The New York herald., 1872-10-16
ART MATTERS.

Opening OF the Lcavitt Art Gallery.
The Inauguration Of the art season is always an
event looked forward to with considerable interest
by the cultivated classes OF the metropolis and to-
day the business OF picture exposition will be
seriously entered upon by the opening OF
the Leavitt Art Gallery In Broadway. We have
already informed the public of the brilliant
promise of the art season, which was informally
inaugurated few weeks ago at the Goupil Gallery.
1t is not usual for the best collections to be pre-
sented to the public at the beginning OF the season.
as the owners are naturally fearful lest the market
should not be prepared to receive xie treasures
gathered from many lands Tor the pleasure and de-
light Of those who are rich enough to indulge in
luXuries.
The collection which will be placed on public ex-
hibiti0n to-day IL the property Of Mr.. Charles r.
Haseine, q well known collector. 1t consists OF
some one hundred and sixty works by native and
foreign artists. Its average merit is respectable
while many OF the works are from the eascls OF
any claims to be regarded as OF
THE HIGHEST ORDER OF ART
found ood for the most diverse TASTE AS we "i have
neither time nor space to notice all the works, we
snail content ourselves with glancng at a few Of
the works as they occur to rs. The array Of
artists is quite respectable, but it is
necessary to prevent disappointment to say that
works OF an unimportant character; that is to
say relatively unimpOitant FOR even the pencil
Augur," and which Is evidently q rejected study
for the figure ol Caesar in Giromes picture, LA
Mort de Ccsar," possesses value that the most
ELABORATED WORK
Ol an inferior man would not possess. FOrtuny,
vibert, Dctaillc Accard, Escossure, Chaplin CAST
lear, +. Moran, are also represented, some OF them
by important examples. There are, however, in
the collection some works that IT would have been
better to omit. This fact would have been patent
to the mind OF Mr.. Haseltne had he paid suf-
1cienL attention to the development or public taste
In artistic matters last year. The revolution that
was then effected was quite phenomenal and it is
not claiming too much when we assert that 1t was
In great part due to the excellent stand made by
the press in the interests of art. The public were
DISTINGUISHED CRITICS,
and those who had the desire to purchase good pic
lures, without the taste or the knowledge to make
selections Tor themselves, found a friend and
guide in the artistic criticisms that appeared on
each collection. they ielt they were not exposed
unprotected to the caIOeries of the auctioneer
whom the purchasing public look on with aversion
clothing, watching for whom he may devour.
small cabinet picture by Charles Chaplin en-
is III the act OF reading epistles from forgotten
lovers There is not very much sentiment about
IT. but the peculiar excellence OF the nesh painting,
which Is marked characteristic of this artists
work, lends value to the little work Independent
OF its story. Cabinet works by this artist are very
rare.
The modern Italian school OF paintings, with its
brilliant color and skilui treatment OF light, is
worthily represented by Pisani in O "Scene in
might have been just well laid in any part OF the
East; but the management of the light ON the white
walls oil the court yard, with the groups OF swarthy
men in white burnous relieved against the white
background, is
TRItMPH OF TECHNICAL HANDLING
that only the educated eye properly appreciate
ION the Seine,' by Jules Dupre, reminds one OF
some OF Turner's effects introduced into work by
DiaZ-the foreground gloomy and in deep contrast
with the golden sunset of the background, but pro-
ducing effects full OF mystery and suggestive
ness. The iDtpOst0 IL very heavy, and the
MASTERLY IN ITS FREEDOM.
Vibert Is represented by water-color sketch OF
an Italian peasant woman in the picturesque cos
tune OF the country. The figure Is freely drawn,
and the coors have almost the depth and intensity
OF Oil. There are humber OF other works which
we would have wished TO notice more especially, but
must leave for another occasion. The collection will
remain on exhibition until the 23d inst, when the
works comprising 1t viii be sold by public auction.
During the summer Messrs. Leavitt have had their
gallery newly decorated, so as to make IL as at
tractiye as possible. II Will be open TO the public
cnn