The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-05
ART MATTERS.

HxhabitiOn OF the French and Dus-
seldlorT Collections for the Relief or Cha-
cage.
A collection or paintings subscribed by foreign
artists as an expression OF sympathy for the Chit
cago sufferers necessarily possesses considerable
interest for the American public, altogether indie
pendent of the intrinsic value OF the workss
The feeling that prompted the generous
Offering on the part OF class of men
rarely endowed with worldly wealth
venects the greatest honor on the artists, and WILL
mo- doubt tend to promote their popularity among
our people. When the announcement or the pro-
ject was first made the names that appeared IN
connection with 1t gave rise tn expectations thse
the result has certainly not fulfilled. For this our
too ardent maginations must principally b.
blamed. Those who from the first ruHn0rs
that reached this country had 70 rmed brilliant
expectations as to the quality Of the works
will be somewhat disappointed ON visiting tho ex-
hibitiOn. The united German and French cOlle0-
tons number some two hundred and eighty works.
schools far AZ style and habit Of thought are con-
cerned. But with only few exceptions the
quality OF the work is very poor and Sketchy nOS
many OF the paintings having any claim t0be CON
sidered finished. Some OF the humber artists
only result they have obtained ia to mako
clear their want OF power. The German collection =
especially bad, without one redeeming feature. lG
is worthy of remark that some OF the most careless
paintings come from men who derive constderR0l0
incomes rom American patronage, Wnile OtherS,
comparatively unknown. have at least Strtvcn TO DO
better. Owing to the circumstances connected Will
the collection We do not care to crticse too sharply
but we cannot refrain from expressing an opinion
that men who are largely patrOnized In America
ought to have contributed something more import
ant than clever sketches as a testimony OF SYM
pathy. Meissoner must BIO excepted In special
manner from this sweeping condemnation; FOR ne
II represented by one OF the best works we have
seen after him in America. EScosura, DetAtll0,
De Cock, Worms, Bellange. BellecOur and Pasink
have contributed works that up to their usual
standard G6rome and H1bner, ON the
censure, but not well enough to sustain their own
reputation. II we omit the works Of those artists
and a remarkably able sketch by Fortnny, the re-
mainder Of the collection must be classed as In
different. We regret that we cannot speak moro
highly or a collection which certainly has Q claim
to the most indulgent consideration But we feeb
that the circumstances lend to the paint
ings q Fictitious interest not Justified BY their
merits and 1t therefore our duty to speak plainly
In the interest OF the public. The quality OF the
works no doubt Influenced the committee char9cd
with their reception to reject the proposition 70
make the collection the nucleus OF an art gallery In
Chicago. This seemed to be the most natural dis
position OF them, we understand the authorities
of that city have large surplus relief fund hand.
which they puzzled how to dispose Of; but the
dispose Of them. The collection will remain on
view until the 18th inst, when 1t Will be sold ~
auction at Clinton Hall.