The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-07
ART MATTERS.


All the necessary impulse was given by the re-
ception held at the Academy Of Design on Tuesday
night and the result was seen in the large num-
Der OF visitors with which the rooms were
filled yesterday morning and afternoon. The
American collection includes 354 pictures, the Eng
hsh 2O4. The entire series is numbered censecu-
lively. or the American the first ninety-seven
occupy the North Room; from No. 90 to No. 1876 in
elusive, the East Room; from No. 1871 to No. 270
inclusive, the West Room, and from No. 27l to No.
s54 inclusive the Northwest or Sculptor Room
The English collection Is confined to the South
Room, and In this connection we venture to say
few words respecting such pictures by English
artists as may be found among the American COL
lection. In the present exhibition, the Ameri
can society has not detected from the
line followed by 1t for many previous
years. 1t has always been its policy
to add grace to Its annual display by borrowing
few foreign works from private collectiOns-an act
which is ut once delicate compliment to the for
eign artists whose works were selected and an in
geniOus acknowledgment that American painters
were willing to learn whatever European ones
were able to teach. But the American Society too
strongly feels what good taste and the proper feel
ing require to crowd the walls OF It's exhibition
rooms with pictures by foreign artists when excel
lent creations OF the American brush are at hand.
Consequently the proportion of foreign pictures in
the present display OF the American society is ex
ceedingly small--ab0ut One-twenty-hith OF the en-
tire $50. or the ninety pictures in the North
Room--to which We shall conhne our remarks at
preventative are English and one French, the
English being Skinner Prout's "Frauen Klrche, Nu-
remburg, Bavaria" and Il. X. yOhnsOn's "Rival
FlOrists:" and the French one Flowers" by Riv-
ORE. At the same time we think that a nicer and
more delicate senSitiveness aud Drawer frankness
would have been shown by indicating in the
that not only would the general public have not
been mised, but that IL would have been impossible
to be said In regard TO what at worst Is an inadver
tency which can plead antiquity in its favor.
In w. II. POwell's "Queen of the Vintage No. A.,
all the strength Of the artist is centred in the
fgure-a Southernblo woman, with sensu-
Gus placidity OF feature bearing fruIt-aden bas-
ket upon her head, There is an almost utter alb
sence of detail In the picture, except what may be
found In the figure ITSELF which is principally to be
contributes some hnely-rendered maple Leaves
ont strongly il "a Spanish Gypsey:" Gold Picture
Both Bellows and Richards find repeated repre-
sentaticn. Among works of the former are the
Notch, White Mountains mount Lafayette,
from FTanconia," Mount washington, from
Mountain" Each OF the works OF each OF these
artists Is 80 characteristic that there is no mistak
green's, which may be described as the innocent
Voluptuousness Of certain phases of nature, and in
the other the repOseful charm which settles hush
fully over landscapes that seem to enjoy their
own stiffness. Mr.. J. G. Nicol has also been ex-
ceedngly industrious. "October Afternoon" "Af
ternoon," "A Calm Morning." "Sketch from Ma
ture, T" October Morning. and "Sketch at Green
wood Lake'' are all from his busy brush. The only
work to be encountered in the North Room from
Start" showing characteristic scene at the foot
OF Sentinel Rock, Yosemite Valley. This picture
has genuine wild West flavor, and illustrates not
only some OF the idOsyncracies OF the native Cali
with the guides of that region ana such OF their
chums as are disposed to risk their money at the
race. Mr.. A. I. Brlcher Is doing more and better
work now than ever before. This Is visible in his
buryport,n and "On the Meadows of Old Newbury-
port" We have so frequently alluded OF late to
the industry and talent Of Mr.. Louis G. Tiffany, that
at present there is need merely specify his moor
ish Figure,n 'Study from Nature on the Harlem
Rvorn Lazy Life Around the Old Sub-Treasury
Of Morocco, Tangiers" "BaZaar at Cairo" and
"MOsque of Said Pacha, Alexandria," While II.
Swain Chords "View OF Vesuvius aud the Bay OF
Naples from the villa Realen and Gan Old Foun-
tain in Cairo, Egypt" were passing through the
drew full attention to them, and have only to add
that they fulfil the promise OF vitality they then held
out. Thomas Moran's "Clif's in the Grand Canyon
OF the Yellowstone" Is a subject which lew observ-
ers who have not visited that region can fully
appreciate but from all we have heard OF that
unique and interesting region we should Judge that
the brilliant and richly Opaescent tnts with which
such scene brims are weakly interpreted on Mr..
Morning Glories" by l.. T. Bigeow, and number
OF fine specimens OF still life by d. Fowler. Careful
inspection Of the north room VIII find more than
enough material for first VISIT and the enthusiasm
thus generated is not likely to be quenchcd by
second.