New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-10-26
FINE Arts.
r1r c1ropArRA on eERoME.

ooo ~ tho most important and ambitious
works Of C6rome was yesterday placed on exhipiuoh III
an uptown gaIery-the painting OF Cleopatra beiorc
Cpsorr II Is NOT picture IL was panted as ions
400 as 1865 for and dfe the gossip OF the STUDIOS Is
-, no reditedone Of the most notorious and eccentric
~ the Partisan beauties Of tho day. She was not pleased
itb the portrat and NJ. G6rome appealed TO the pub
Tic nv exposing in the Salon OF 1865 1t was one OF inc
nost noticeable pictures OF the year. aud met with vehe
ment criticism and scarcely less qualified praise lneie
were some who went far to call his masterpiece
and others who condemned It an utter failure. one
savage feuleoniste. abiding to the singular eonbina-
tion of ieweled belts and shoulderstraps which make
the picture unique, called 1t the Herniac Venus"
name which had great temporary success.
The painting has outlved it's little scandals and it's
Vupcrative criticisms. II Is certainly not the best OF
Ceromes yet any who could paint 1t might be sure
of fame 1t is full Of faults and beauties but the beauties
are unquesonable and evident and the faults are SO
audacious that there is something pQuant and not dis
pleasing about them 1t large and airy piece fu OF
space and freedom The composition is mastery ltrep
resens the moment when the exied Queen obeyng the
invitation Of Cesar has been brought, wrapped In roll
of tapestry TO apartment the emissaries OF
her husband and brother PtOlemy The tapestry lies IN
nm admirable disorder on the Cleopatra has risen to
her feet and stands with left hand resting on the
shoulder Of her CrOuchng slave and porter her heau Is
turned 10 the right, where at the END OF the roOh
sits Caesar, writing and debating to group
OF
color is made with the skill and case with Wmeh we
are familiar in this matter The drawing is maryeousy
strong and spirited and the flesh tones are as decsey
perfect as NJ Gerome has ever achieved We can even
pardon the liberty which the artist has taken with the
skin of the sciian ApoOdorus whom he has converted
into a darkbronze Nuban, when consider how ex-
ousely the swarthy hide of this powerful crouchlng
figure relieves the delicate white beauty OF the Spartan
Queen II Gerome had only poised his Cleopatra with
the firm yet airy grace which he gave to his Phryne lie
might have trusted his to these two works But
safe 70 cay tRat no one eyer Isga ts asaes =.
tile Cleopatra at rst sight Nothing can be more oel'
and gracefully drawn than the head shoulders arms
and torso But the position is cruelty trying from the
waist down. and the light gauze drapery hanging from
the gold and studded grdle rather increases than re-
eves the defect Of the pose. We cannot share In the
criticisms 10 which the face Of the Queen has been sub
iect, 1t is by an Egyptian face. 1t has no
Of the Oriental character than be seen any day
| among the handsomest women In modern Greece. The
head of Cesar is remarkable and clearly conscientious
and sincere study II is keen, strong, intense count
enance lighted up with expression In which there Is
nothing whatever of the lover at first sight lie is de-
lighted and surprised more by the Of HIS political
s,ratagem than by the unvaled beauty Of this womany
paragon His admiration is evident but 1t seems rather
given 10 the pluck and daring which is TO make his plans
than to the destinations which later DeguIed
| HIM into dangerous fOlles.
Beside the Cleopatra, the gallery contains Co.
banes portrait Of the Laura OF Petrarch pretty PIC
tre full Of pleasing sentiment especially notable for
the and keeping of the background one OF the
best Messonners the country is also there, called the
ydette An old soldier horseback by footpath, In
desolate wild country in the late Auumn-in the dis
lance unduating hilocks glimpse OF quiet pond-a
sky heavy and leaden, full Of dark gray clouds The
| picture is mere perfection, no more nor less