The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-12
ART MATTERS.
The Avery Collection.


It has been very long time since Mr.. 8. p. Avery
has thrown open to the public any collection OF
pictures commensurate in Importance with those
which, for the last few weeks have been exhibited
at the handsome hall 625 Broadway. He has at
last decided to put them up at auction, and since
this win, probably, be one OF the few really nne
sales Of pictures exclusively, with which the season
will close, IL is worth while devoting some atten
ton to the principal themes, promising that the
public disposal will occur ON Tuesday and Wednes-
day evenings at the Somerville Art Gallery.
"The Cymbals,n by Joseph Coomans is small
picture upon which even the somewhat stated eye
can dwell with pleasure. 1t presents the head and
shoulders OF young girl, ingenuously capping
music out OF the instrument which ST. Paul uncer-
enormously designates as "tinKling." reflected
light Eliminates the face the back Of the head and
the shoulders, and the expression Of the young
cymbalist is deliciously tender and virginia..
clever but eccentric contribution is Horace
Reciting His Odes," by Armand Heullant We can
not just now recall any description that places
Horace amid precisely these surroundings, which
give more the idea OF a modern picnic than clas-
steal recitation. or william I. Richards, the Phil
adelpha artist, who during the last few years has
advanced In mis- art with studies remarkably long
and rapid, there are some fine examples, such as
'Deal, near Long Branch "Good Harbor Beach,"
"Annisquam Beach," and Entrance to Ports
mouth Harbor." In the first we find soft pearl
gray sky with the yelled reflected in the mois-
ture retained by the beach after the tide has re-
tired. The second is not remarkable, Its
general tone being gray, and the beach wearing
that feathered appearance which the ebb impresses
upon it, In entrance to Portsmouth Harbor,"
nothing is visible but the sea- with lighthouse in
the distance and vessels plying their way at various
Intervals but the water Is full OF that sadness and
vvacity that tireess and surging resiliency, which
SO many pseudo-marlne painters weary their life
out in attempting vainly to reproduce.
We come next to "After the Bath, by BOulanger-
sensuous Oriental theme, sympathetically rem
dered Turkish v0luptuary reclnes on his diyan
after the bath, and preparatory to Opiumizing him.
self to sleep through the medium OF his pipe, which
is being kindled by beautiful female slave. II it
was B0ulangers desire TO express whatever Is
luxurious In the pampered tastes OF Turkish up
pertendom he has perfectly succeeded. Rieistahs
Bavarian Alps. peasant family at their MONDAY
meal, beneath homely shed, offer hospitality to
one OF those picturesque waits anomalous in this
country but more matter of course abroad. The
selfunconscious freedom with which the rude fare
is preferred, and the simple thankfulness with
which it Is accepted are powerfully and anectlngly
The genius Of Bouguereau is emphatcally seen
In two splendid pieces OF craftsmansnlp-0ne," Ihe
Echoes OF the Sea-" and the other, "Fisher Girl,
Coast of Brittany" If it is difficult to express
silence on canvas we leave it to the casuistry OF
picture the art Of listening. This is what Bou-
guereaushas done in ECHOES OF the Sea-, where
child, beautiful as the child OF dream, Is shown
holding to It's radiant shell and lending atten
ton TO Its inartculate murmurs. The surprised
and mystifed delight with which the little one
Of the dim il Sensations that are st awakened in
the adult who raises the conch to his ear and de-
tects, Within It's microscopic music, obscure and
mOurniuk as happy times half forgotten. In "The
Fisher Grl'' the drawing OF the hands and
arms is well-!nigh perfect and the felicity
treatment Of that portion Of the LETT
arm, against which rests the handle OF the fishing
net The face y perhaps too refined Tor that Of q
one cannot at least avoid feeling that to discover
delicacy and refinement introduced where one
does not expect them is some compensation for
not finding them where one has the most unques-
tionable right to demand their presence.
Feeding the Flamngo," by Jules Georges . Glal-
at Tangiers wherein slave is giving favorite
bird its meal. Cairin belongs to the new Spanish
with Regnault. The local cOloring employed by
him in this picture Is exceedingly brilliant, and the
sao!ect ana areatmen. are SO u..ery ancSnoen
ton as they deserve. This work is the result Of
passionate and most praiseworthy effert to escape
from the shackles Of everyday themes, and TO ex-
change Northern efreteness Tor Southern richness,
uniqueness and splendor.
But we have scarcely left room in which to refer
to pictures that more important. Cabanefs
"Ophela" is obviously what the artist acknowl-
edges it to bean dealization OF Miss Nsson's face
while sympathizing with the inspiration OF Am
broise Thomas. Victor Lagye is represented by
Margaret In Church." the scene being the Cathe-
has succeeded peculiarly well in the fine, sweet,
childish face OF Margaret. All the grand sadness,
all the mingled animalism, penitence and remorse
OF Goethe's poem sweep through the mind as one
looks at this beautiful and ruined child, bringing
with her into the church the secret consciousness
OF her guilt, and willing, but unable to drown 1t
beneath anthem OF choir and monotone OF priest
"A Glimpse OF Lake Champain is the best or
Hubbards we have ever seen. "Faith' is small
and unpretentious but very excellent picture by
Carl Hubner. In "Saying Grace" by Caraud, the
pert occurrences Of the servant is in fine contrast
fnf In nu nj nf liff Tin ham nj and
the quiet, well bred ease OF the mother. 'Japa-
nese Bazaar by Edouard Castres, pupil to the late
Zamacois, IS thoroughly unique and richly original,
and represents a Japanese artist painting work
OF Buddha while OF the courtesans OF the cOun-
try and group OF children loter admringly near.
Finally, 1.-THE Flemish Pirates" by Karel Ooms, OF
Antwerp, Is one OF the most vigorous and pictu-
resquely rugged members OF the collection. The
figures are ten In number; ship is burning in the
distance jewels and rich garments lie scattered
q Iather, son and daughter. from Antwerp have
been captured and bound by the pirates, the saw
age chief OF whom fixes his gloating eye upon the
half-maddened girl. His picture is very powerful
and dramatic and would form valuable accession
to almost any private gallery.