New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-16
MR.. GUYS FAMILY GROUP

ESTIMATE OF AN IMPARTIAL OBsERvER-THE PIC
TURE FAULTY IN EXECUTION AND DEFICIENT IN
GOOD TASTE.
To the Editor Of rhe Trlbune.
SIR: Soon after the opening this season, |
strOled the Academy OF Design, not because con-
slider myself connosseur exactly, but simply because
had nothing else do. Among the pictures displayed,
good, bad. and Indifferent, two arrested my atten-
ton being rather worse than the general run.
One was wooden Venus; the other was "A
Family Group" in the middle room. The prin-
cIpal figure in the latter | recognized at once as
that OF a gentleman well known railroad coun-
cs and my first thought was Pity that this face was
not made large enough for portrait by ITSELF for 1t Is
too large for OF the group" The impression left
pom my mind as turned away from the picture was
that distinguished by garsh yugarlty that the
could not well have been worse, and wonder
that one cear-headed manly, and quietly sensible
as all the possessor to be- should have permitted
it 10 be hung at the Academy. When dressed Tor an
opera OF IAN evening" family party does not generally
throw open the curtains and expose the interior or
the drawing Ito the unlicensed gaze OF passersb
but this instance home circle is turned inside out for
the edcatiou Of the public. Painted az AT the OPERA
in a proscenium box it would have been well enough
but A presented there is violation Of OF the first
principles OF taste say decorum, which possibly
preudces against IL picture before going any
further. Now not critic but the picture struck
me very much as the putting OF family china on exhibit
ton would The DRAWN groom OF this family group be-
yond doubt is very splendid AS for the hgures
each one looks though standing 10 be painted with
the exception OF those sitting down, who seem 70
be possessed OF aOnsciouness that as proprietors OF
the show they have right 70 take 10 comfortably
should imagine indeed, that the artist had measured
the room aud jeverythng in IT. with tape line just as
An American Painter IN your issue OF to-day SAYS
that he did, had them with impartial brush painted
every man. woman and thing in, "apportioning" to
each 30 much measured and proper space" but with
sublime disregard the effect whole. In the even
ing CHANGED 10 speak OF the picture the house OF
friend aud my mild disapprobation of received cor
roboration from a exceent-better than Bel
mont, quite competent as Page-that am
half inclined in the future to set myself up
"a a critic. III you wish 10 see exactly
what the garng faults OF the picture are get The IRB
tSE OF the right date and read criticism OF the Pic
lures on exhibition II Is but just as just as
lust can be-" have not yet seen copy OF the crlt
csm referred TO, but IL you send me copy or the
paper containing It, Will that the money gets 10
THE TRIBUNE Office by return mail. For since reading
IAN American Painter IN your issue OF TO-DAY, ny
curiosity is excited. And am going to see the picture
ayaiu though that viii cost me % cents. An AltFlcdu
Painter says: since Miclise painted his Hamlet,
there has been such elaboration and thorough real
ISM while its riShtiUl suborinauon. splendid Color
Tone delicacy finish, force, BREADTH brlancy depth,
and cOmposilOu OF line and object, MI up the Volu
which that inventive, perceptlye genius showed ne
aspred to-" have cut the passage CUT anu pdsteu ~
M before me- for of the first requisites IN writing
about art have all the technical terms az your M
GERS ends But for convenience sake, nave arranged
the string alphabetically, thus Dre1uin Drl4Hne{'
force genius inventive and perCepuYe, line anu oJcc
righful suborduatiOn. splendid. tone, thorough rear
ism void. I've left out ehtaro oSe"T0' out II get
that IN next time. IL
AcJc YOrt, May II, 1874.