New-York tribune., 1873-03-15

ART.
SALE OF PICTURES BY THE LATE J. F. KENsETT, MA.
There has not been in this city, within our
recollection 50 remarkable exhibition OF pictures
onsidered as coming from the hand and mind Of one
man. a. that now TO be seen In the galleries OF the
National Academy of Design Here are over 500 finished
pictures and studies by the late Mr. J. F. Kcnsett an
artist 50 popular 80 long and widely KNOWN that IL Is
not easily explained bow could have left behind him
80 many unsOd pictures. Even one had money was
never easy during the artists lifetime to get a
picture from his hands; he had always more
orders than he could i'll; and when one
OF bis pictures appeared at an auction sale
there was pretty be lively time over II among
the bidders. Doubtless there is some explanation FOR
the appearance OF this large number OF pictures IN the
artists way working his own feeling toward his
work BOT here is fact patent enough 70 everybody
who will visit the galleries. Every OF the five rooms
Is filed ana well filled with these pictures and sketches
the numbers on the frames up 70 800 aud out oi
these certainly not than 50 are by other bands hh
those OF Mr. KeEsett There is yet 40 complete cata-
egue but except for the pictures we have men
toned there is no special need OF oata-
logue for one who is familiar with Kensetrs
field Of work. Newport aDd Lake George, the
C,tsk1s and the Hudson with tue Connecticut shore:
10 name these places is 20 recall Kenseits happest
work. and intimately did he enter into the character
of the scene those who know these places need
little help catalogue 20 recognize tncih IN the
artists presentment The other pictures IN the eolleo-
ton are not as Of much Importance but there are
q few Of exceptional merit. One by Eastman johnson
(l9O much desired ana there are two excel
lent BoughtOns. one good any BOughton we have
seen this long time-a fair girl with blonde hair and the
shadow OF a dark vail over fearful check.
The public find out how excellent an oppor
tunty offered il 10 buy the WORKS OF OF IT'S favOrite
artists large number OF these pictures are finished
many are well on the way 70 completion and even the
least finished sketches valuable for indication
OF the artists observation, OF OF his method OF working
Nor Is the reason Kenset undOubted popularity far 70
seek pictures pleased our people and they never
ceased 10 please There indication Of what charm
he WAS 10 exercise in the fact that his earliest exhibited
picture. painted when he was studying IN Eagland was
chosen by prize-hOlder OF the ArtUnOn whose lucky
number had given him a right to any picture among
those OF a certain value the walls Of the SOcietys
gallery. Perhaps the Englshman who selected this
picture would have preferred work by cOuntryman
but he was taken no doubt with the artists sympathetic
rendering OF a quiet passage IN English landscape
Kensetts work had the charm for the English aud
for Americans as Longfellow's poetry; 1t was Ike
BRYANT and like Wordsworth in Of his
moods. gentle sweetness, calm content
a happiness 70 be with nature in calm
and sunny hours. these are the traits Of
Kensett's artistic character. And yet be not
weak though the dislike he had for exhibitions OF skill
for their for startling subjects, for scenes
where Nature seems 10 have worked with her high
Leeled shoes on may have led many think him weak
He was ALWAYS close and earnest student had always
been such from his youth his devotion to study
and 70 the serious side Of mis- art be set high example
He had that excellent part OF wisdom too, that con-
sists in knowing what he could do, and he rarely
Welded 10 the temptation 20 paint subjects be-
yopd his powers. Thus evenly and serenely
his quiet life passed away. His pictures were
.t springs refreshment in the heat aud turmoil OF
fair erIu of he
tween the dust clouds of tins weary hghtiDg ground
The happy stood before them and recalled Other happy
days. hearts touched with sadness were sOothed IN tner
simplicity the artist admired the facie hand. and the
unearned recognized the truth 70 natures eTeryd2Y
aspect His pictures viii, believe. always hod their
own: nay they must continue 20 increase a value
40 long AS this love Of pastoral rural nature
lasts among men, old as the far away days Of
Palestine with their voice Of the turtle aud the
sweet smell OF the vines, old as Fheoeritus
old as Virgil old the dasies OF Chaucer, and the Wink
ng Marybuds OF Shakespeare, sung since in long pro
cession by Wordsworth Keats, ana Shelley, by Tenny
son and LOngfellow Bryant and Emerson. Kensett Is
the flower OF the school OF landscape call American
school thai boasts of several chosen names they all
belong 10 this pastoral band, and their hold the pub
lac is by tins in them Of gentle meditation So long
as that note is loved Kensett must also be loved.
There was a large aud brilliant assemblage of artists
authors and editors yh their ladies. at the private
onenine Of the Kensett collection At the Academy OF
Design last night Thomas Kensett Of Baltimore con-
snts 10 purchase the choice collection OF pictures by
cotemporaneous artists for $4,000 and present them TO
the Metropolitan Art Museum - hew-iork Il other
friends will present a selection tom his late brother
works of ike value The offer has been accepted INC
committee appointed John Taylor Johnston, Chairman
and H. G. Marquand, Troasurgs. The exhibition VIII De
opened free tomorrow and continue for week. when
700 picturcs will sold auction In the hall Of tho
Young Mems Christian Union.
ART AT AUCTION.
| sale of paintings of the modern European
and American took place yesterday IN the sales
rom, of A. b. Miner Brother, at No 95 Chambers-.t.
rhe Attendance was somewhat small. but the pictures
were disposed fair prices. Among tho pictures
were eight from the collection of Baron A. De Beye OF
Paris The following works were among those sold:
..t.o, n . C,aret Ods 500 Diana and Evmphs ai
M R.t 4 Pn~leuhurg Luiscape nih DoK J. cruiS
'si' pt. Brteraes J. Van HuTsam, , iG lnsLof oi
.s y Wosreuusn $50 Gtmblefs.' Al. A. Carayhgzo
80 Yea. lhampere Watieau Sli3i Had Il a Child J
G,.. street Gbenr hulk Of AmstrHilH : iu9
R-fnrug n The foli" De Bsu =ll3i Lzine tas blosisl
600. Tsprine" GstterhOcti eiIs Laniscape sri
sAsrpa verres. Bruss.a. go Cattle 70 ss5s s'Ifm
/ ~ %" batsh Martri woren." cfrP.Htsf 80 fnnsh
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