The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-18
ART MATTERS.
MIR. Il. f.. Reinhart-The Angel Mothers
or, The Orphans Dream.

or, The Orphans Dream.
In Mr.. d. +. Remnants just finished picture Of
''The Angel Mother or the Orphans Dream" now
visible Mt studio No. II Dodworth Hall. SOC Broad
way, 1t is evident THAI the artist has aimed SIMPLY
to give expression to a tradition of the nursery.
beautiful little girl of about five or six years old,
her nightdress disordercd by her movements dur
ing troubled sleep, is visited through the medium
OF a dream, by her dead mother. The left hand OF
the child rests Mt It's mouth, the right hand is re-
cumbent. one OF the little one's plump legs
is bent beneath the other, which 10
extended at full length in the free
simplicity OF slumber. The limbs, the shoulders
and portion OF the bosom are shown, and evince
that correct drawing and verisimiitude which are
principal among the characteristics that nave
helped to found Mr. Remnants reputation. The
blonde hair IL secured against falling over the face
by thread OF ribbon. To the lett OF the sleeper
radiantly looms the spiritual presence, atilred IN
a flowing robe, bearing in one hand bunch OF
lilies, and with ha-extended wings indicated with
Just SUFFICIENT cearness TO be seen to exist. ray
OF moonlight soft to be absolutely spectral yet
full Of tenderness and solemnity, trembes
across the bed. and gently illuminates the
figures OF the unconscious child and all TOO con-
scious mother. The little girls figure - hncly
modelled and drawn with wondcrful corrccJncSS-
that is to say with u correctness that would be
wonderful we're it not Mir. Remnants. The face,
human beauty we see in chcrubs ny Titan, Dut
with that neiiabe, chdike charm which renders
all who love little children their willing servants.
| Whether the tender appartion in the background
is TO he accepted objective reality, or whether
1t is meant only as the outward OF Wnas
at liberty TO decide.
good deal OF perfectly justidabe admiration
has been gwen to certain genre pictures exc
cuted by artists in this city and elsewhere, OF which
children the inhabitants and In which oil The
interests are tlncturcd with the nursery we think
that Mr. Rclnharts present effort Is superior 10 the
vast majority of these simply because It introduces
an exalting spiritual element. without, at the same
| time, endcavorng to promugatc any croichet OF
| the artist IL the Messrs. George Stins0n CO.,
the art publishers who, we believe, have con-
tracted for the painting, in order TO nave it finely
rendered STEEL fail to detect this az one OF tha
principal merits they WIN not at any rate omit ms 10
hart accors with the bias OF the average rcllgous
belief; for you may split civilized humanity into as
many sects you choose, but the conviction OF the
| souls immortality VIII be found cropping up out
OF almost every one. Still, there are some epochs
the present age. when the most gifted female
writer of the day composes fctions, the spiritual
orthodox prejudices are all swept ami rufl,ed in a
| breeze Of Natural selection and Survival OF the
Fittest, and MIR. Tolleache breaches the beauty OF
putting ncnrable sufferers TO death. and Cointe
and his followers declare that Humanity Is all the
Goa mar we can ever ~ snc aa hKc' ws
touchingly as Mr. Renhart reminds US, that some
OF our old convictions may. after all, be the best
for us and that Mt any rate their tendency Is to n
vigorate and purify.
There is much cause for praise in the subtle
ingenuity by which the artist has remained uncon-
! vcntional, while satisfying popular demand. The
difficulties OF the subject arc great. Let any one
who doubts 1t attempt to give definite form and ex
preston to suppositious spiritual being, retain.
| Ing TO it, meanwhile, the hoer affections and pas.
sions of humanity Let him attempt To utter
through the silent medium OF the brush, the divine
| magnetism which draws the dead mother to the
| couch OF her living babe; let him dcneate, with
an eoquence which even apathy shall leci, the
passionate yearnng OF those who nave gone before
their little lett here and then perhaps he
will appreciate how ample was the scope which
! Mr.. Reinhart has filed alter the manner we have
attempted to describe.