The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-21
Art MATTERS.

AT MATTERS.
Exhibition of Paintings at tho Leavitt Art
Rooms.
Leavitt's Ari Rooms are once more occupied by a
magnificent collection OF works OF art representing
nearly all the foreign schools, II would be mpos.
slbe In newspaper criticism to do full justice to
the collections Of paintings that from time to time
placed before the public eye IN this Broad way
gallery. The hold which this system OF exhibition
is taking on the public cannot fail TO have the best
influence on
THE GROWTH OF LOVE
for what Is good and true In art 1t well for the
public, well for the artist, to be placed thus con.
santy IN presence OF good paintings, where we may
trace the influence and result of patient and lab0
riOus work, guided by love and knowledge. stand
Ing before the pictures Of men whose names are
household words In Europe, We cannot help feeling
that the influence and power that they exert over
US are due in no small degree to the
EARNEsTNEsS OF PURPOSE
which sustained the artists at their work. Every
where we find traces Of strength OF will and clear.
ness OF purpose, sometimes expressed by line,
sometimes by color, according to the forceful
mediums through which the artist sought to
express himself And these qualities impart
a value to work hlch continues to all time. Ideas
OF prettness change, and what oharms the weas,
fashionable tasLe one day VIII 10 spurned another,
wnen the increase OF knowledge exposes the empti-
ness OF weak work winch does not address itself to
eur reason. WORKS tnat impose themselves on
US are those when snail grow
MORE VALUABLE WITH TIME,
because the same force VIII always dwell with
then Here Is an example at hand. Two peasants
are skaung on the ice The subject Is common
enough, bal Adolphe DiiieuS mas put 50 much force
and reality in them, drawn them SO boldly aud
WIN such sense of motion That tney will continue
to skate on Ia puoic favor wnen the artist
color IS deep. brilliant and warm IN the figures
making capital contrast TO The cold grays or the
CLASSY ice, but true 10 nature. The skaters full
oil rude life, and the cold northern blood, warmed up
by the exercise, courses rapidly through their
cheeks. "Gong to Scnool in the Snow,'I by Ed.
Frcre. is a less pretentous WORK, but not less In
terestlng or charming. A little boy runs along
blowing his fingers and looking decidedly mlsera-
bic IN the cold weather. lie Is
FULL OF NATURAL EXPRESSION,
and there Is that ease and sense OF motion In the
moving ngure which at once announce the accom-
pushed draughtsman. Here the colors toned
down, nut there Is something charming In the sub
dued grays which are still iuil OF strength ana de-
cision. VerboecKhOven whose works deservedly
much esteemed 10y connolseurs, Is represented by
highest. Time has lnlerlered with the steadiness
and certainty OF MS drawing, ana we see nothing
Of the bod assurance IN the Woke under consider
alton. His Landscape and Ammas'' (3o) Is espe.
caly worthy OF n0lice Tor the strength and freedom
OF The treatment. Here the drawing IS re markably
flowing but the outlines are marked by a correct
ness which we cannot always allow to his later
works. In The modelling OF form the same know
ledge and
is shown. We nave softness without habbness
and an entire absence OF hardness in the flesh
treatment mat we ind In the later works. This pic
ture painted In 1S45 but has preserved all the
depth and intensity OF It's color 1t Is certainly
vi che finest examples we have ever seen after the
great animal painter. There Is in 1t evidence or
close study aud nard work at time when MS talent
and execution were mature and he was striving to
establish MS reputation. There Is also study OF
goats, made wnile he was at Rome, In which the
same
sOFTNEss OF TEXTURE
AMI careful painting OF form Is visible. "The En-.
trance to the Grand Canal OF Venice" 1881 displays
Felix Zeims happiest style. There Is more soft
sunshine than we generally find IN his pictures,
ana he has depended more on the poetic sentiment
ment OF the Grand Canal, whose waters are bathed
IN flood OF warm, mellow light, while the build.
sened merely as Tne artss
MS great power OF perspective drawing and III
few feet Of canvas gives us charming view miles
III extent, anu so cunnngly has he wrought that
THE ILLUSION IS PERFECT.
1t seems to US that we are looking down rea
picture. We almost regret that this artist does
not panJ some other genre OF SUBJECT, but artists,
alter ALL are like other people ana paint what will
sell. SO anxious are people to obtain his views In
Venice that he inds difficulty IN meeting the de-
mand. In the former exhibitions there was, per-
haps, want OF sufficient diversity OF subject,
which Is happily 0bviated In the present instance.
Not alone have we pretty WIDE representation OF
the dfe, ent European schools, out we lind the sub.
jects exceedingly varled.
STILL LIFE
finds Interpreters In Preger and De Noter. Pregers
deicIous bits OF sui life We have ever seen. The
rich, luscious grapes and peaches have been painted
with great delicacy aud f0rce They are so ripe
that feel tempted to taste them, but the tone OF
the picture SO subdued and quiet that people who
not very 0bservant are In danger OF passing IL
by without notice. But 1t Is just sIcn piece as the
cOnnoSseurS love to SIT dOwn and discuss and ENJOY
at their ease. BLOWERS" (5l), by DE Noter, are
artistlcally arranged and painted with
BRILLIANCY AND FORCE.
Those who love nature best In ner marine aspect
Will md delightful little seascape by HoRuet with
picturesque.lo0king fishing boats tossed about by
sentiment. The waves have thar sense or motion
and or power which makes them so difficult to paint
for those VINO are not IN close sympathy with this
element. the cloud treatment Is also very excel
lent-drnting with light, impapaDle feeling across
the sky. The composition Is easy and natural, with
out any stranng alter effect but pleases us all the
better Tor this. Those who would not miss u treat
had better search for this little gem, for It Is
80 small as TO be liable to be passed
over. We should IKE to go on at length recording
our feelings or Impressions OF the various works as
we pass them IN review In our MINDS eye, but
space Is always difficulty In the HERALD, and
we are reluctantly compelled to be brief, but will
return TO the subject In few days Among the
men whom We have passed over without mention
GREAT PAINTERS
like Jerome, Daz, Plassan, Becker Belleouin, Bel
LANCE, Couture and host OF others; so that the pub
lie can Judge what treat Is In store for them IN
Rooms.
FATAL DUMMY CASUALTY.