New-York tribune., 1873-05-14
AN ART ARISTOCRACY.
nrrCcrr noRr AND Trs PAINTERS.

DUssRI DoRF, Feb. f9.-Probably no European
city in recent years. been associated In the minus Oh
Americans so entirely with art as has the one rom
which this letter is dated Dusseldorf is not by any
means exclusively an art city for there Is vast amount
OF ordinary done In it, Besides extensive manu-
factures Of various kinds, heavy trade is carried on
with the surrounding country, II one may inoge
from the number OF steamers and other Yese o. All n
scripons lying In the harb0r, and the Dusthng ac-
tvty that s constantly witnessed In the nelghDorhoOu
Of the railway stations, and from the arks OF wagons
heavily loaded with merchandise and drawn Dy tAs
eephantne seen hourly passing along the streets
The city 1ourshes apace, stretching rapidly further
and further back from the river, and multiplying
on each side it, really wen but and handsome strees
It's great prosperity. however. Il Of recent date.
Within the memory OF the present generation. It
sisted Of little than shallow fringe Of peryerso
and narrow ways with queer quaint In
ing the river ban1-a Dorf in reality the spuns
OF the Ddssel fretful little stream which here empues
tsef into the Rhine. Abrecht Ddrer, in his notes OF
travel through this region in the early part OF the Six
teenh Century, speaks of the great city OF Zons on The
other side Of the river and OF the little City OF DHse
dorf on this IONS was fortified city and ts walls are
yet standing some two hours walk from here but IONS
has declined pretty nearly nOnenttY, and Ike the
old Roman City OF Ncuss, not far from IT, which aiso
was famous some few centuries ago, is now seldom
heard OF away from home. while Dusseldorf grows
great and acquires worldwid fame, not by s manu-
factures s commerce, or ts Ilches Out soieB W ~
art.
To one 40 little used TO such things as arn Il seems,
confess not little strange fad myself in the midst
Of these surroundings Art here is nigh and dsfin
uished profession, and about art Glass; and
an aristOcracy, clearly defined, and as distinctly
recognized any class arstocracy IN York or
course there be but king, aud whether. the
whole, the art king Just in Dusseldorf OF ths
Achenbachs or Knaus, it is not easy say What the
decision would be II t put 70 vote among artists
cannot be Guessed by Undoubtedly the hnsbip
belongs the other Of these gentlemen or art
nobility there may be easily reckoned eight or ten After
these come about artists, members in fun fellowship
OF the sacred guild and after these 200 or 800
who are diligently working at art hoping to become art
lists some Of these days-in condition properly speak
ing OF doubtful canddaeship for enrolment hereafter
with that august body. II must be distinctly understood
that broad distinction is made here between artists
and those who only painters broad a. that be-
tween Detfoggers and lawyers or between statesmen
and ordinary politicians. City and country are full OF
painters bat artists The character supposes
talent for art improved by'care study and long and
elaborate discipline Behind the class Of persons last
mentioned honest apprentices 70 art there s seen here
long and uncOunted train Of men and women, into
whose minds the idea OF becoming artists has probably
never entered who out brushes and spoil any guam
tty Of good and cOors in what would be pront
less endeavor to make copies OF the works Of others t
we're not that fortunately for them there is ever at
hand class OF traders who will pay them price for
what they do, expecting ind market for IL some
where and chiefly 1t may be said, in America, an ex
pectation 80 far as America is concerned, which we
know does not turn out 20 be unfounded
Perhaps IL would be quite superhuous 70 name the
men who today are recognized as leaders tho
Dusseldorf artists. Their fame has reached yOu long
ago. as have also OF their works, though Oy no
means their best Among landscape painters the two
Achenbachs. Oswald and Andreas, brothers are. or
course, pregmnent Flamm, and BURNER, and Dueker
take rank deservedly next them OF historical pant
ers Bauer and Bendemann have gained the highest rep
utation while in the representation OF biblical subjects
E. Won Gebhardt has late chiefly held the public at
ention His recent picture OF the Last supper evinces
great originality depth OF feeling and has been se n.
erany recognized well able 20 bear comparison with
works OF the Old masters. He s engaged on Cru
cidxon which, by the privileged few that have seen H.
s pronounced equal superior 10 anything tnat he
! has DONE What Knaus Is doing DO not know but
! wilhelm sohn nephew Of the late Carl Sohn, many OF
whose admirable works have been exhibited IN New
York Is Just now putting the hnal touches upon PFC
rure on which he has been engaged for the last hye
years which, said by artists, promises 10 be one %
the grandest productions OF modern art The title Of the
picture s The Last Sacrament" 1t represents the adj
mnisraon OF the sacred ordinance OF the Lords sup
per 20 dying girl in the midst Of the sorrowng yet not
disconsOate family picture OF death, yet at perfect
peace aud the heavenest serenity; Christ Is IN the
midst It s a group OF eight figures, with all the
usual accompaniments Of the solemn service in which
they are employed. Prof sOhn not content with any
ordinary performance but seriously aims always at tho
highest excellence in art seeking 20 combine beauty OF
form and harmony OF color with poetic sentiments and
tenderness OF expression. IL is said that all his good
qualities are marvelousy exemplided IN the picture
which is shortly be completed II Is designed Tor the
National Gallery Berlin, having already been pur-
chased by the Government. Schueren illustrates ths
songs and legends the country his light aquarelo
drawings in which he admirably preserves their weird
and wonderful poetry His views OF the Rhine are wol
known 20 al the lovers art The noticeable AMI
NAL painters are Kroener and Deker In Dortraitura
the highest place the whole is probably due %
schaefer though in respects IN this department
also Benot mann is allowed 70 possess superior ability
His mower OF rapid and graphic deneauOn is said 20 ba
very wonderful. Prcyer dwarf IN form, IL giant IN
his branch of art unrvaled IN st life painting.
America is represented IN the city by number OF young
gentlemen engaged in art Study some at the Academy
! and some under private masters.
II cannot be said that art goes begging here, or IN
this country. Think OF two Thousand, three thou
sand five thousand thalers possibly more for picture
on which, perhaps not than sixty hours of actual
labor have been expended Think OF "A market M which
pictures so rapidly executed caught a such prices
as fast as they are offered! But these done by
men VINO have grown old and gray In long appren'
ticeship Young artists and artists Of not estab-
ushed reputation, have a tough enough time OF H.
The best men here ask for favors. They rely on
no patronage except that OF appreciating public
only in rare VIII they accept orders for
pictures. They do not like TO be put IN any sense
under bonds but choose 20 work with absolute free-
DOM in their own waS, at their own times, and upon
subjects which their genius and feeling suggest "a
them II is pleasant 20 say that several Of the most
eminent OF the Dusseldorf artists reckon on incomes
from their work OF forty nty, sixty thousand aIers
year, sometimes more
/ remember that the famous Dusseldorf galleDy that
was exhibited some fifteen twenty ago, m New
York the picture which seemed 20 attract most attsn-
tior and 10 be admired by the majority of people.
WI, Hildebrand's picture OF Othelo recountlng tie