New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-14
FINE ARTS.

william T. MARSuALL'S PORTRAIT OF BEECHER
The United States Publishing Company Of
No 10 University -pa'c nave sent us steel lineengrav-
ins l5 Ma William E. Marshall, after his portrait
OF the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. This portrait was
painted years ago. under the most favorable condi-
tons and Mr. Marshall has spent 40 months upon his
engraving that whatever he do TO give the world
good portrait OF the distinguished preacher has been
done Certainly we should have been glad, for the sake
OF progress of art in country. If could speak
Of engraving tle terms in which the artist
himself and his publishers speak of It, but we cannot
couscenously do tus. and no good will come OF our
attempting 10 do IT, Some little good may however, be
done by our saying frankly that though Mr. Mar
shall has set before himself what he believes
20 be high aim yet one less high would
have been practicable, since TO do what he
has proposed to himself is thing impossible humanity
speakin be done, ana IL Is thing BESIDE that would
not be worth doirs II 1t possible Lest We should
do Mr. Marshall injustice, let quote his own words
cit would have been but simple task, IN making
portrait OF Mr. Beeoher TO catch the more obvious and
features OF resembance-the marks OF age, the
wear and OF tme the burrows pOwed by fatiSues
and trials during long ie-history; these may be
found in first Photograph at hand. But the aim In
preparing a lasting memorial of the most eloquent
OF hyiuS preachers was different An attempt has here
been made 10 put record the enduring traits OF
Characteristic essential yOuthluness and buoyancy of
powerful naturc-he Inspired vigor Of faith, love and
winch shines through the cOuutenauco OF born orator in
his great moments" To these high promises the pub
fishers add such IS the every strong work OF
lnteIpretatIye pOrtrature, and such has been the
ambition and the achievement OF the artist i'll tins
Instance" Such, We are free say, has
decidedly not been the achievement OF Mr.. Marshall
He has indeed. accom- plshed oncali Of his quest he
has not given marks of age the wear and tear OF
time the signs experience, the precious facts, In hne
which good photograph would have put US In posses
sion OF but other hand he has not succeeded in
portrayng the inspired vgOr OF faith love- and con-
vcion and pOetc insight which shine through the
cOunlenanCe of IA bJrn orator in his great moments
Mr. Marshais Beccher" is big schOol-boy, who has
not the slightest suspicion OF what is ahead OF him In
life II there is character the face nor signs of
and il is because wear and tear have not yet
come 20 this young gentleman whose slight expression
Of easy dissatisfaction seems TO belong TO the velvet
cOared coat and the wella1 hair but for any
depth Of feeling any experience OF life anything OF that
which makes the difference between boy and a
man-there - trace OF these things IN this face.
Tie very attempt TO separate experience, faith
love- ana convection, poetic insight, from their signs
and symbolS-is an absurdlty, nor did any greatest
artist attempt such u feat The circular accom-
panyins this engraving also at the pains to publish
letter Mr. GJstave Jr6 TO Mr. Mar shall, which to
any ono who knows the French artists will 90 but
little way spite of the excessive admiration 1t dis
plays for Mr. Marshall artist, in recommending the
Present performance a portrait since DOre mas never
shown any power put xpresson INTO the human face
lie has gits but thisis not one OF them Indeed
We can't help thinking that he doth protest too much
our belief is that he draws a long bow when he says
that he aud his friends often stand before Mr. Marshais
learned aud powerful works to admire and to study
them Mr.. Dore is an industrious man, and does
stand often sure, before any learned
and powerful works Oy anybody. And French artists
arc not at a loss for learned and powerful works
60 study when they inclined, that they should
look for models in Americas land they laugh to
so concerned will even admit Except IN
complimentary leters that the thing exists. Mr. DOres
letter may the publishers turn in the rural dis
tcts but in the cities 1t will be we'll not TO count too
much upon it, That Mr.. Dor6's opinions are sometimes
worn with a difference, may be suspected from the
story that is told his Illustrations to TenDyson.
English edition, in PREDATORY note assures US that
81 had lifelong aspiration with the artist to illus
ae "Ilys Of the King, but friends Of the artist
report that when he bored by the English publisher
10 designs book he had never read nor heard
o. he exclaimed, Vino the devil is this Tennyson"
Even IN the engraving Of this picture, Mr.. Marshall
shows that he has fallen behind his earlier work The
execution is mechanical throughout There is soft
ness TO the csb light In the eve, no mobility In the
mouth no texture the hair The lock Of hair over the
rght ear could not be III done; 1t does not grow
out Of the head at ALI is not hair The lid OF the night
eye hard and eless If it were drawn by school
boy and the longer the engraving is studied the less
artistic found We sincerely regret 10 render such
aVerdict. We should have liked TO welcome a good
Portrait OF Mr. Beeeher and wish Mr.. Marshall could
nave made one.
THE COIN COLLECTION.
There is a collection of good cabinet pic
lures now exhibition in the pleasant aud airy gallery
Of Leayt Co. Broadway, where everything always
looks its best They consist IN great part OF the private
gallery Of Mr.. Adolf Kohn. and several others of the
kind added. The collection Will well repay an
hours lettering the way down town The specimens
are all respectable, aud some of them are by famous
hands. There Is COrot, cool light green smeary
sketch which will doubtless be greatly appreciated at
the sale; two good landscapes by Daubigny, and a
charming little piece by Dupre Madrazo has a slight
but excellent study OF a beggar woman Toulmouche
has exquisite portraits OF the lady whom
he tires OF painting Tie world OF adniring
dressed that blue velvet wrapper which always be-
hor perfectly This time she Is leaning over
table and eDO Ing the fragrance OF bouquet OF hower
Vibert finely colored Pompeian Women fishing in
arolnsntic looking pool There are sketches by Della
eroiI Achenbach Rossi and simonetti One OF the
brightest and gsyest pictures is that Of horeau full OF
The light and air OF youth aud summer American art Is
q Adequately represented by Kensett, Richards and
LAT Il efrtlriE and