The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-01
ART MATTERS.
Animal Sculpture In Central Park.

Animal sculpture In Central Park.
There Is not we believe, in all Gotham one human
being VINO grudges the money spent IN the embel-
lisnment Of the peoples recreation ground Central
Park belongs essentially to the people; 1t Is at
the iavorlte resort OF the poor and the rich, who
seek health and relaxation from care In Its charm
Ing walks and drives. AS 1t belongs TO the whole
s0ciety IL has been wisely resolved to offer sources
OF enjoyment to the most varied tastes and whether
we wish to enjoy the beauty OF sunny glades and
flowers or the cool shadows OF the woods we may
follow the bent OF our incnauOns to the fullest. In
order to add 10 the charm OF nature art has been
called in to aid, and though we cannot extend un.
qualified approval to the taste displayed In the Sc.
lection Of works, yet we must applaud the efforts
which have been made as the result of desire to
extend
PATRONAGE TO ART.
1t Is not given TO every one to be able 10 appre-
ciate what Is really beautiful and elective in sculp
ture. This power is the result Of patient training
ana heightened acquaintance with art; hence sculp-
ture has never become popular science. 1t is just
possible that in the Old Greek republics tnat this
branch OF ART attained something like popularity
We inclined to believe That IL did, from the won
derfui excellence OF the Greek work, which could
only have been attempted In an extremely critical
age 1t did not suffice In Athens to produce
something in the shape Of statue; the
refined and educated tastes Of the peo-
pie rebelled against any but the highest art.
Unfortunately we have not yet reached anything
approaching the Athenan taste or skill, ana we
must be content with whatever we can obtain.
Better have inferior art than none. Time, no doubt,
will develop botn taste I'd SKILL among our people.
Even where works by american artists are not
the duty Of those who are charged with the outlay
OF public moneys TO encourage native talent in order
that snere may be cultivated
AN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF ART.
OF course we do not mean that foreign art should
Inn nnfro
best examples that Europe can furnish brought
among US, and honOred as all true art deserves 10
tended only to the pest examples. Whatever It
Is possible to produce credtaDly should be
mann in The infancy of art From patronage Comes
genius. There must be something more than post
mortem honor to cheer the student on the painful
path Of art study, and none but thuse who have
travelled somewhat on the thorny path can realize
the difficulties and charms which lie In the way
OF writing paragraph or two about some works OF
purely American interest upon when o young
sculptor Is at present at work. and we find ourselves
wandering into long digi essiOn on tue future OF
art sculpture Is never SO effective rs when seen In
pleasant landscape, and animal SUBJECTS possess
peculiar interest when seen In giades, with the
effect OF trees and
LITTLE SHADOWS
about them. The surroundings lend to sculpture
that which Is It's great want color, and we LOOK
at the figures shortly outlined in the daylight there
Is an air OF freedom and naturaness that we never
IN the studio or In the gallery Mr.. L. Kemeys Is
engaged modelling group Of wolves disputing over
the West, and Is a hunter, knowing the habits as
well as the forms OF the animals. His groups are
intended 10 illustrate the pecuarties OF the Amer
can ANIMALS VINO are fast disappearing before the
ever.busy ride, and ne certainly manages to throw
great deal OF spirit INTO the action OF ms animals
the group under consideration Is well com:
the action plainly and directly. One wolf
holds a leg Of the deer and Is In act OF dragging
IL from O female vol who has placed both her paws
on the deer's head. The action OF both animals Is
natural and -
STRONGLY CONVEYED.
We like especially the vicious, snarling look OF
the female who Is evidently resolved 10 mold her
own The artist Is conscious OF the Importance OF
rectly not contennng himself with merely super
fetal study OF his subject. From what We nave
seen In the present stage we expect really effec
tive aud vigorous gronp OF animals, and wish TO see
Just such works this promises to be adding 70 the
beauty and importance Of our delghtlul Parks