, 1874-02-15

motive, the accomplishment, aud the destiny O.
the Netherlands.
Somewhat after the same manner, but witt
much less brilliant effect, the present writel
has studied the Art Of Scandinavia ane
Russia. He lacks the grasp, the acnnen
tho splcndor, OF Taines genius; but he has
| nevertheless, excellent qualifications for hit
task. He has practical knowledge Of art, ar
| intelligent acquaintance with the various gal
lcries mud schools OF Europe, a freedom from
prejudice, and an honest desire to get at the
truth. From M elevated point Of view, which
embraces tie circumstances and influences that
control aud modify tho artistic temperament,
| expression, and facilitieH 1o has regarded the
| past and present condition and the future pros
| pect OF painting, sculpture, aud architecture,
| among the Nortler1l European nations. uo has
not the seer's insight, which pie1ces to the
centre as we'll rs tho circumference, aud roveals
REASONS and principles, and resolves them into a
philosophy. Yet he il d wise and candid guide
iu paths out Of the beaten courso of travel, and
points out great deal that is novel and illus
tratiye i'll the character scenery, climate, civil
ixation, mud AIt-cu1ture Of countries seldom
penctra.ed Let us skip lightly along the way
be slowly Travelled, and jot down a few Of the
points Ae carefully deliueatcd.
Denmark lies first OIL the route, and the col
1actions Of Art aud Science in its beautiful
capital are subjected to thorough inspection.
Ihese are moro systematically arranged than in
my other Continental city, and nro expressly
educational in character. The Museum OF An
tiqulty contains q total Of 10000 specimens, Of
exceeding interest and value, presenting q full
and continuous history Of the country for many
centuries. The Royal Library comprises up
wards Of 100000 volumes and $4,000 manu-
scripts. These, with minor museums OF a kill
drcd nature, furnish abundant support for the
intellectual Ifo Of the people,. The Royal Gal
lery of Art numbers 701 works OF q fair average.
The national development il Art aud Lltera-
ture has not beon vigorous or lu1uriant. There
il abounding talent, but not OF the highest char
acter. The Kingdom il diminutive, its popula-
tiou being less than that OF London, and its pc
cuniary resources are meaSre. Its museums and
galleries are not enlarplnB, and nrt and Literary
products find scanty market Sculpture. Which
had grand exponent in ThorwaldBen, is in ad-
vance Of painting and architecture. Indeed. this
last has never existed as tine art IN Denmark.
landscape has succeeded better than figure
painting for the reason that it needs less severe
study. As 3 natural consequence Of their mar1-
time situation, Danish artists have handled
marine subjects with superior skill and, III lnter
national competitions Aaye taken a first rank
England alone being able to rival them. So1en-
son. Melby, and Neumann, since Stanfeld and
Turner, stand first among the painters OF tho
ocean.
Passing into Norway, re find Art in its infancy,
though showing elements OF strength and yitali-
ty. Architecture and sculpture are almost equal
1y unknown, and painters are comparatively few.
6nty three or four have extended their reputa-
t1on beyoud their couutry's frontiers,
They excel in Iandscape.- in
this department the artists OF Sweden.
Denmark. and Kussia. But little can ba expect
ed in tla WAY of Arr from, 1ctnn whnaa land
is sterile. only one-hundredth mart being under
cr1tnre +. wl,nsa ipbahitanta scsrrely excAed a
million. and the minority of whom are compelied
to m endless struggle with churliah Nature for
the bare meal1s OF Subsistence,
considerable number OF eminent scholars
and artigts have given Sweden repute among
other uatioas. Linnleus. tie naturalist Der-
geIins, the chemist swedeuborg, the mystic !;
Frederika Brouacr tho novelist Janny Lind
and Christine Nilsson, tic vocalists,-not to
mention a respectable list OF gculptors and
painters,-haye poured lustre upon her history
A good deal Of mental activity has prevailed
among the people, especially in tho present
generation. She has accomplished noth-
lug in architecture, bat in sculpture
hns djeplayed singular talent. Strenuous and
not unsuccessful efforts have been made to es-
tablish native School of Art; and National
Museum aud Gallery was completed i'll Stock |
holm IN 1863, and furnished with large but COM
monrlace collections. Swedish artists have
taken up the study OF Nature in earnest,-a |
most hopcfu! indication. Drawn from tho work |
ing classes themselves itvould seem to be their |
province to depict peasant-life, which presents |
novel and picturepauo subjects for painting, |
Sweden, like he rest OF Scandinavia, affords fine
eketcLinp-eround. Its scenery is w1ld rugged. |
and somIre; but its sunsets are OF peculiar
sp1endor, ito fields are rich with bloom in sum-
mer. and Shifting atmospheric phenomena giv an
ininio variety Of lirht and shade. Under sEillful
treatment. tie grandeur Of Nature may be soft
ened by beauty. it's codness warmed by color,
and manv now ind churu,iur effects REPRODUCED
upon CANVAS. Iu surveying the condition OF Art
throughout Scandinavia, It must be acknowl-
elced iess interesting aud valuable in itself than
as manifestation Of race. climate. aud nation
aIity.
Il is difficult to realize that Russian En-
niro lyinr on the remote Boundary Of Europe.
and not yet more thau huf emerged from Asi.
utio bnriarism-nbonll have IN Art-Listory
worth coutenplatinr. The chasm between re-
6rement on dc one hand and sayagery on the
nt,ar IL i,ar,1 tn oyeriean- The e1tre,na he
twec1' tha en,;ol,tenmcnt of tl1a nio1er
,;rclcs of Russian society and the iynor
sncc of tLe T,,es;nr, hordes hauiiders
the Understanding, When Ferdinnud Hillar
irst went to 81. Petersburg. he exclaimed in
-AI. y" |