The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-27

"A new plcture-a result OF MS laUe tIil
abroad-from the brush of Mr.. III. b. Brown,
has been placed on exhibition at the gallery of
Mr. ale on Free Street, and during the past
fortnight has attracted the attention OF many
of our citizens. To those who had become IA
miliarized with the wild coast scenes OF Maine
and the Provinces, as depicted by Mr. Brown,
with their bold and lofty cliffs, storm-lashed,
foam-capped waves, lifting fogs and leaden
skies through which an occasional ray of sun
light breaking revealed and lit up the jagged
bluffs, the present effort proved an agreeable
surprise and displayed his talents in a new
light.
The subject of the picture is the "Castel dell
Ovo," ON the Bay of Naples, sometimes styled
the Castle of Joanna, from the fact that in
this Castle Charles Durazzo captured Queen
Joanna of Naples and Sir Ohio de Brunswick.
1t was erected in 1854 by William 1. on the
small island of Megaris and is connected with
the main land of Pizzofalcone by causeway
on arches 800 feet long. Charles I. made it
royal residence and in 1895 Ferdinand III. be-
sieged it and reduced it to a ruin.
In the painting, on the right of the fore
ground, rises lofty chain of hills-an off
shoot of the Apprentices, that, crescent-shaped,
apparently encloses the waters of the bay and
gradually sinks away to the horizon. In the
immediate foreground, on strip of low land,
groups of peasants are engaged in various avo-
cations, while boatmen are occupied in unload
ing lateen-rigged vessel that lies at the pier.
In the middle distance stands the ruined castle,
close under the hill, while in the far distance
can be seen the sails of different craft and the
shore between the castle and the horizon lined
with the palaces and villas of the nobility.
The time is evidently sunset, for the traditional
blue of an Italian sky is fecked here and
there with small fleecy clouds tinged with
orange, a soft golden haze rests upon objects in
the distance and the beams of the declining
orb are thrown across and reflected from the
placid waters of the bay. The artist has evil
IDENTIFY bestowed great pains upon his work, for
minute details are carefully elaborated and
finish given to the whole that partakes rather
of the charactero of photograph than painting.
This is especially noticeable in the carved stone
work of the castle, the picturesque awnings of
the vessels, the boatmen in their Neapolitan
fishing garb, and even the peculiar rocky for
nation of the cliffs in spots bare of ver-
dure. We can hardly believe this distinctness
OF objects natural until we recall some of our
own fine days in summer when, from Bramhall
Hill 1.-THE atmosphere is SO clear) the spectator
thinks Mt. Washington but short ride distant
and Meeting House hill but stones throw
removed. Now we had always supposed that
Italian cities were enwrapped in sort of lumi-
nous vapor that not only toned down and soft
ened objects but also gave a rich warmth and
glow to the landscape. This golden haze was
one of the great features of the paintings of
Claude Lorraine among the old masters and
of George L. Brown among modern painters.
1t may be seen in Mr.. a. B. Browns Lake of
Como" thoroughly dreamy Italian picture,
but in this effort there is only hint at it in
the farther distance. That portion of the pic
ture that lies between the castle and the hori-
zon seems thoroughly Italian, even Cuban, while
that between the castle and the foreground, were
it not for the rig of the boats and the Neapol-
Tan costumes, might answer for more temper
ate zone. The position of the castle in contrast
with the height of the surrounding hills seems
an unfortunate one. Each belittles the other
In this respect the picture is seen to best adj
vantage by glance tin the mirror at its side
The glass seems to have a magnifying power
We think the belittling effect must be owing to
the location of the artist when making his
sketch as the impression is given that the cas-
els built on projecting neck of land instead
of an island, and that the causeway runs along
on the slope of the hill instead of serving as
bridge. These area few Thoughts suggested
by the fine effort of Mr.. Browns that do not
detract from it's general excellence, and while
they may easily be explained by rules of art
they may serve to interest art lovers and draw
attention to points in regard to which their opn-
ion may differ from ours. w.
p Miss ANNIE LOUISE CARY's reception in
the opera in Boston seems to justify the high
opinion entertained here of her powers. We
append the following selection from the many
complimentary notices of her: Not a little of
the applause of the evening was won by Miss
Gary, who personated Azucena We have never
seen her when she appeared to so much advan-
tage, and her success was very agreeable sur
prise She not only sang fnely,-the music
serving well to develope and illustrate the COM
pass of her voice,-but there was also dramat-
ic fire about her vocalism which we have never
before detected and which must have been
source, of qualification to her friends Her rem
dering of Stride la Vampa" was excellent her
action, vocal and otherwise, in the narrative
which follows, very dramatic, and after the
duet cal nostri month" in the last act there
was apersistent demand for an encore which
was not regarded by the other artists, who took
up the score at the close and would not be in
terrupted.
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