New-York tribune., 1874-04-25

absolutely condemn picture By Mr.. Page, but after
long and charitable seeking We cannot find redeeming
point IN this presentment shakespeare is supposed
suppose to be studying as an actor somo part that
| he Is to play. Ho holds the book 10 moro toy
shop imitation OF q book OF the poriod) In MS
right hand lifted high in tho air; the left is
waited eebly behind him. and his eyes are cast down ms
II he reading but the book is above his eyes ITO
has Just risen from modern Fultonst imitation OF
late sixteenth century chair, but he has not Deoh
sitting 1t, and, indeed. he ia not doing any
thing, nor has done anything being mere
simuacrum or wooden image, incapable OF
motion, vapid and feeble beyond comprehension,
rs coming from Mr. Page,twho is hardy.ever without
force OF some faoe far from doing Its part to
the abby and rresoute body the worst part
OF the poture there no color of esb no harmony be
tween the hair and the skin,faud absolutely no e1-
preston OF any kind. nor any sign of life. The
face Is painted. all tho world knows,
from the much-talKed-of tmask but surely
II this worth DONG could only have been for the
sake of making face living and true than by any
other means it possible to geti The mask has
hampercd Mr.. Page in his conception OF Shakespeare
not helped him. He has anatomized 1t. and
tried 10 every portion Of 1t, with
Boswean that is little udicrous that luck
less the eye, for instance, which those who
have studied the mask ITSELF and not merely the photo
graphs declare positively docs not exist being painted
with such emphasis that 1t really on the living
Shakespeare 1t would the eravest apprehension
Mr. Page may most powerfully and potently believe in
this scar, but must hold 1t not honesty TO have 1t
thus set down.
Mr.. De Haas's Breaking Up Of Storm" has much
mechanical cleverness and certain dash and vigor
that to be enjoyed and praised for what they are
but the merit of his seapanting is superficial and there
is in all the work OF this artist that have
seen too much striving after effect. Trust In
simple nature does not satisfy him, and yet he
has power OF imagination TO create to make un
realities real Yet among the scenic artists the
stanheids and the Achenbachs, De Haas holds worthy
place, and his high reputation is easily understood MT
DuDois's "Vew Dordrecht, Holland" belongs to
the school, where do not look for nature only
certain conventional treatment that shall satisfy the
demands OF the marketplace. There Is no thought In
these pictures but there is Skill and adaptaLiity and
feeling that the artist knows his business. We take
the same satisfaction them that do with dinner
parties. We don't care for the eating, for the
drinking, for the waiting for the set out We go
through the ceremony in passive way only demanding
that thing shall be done in the regular way, and
that shall not be obliged 10 think about anything
but our pretty brilliant neghbor. The soups may
come and fish may 60 provided that talk may 80 for
ever Pictures of conventional clever sort made
adorn such life and II they had too many Ideas OF
eccentricity of any kind they would be out of keeping
We like Mr.. Perry's Polly Buck" better clothed
327ithan unclohed where from some freak he
has chosen to call her Venus But Polly Buck suits
both exactly though suspect the name TO be bor-
rowed from some novel OF today In Polly
Buck with fxngs there Is an Inconsistency
in the details, tho chair she is sitting on
not being an antique chair at all, but fresh made and
i'll suiting with old spinBet. MT. Perry usually
very about these matters and paints details of
this sort with great accuracy and taste.
Mr.. David Johnson's "Brook Study" is the best pic
ture this artist sent TO the exhibition II shows not
merely painstakng but real enjoyment OF nature. 1t ia
not properly speaking picture, but only careful
study. stll had rather have one such study than
good many pictures Of the conventional kind.
Mr.. Iuness not look much like himself in "Wash-
much like Perugia like any other place that be
named Nor Mr.. Churchs great reputation save his
Petra" from the charge OF being only theatrical
of the 1t is not necessary to have been
at Petra to pronounce that this does not look
like the place. The laws or nature are still
in force there presume, and perspective not
gone TO the dogs with builder OF this rocktemple
Mr. Church had always fatal hankering after
tional understanding that will startle and amaze
and he pays public the i'll compliment to paint as If
he believed they by nothing else But
he is The public is coming to learn that art
is not meant of parade aud stormy hours but
for daily bread, and feed and sustain
pure and simple, deep and holy thoughts.
Every now and then Mr. Church hndS
a subject that suits these tempers OF the mind and
paints it as no man we have paint 1t But the
General drift OF his the other and he too.
often takes refuge trick and nsncery This present
picture shows bim one of his least pleasing moods