New-York tribune., 1872-03-25
FINE ARTS-THE DRAMA.
FINE ARTS.
sELOUS' JERUSALEM.


1,bere has been Of late years q remarkable
80, q, interest IN the Holy Land. The age of Reason
.,ors a tendency 20 orientalism scarcely less than
aro OF Fash. The armed Crusade preached by Peter
Hermit and led by sanity and chivalrous kngs has
succceded by pilgrimage OF taste and sentiment,
hose ships continually furrow tho Levan,ne waters,
"A whose caravans the road from Jaa to Jerusa-
~ n was remarked by Kinglako that the first impulse
yreat spirit deeply wounded is Of longing for the
..t and there few hearts and minds which IND no
,solaton In the memories and associations that mako
,,.s ground Of every foot OF sandy soil In Palestine.
, besides the crowd OF believers that 20 TO worship
-. footpr nts OF their Savior, who satisfied with
ITS and traditions and seek nothing more, there
hss been Of late serious detachment OF savants
a ipvcstigators who are seeking for the mate
M ~ history without regard TO its efoct upon the au
,hsnticl,y OF tradition The Palestine Exploration So
,v of England has made during the last few years
0es OF discoveries OF the most important Character
90 far TO reinforce the Sorptural accounts OF the
es OF Jerusalem against tho attacks OF scoist skep
s,.sm Many who had travelled in Syria and lad found
,,bnr but barrenness and desolation In the fields,
,hpg but squaor and wretchedncss among tho novels
=, tho towns driven TO doubt whether there could
h,ve been In former times anything very different from
,,s An whether the magnifcence OF Zion ever existed
soeut IN the fcryid Imagination OF Hebrew writer's.
, the explorations of the last six years have brought
"a eht. hundred foet below the surface. the most
orous architectural remains. showing that the Jeru-
e Of profane history bears no relation 10 that mar
x,elous city which was the glory Of the older world
tuo Great pictures Of selOus. recently imported by
Mr. H. w. Derby and now on exhibition at NO ldl Fifth
v. form valuable contribution 10 this new and IN
,sting subject OF inquiry The represents Jerusa-
lem In her grandeur at the time Of Christs Trumphal
rr into the city, and the other is faithful and con-
.ent,ous picture OF jerusalem 1t Is. the welknown
~ Mount Of Olives The pictures OF great size,
,by 10 feet and contain the descriptive pamphlet In
FIRMS u.s. "more than 200 special points or interest,
and over 200 highly finished figures" The first is
bright and rchy-colorcd work, showing hlte OF
,,t Stiffness and gulay which II is almost impossible
20 avoid when painting closely from tradition The pre-
sen,ation OF the great Temple and Its surroundings
or-eous and mastery piece Of painting and would have
seemed exrayagant and impossible were II not Tor the
recent explorations which cause us TO be cautious In
denying anything which may be asserted OF
the elores Of jerusalem. 50 scholarly and
cautious Judge as Dr. Bellows calls IL exact and truth
seeming as well as Impressive and fascinating But 1t
the second picture which represents the Jerusalem OF
today IN That desolate beauty which comes only with
ase ana ruin which is most attractive and powerful 1t
Is that view from the Mount OF Olives which is the IA
yote Of all artists and which have recently
treated with admirable spirit and force by Church and
BY G6r0me. But this picture Of Selous differs from all
others in giving greater prominence 20 the city itself
than the surrounding landscape. II is remarkably
can see wish perfect Gistnctness the hudded Hebrew
houses Mount Zion the Latin and the Armenian
sonyents the domes and mnaIes Of the great mosques
the crest OF Mount Morah, md the winding and
tangled footpaths i.s slope, and the long line
Of the walls, with their picturesque gates. While
there Is Tess attempt at giving the spirit Of the scenery
Of the hlcountry of Judea than In the works we have
mentioned 1t is by neglected The gnaIed and
twisted trees on the slope Of Ohvet and the valley of
Jehoshaphat, are old acquaintancos Of all who have
visited the East, aud the line Of green the right Of
the picture gives full suggestion OF the olive groves
which border the city the north, while the local color
and air preserved in the hot bare rocks and sand the
foreground, and the golden food OF warm Light with
which tie canvas Is literally drenobed.
The pictures attracting the attention they deserve
from Cergymen and instructors and the general public
There could be better opportunity Of giving TO young
people correct and vivid idea Of the Of the most
monentous event Of all history The engravnGs which
are now ready, are admirable reproductions Of the
OF slnnls, In general effect and in detail.