuu
beyond expression. There was rarely anything pau
enough to excite the wholesome anger which breaks out
into rhetoric, and stu more rarely anything sooo
enough 10 compel hearty admiration. The Exhibition
last Autumn especially was bad that there seemed
possibility that cherished Academy, of which so
much had been expected was TO fan into a hopeless
arasmus and abandon the Geld entirely TO the picture
dealers.
But the show last night plainly demonstrated that our
artists are still alive TO the Importance OF keeping up
the public interest in and regard for the Academy Dy
these stated exhibitions Of their work 1t is true that the
list OF pictures exposed is not as complete as n should
have been. The "ParthenOn" Of Mr.. Church hes no
right to be away from a collection which claims 10
present an adequate representation OF the "oIh
Of the year. We miss also that mastery
pcture OF Boughton Colder than Snow, which formed
the principal attraction of the Brooklyn Exhibition At
the last monthly meeting OF the Century Club there was
picture by Eastman johnson, and one 10y Ehninger,
which would have been welcome on the walls OF the
Academy. But in spite of all shortcomings
that might be alleged, the collection is a thor-
oughly creditable one. There Is large proportion
of good pictures by welknown and honored Names ana
there are many by younger artists showing the
most gratifying promise 1t is impossible at this late
hour to,ve any thing like list Of the noticeable pictures
We will mention few OF the more renarkaolo ONES,
serving the privilege of returning to them ,.
when the daylight shall have given pe''er oiP0
of Judging them. . ,..,
W. 40 not and in the present exhibition that large pre-
dominance OF landscapes portraits which have ds
shed earlier ones There is however, DO acR vi ,N0So
branches There are landscapes by Munger py hoW-
land Breyoort; an unusually ambitious picture by Ialt,
represenng Rocket Lake, with wellpained groups Oh
deer and a few ducks flying and futtering In the
midst OF vegetation which is not so good as
the game 1t shelters. Smillie has Lake
in the Woods" and David Johnson eAnlois
specmens Of Genesee Scenery. The PORTRAITS are hot
numerous but they OF moro than average excellence
Mr. Huntington contributes three charming portraits OF
ladies' which executed with his finest skill ana most
delicate feeling lie Clear has good portrait OF MAYOR
Bundy and q singularly successful one OF Mr. rage
The President OF the Academy has also two or three
strong and characteristic heads. One OF the most
pleasing figures In the exhibition is by Joseph Amcs
But the gallery is strongest In that newer ana pe'er
pah which our artists have recently entered upon eav
ing the beaten track OF initiative copying OF nature
and the human face In that field of painting where the
charm association and the grace OF ios
ere added to the attraetiveness of sky and ar ne eA
hibou this year beyond most OF It's predecessors
Maria della Salute" is one OF those rich and waseful
,eass ~ color in which he has lately many tr
umphs 1t is an audacous yet happy effort to catch the
.upreme glory Of the luminous twilight as u Ials over
the and glores the churches and palaces OF the
Islands, Mr.. Tfanys view OF Cairo Is WORK hoc
only valuable in ITSELF but still more so IN It's generous
promise There everything to be expected from such
talent and such honest work. MI Swain Oiilords
"Gibraltar is broad airy scene perhaps little too
much charged with African color. Mr.. Weir has an
important ana carefully elaborated picture Of the P!a1za
In Venice.
In genre pictures the show is also highly credtahlc
Eastman Johnsons Drummer Boy" i one oT The cher
ornaments Of the East Room ]. g. Brown has spirited
street representing chvalrous newsboy who in
terferes 10 protect little Italian fiddler from damage
at the hands Of butcher boy OF Spring Garden. Mr.
Blashfeld sends bright aud dramatic medieval sketch
Winsow Homer's "Distrct School" il altogether adj
mrable and recalls those clever pictures which caused
his friends hope much of him five or six years ago.
Nothing could be more true or more pleasing than
the nature and humor of this picture. He has camp
scene Also which is not good, though there Is some
thing inmabe about the orlornness of that mule on the
right Mr. Julian Scott exhibits several OF those genuine
army scenes which he knows SO well. The
little picture Of the "Tumpeter" sounding
the recall when night falling the battle is lost aud
his life Is ebbns aw%y, full Of truth and pat1e.
which redeems faults of execution. The larger pc
ture. - unity and frnlness Of handling There is
ssrous humor, not devoid OF tenderness, IN MI J H.
Beard's picture of welbred black kandtan terrier who
ss In deeOrous sorrow by the bier Of her offspring The
sleeping puppy by her side shows all the insensbiity OF
his age and sex 1r. W. ]. Hays has realistic black
and-tsn, nothing but fine dog, tsstcully relieved
against a blue velvet background. WIN. III. Boards
Dickens" which represents the author III his STUDY
receiving the shadowy shapes OF his own creaOn cN
cited good deal Of attention. The characters are all
recognizable and not exaggerated than theJ are
in the {. t OF the great novelist