The New York herald., 1874-09-22

execution can prevent feeling OF disgr
lered BY the subject. So far as ~ a.cn1Is sngen
INC0APARABLE FIDELIT
and miraculous energy and audac' =
coseS % Of a asIa whether
effect In SGsr to ss vSue as a
cry OF Madrid. He is se mis- works IN the Gal
point OF vigorous exec ere at ms best. ana IN
)f ali ages .orabiy with the great artists
original desig ores, which, 1t is claimed, are the
Philip w. AS OF the celebrated portraits OF
Ne do no nal collection Of the Madrid Gallery.
rests, ! know upon what evidence this claim
avors ,at the internal evidence OF the works
Velo this theory Both pictures are evidently by
pp .sq9ez, and the freedom with which they are
IS against the aea that they are COPIES
Fmlliar nand, have not the exact similarity OF ex-
preston Win the larger portraits that we would
the work of man knowing well his models,
who drew freely the design for larger work.
paratively small canvases VelasQuez never lost
THE CUNNING OF HAND,
acterizes his larger canvases Tnis ARTISTS works
particularly worthy Of nOte because he was the
rrst OF the great masters who turned TO humanity
for inspiration, and showed the power OF art TO
selves mean and desplcable He made man his
without any attempt to idealize him. He
ABANDONED THE ANGELS
to descend to the level OF kings, cOurtiers soldiers
and beggars, and has lett us pictures of the
men OF his time which are simply lnvai-
an aenSs was I'll and so 1sosa
great conceptions which demand warmth OF
soul and exalratlon OF feeling; but as .
painter he was unrvalled In the truthful
ness and naturalness OF his productions. Master
of the whole gamut OF arl his drawing Is remark
able able in in its purity on his canvases M he seems
absolutely to play with
DIFFICULTIES OF FORM AND LIGHT.
His color Is firm. sure and natural. In MS worEs
we find thorough understanding Of the difficult
ties OF elevation and distribution light while his
treatment OF linear and aerial perspective ap-
painter he exceed all Spanish artists, and took
this department. The present collection is fortu-
nate in the possession OF an admirable specimen Of
posed to be OF himself, and displays ali the qualities
OF perfect modelling,
harmony of tone and learned distribution Of light
that we find IN the best works OF Titan. In all
the powers that could be acquired by deep and un.
he wanted to renuer him the greatest of artists
was imagination, force OF conception and pro-
give him. His works seldom come into the mar
ket. in the Warwick sale, in 1859, an equestrian
portrait of Don Luis dc Haro was purchased TOR
80 920 francs and at the sale OF Guilaume ii. s50
the portraits Of Philip ~. and the Due d'Olivares
were sold Tor SS,s5o forms:
This artist was born in Grenada, but the date Of
his birth Is not positively known. He died In 1858.
e af ana Gs
ist, and initiated Van Dyck. but exaggerated on
his style. He is represented by a work OF no great
merit, entitled
'THE REPENTANT MAGDALEN."
richly dressed lady is putting or her diamonds,
and, we suppose. preparing to Withdraw from a
sinful world. which she has suddenly found to be
not as pleasant place as sne once thought it.
The moral lesson conveyed is O good one, though a
little Old and VIII serve even for the present day,
"a no QUv in nnr YiD1a
she Would have been satisfied with making State
ment. The action is theatrical, but the color IS
rich.
Four very important works, by Zurbaran, oc-
supy one side OF the room where the purely
Annuncationn "The Alteration -G' Of the he shep
herds" The Alteration OF the Magi' and The
circumcision" which formed originally the great
"The Alteration OF the Magi" Is painted III the ar
lists best style, and is full OF grandeur,
BRILLIANT EFFECTS
work in the collection, IN the grandeur and noble.
ness of its composition, boldness OF drawing and
wso 5S % ne sy the Sssr ns
rnux rivals OF appearing at his BEST While
less happy efforts. In this picture the Virgin is
represented as an humble maiden, holding on her
Iberlan. The chief figures are the old Magus, who
knees kissing the Infants hand. and q splendid
OF the group, the third Magus being represented
by negro. The painting has all
THE DISTINCTIVE sOMBRENEss
like treatment Of light ana shade An immense
mass OF light has been thrown on the figures IN
the foreground which have been finished with
the greatest care, and the result is truly
marvellous effect. The dignity OF the composition
has been wel maintained in all the figures, and
nothing that could take away from the Impressive
other canvas, ''Tne Alteration OF the Shepherds
painted, as Latin inscription informs US, Tor
King Philip, the forms OF common life are intro
duced in the realistic manner. In this picture the
infant Is exposed on couch and the Virgin is in
the act OF removing the white covering CLOTH. Some
right and some children on the lett. Behind,
angels are seen singing, one accompanying on the
guitar. In the clouds a choir or cherubims intone
a song OF JOY, and an angel clad in scarlet VINO is
playing on huge harp, seems to be cher d'Orches-
ire In the BACKGROUND peasants are seen has
spirited and full or devotional feeling, though
some OF the assistants do not seem very much i'm
''rhe Alteration Of the Magi." 1t possesses. how
ever, more Of the distinctive charac Of
Spanish art. The assistants are all Spanish peas
ants, exceedingly naturalistc, and are
DRAWN WITH GREAT FREEDOM
and vigor. "The CIRCUMCISION is admirably
painted, with great breadth Of treatment. This
admirable group OF paintings Is completed by
"rne Annunclation." Though full Of sweetness
ton to its companions. "a Monk Praying" fur
nshes an example OF this artists skill in portraits
painter of these works, Francisco Zurparan, was
born IN humble lie at Fuente de Cantos in Estre-
madura. in the year $685. He was first employed
as abOrer, but his taste for painting procured
Tor hun patrons who enabled him to proceed to
Madrid, where he entered the studio OF Roelas
During his life he acquired great fame and popu-
larity. He died in 1862.
In the centre Of large field OF brown cloth Is
hung
THE SOLITARY EXAMPLE OF MURILLO
which the collection boasts. 1t Is evidently re-.
garded by the Committee Of Arrangements as the
gem OF the collection, for place OF nonor mas been
created Tor it. Placed on the wall TO the right OF
the entrance 1t occupies a very large space; not
a field OF brown cloth SO as to bring out its quail
ties in the most striking manner. From this isola.
ton and the arrangement of the light it enjoys
special advantages over the other works. for
whatever could be done to bring out Its beauties
admitted by even the least enthusiastic ad-
mirer of MurilO that the picture deserves
all the care and attention that has been lavished
on It, All the sweetness OF expression, grace Of
line, warmth OF color and harmony OF tone that we
are accustomed to look for In the happiest effort
of this master may be found in this work. II ia