The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-02
ART IN FRANCE
Opening to the Public Of the
Paris Salon.
A NEW STAR IN THE ARTISTIC PERMANENT.
Episodes or the Franco-Gerrnan
War on Canvas.
PARIS, MAY 8, 1875.

on these occasions owing TO the announcements
made By the wise men OF the Observatory that .
heavy fall Of rain was impending, prophecy thas
did not fail TO be fulfilled. There was, cOnse-
Quently, but scans display or she beautiful
toilets which usually grace the opening day. At
no time during the morning AFTERNOON was the
attendance so large to render the atmosphere
oppressive or prevent one from approaching the
pictures. In a letter which forwarded to you ON
Saturday described 10 you the general aspect or
tine exhibition. l shall now proceed 20 notice
such OF the works as have escaped my previous
criticism, Tor the first article which sent you on
the subject was exceedingly comprehensive and
embraces most OF the pictures OF merit in the col
lection
BEckER's PICTURE.
Among those that are new 10 me. ana which
from their Importance are entitled to mere than a
passing notice, Is the large picture by Becker
GEORGE, which has suddenly made the reputation
OF the artist ana will probably gain him the grand
medal. The subject is Biblical one ''Respha Pro-
tecting the Bodies OF Her sons Against the Birds
OF Preyn and is treated with freedom and vigor
which reveal the hand OF master. Every detail
OF the picture, grouping, drawing, color, atmos-
phere, evince an acquaintance with the resources
of art which can only be the result or intuitivc
genius or profound study. There are, no doubt.
features in the work which are open TO criticism;
but In Wow OF the success with which grand aim
has been accomplished, and or the reverence with
which It inspires one, 1t would DO on ungraterul
task to dwell upon them work or almost equally
remarkable character, by seeking It's effects By
simple means is LA Reverie.n by NJ Jacquet, q
pupil OF Bouguerau. There IL no picture In thu
exhibition which attracts so much atten-
ton, for 1t Is as pleasing as 10 IL technically
excellent In sweetness of sentiment power or
expression and force and truthulness of color In
presents union OF qualities which are rarely or
never 10 be found IN the same work Dore's large
picture, "Dante and virgn Visiting the Seventh
Circle of He'll" occupies the greater portion ofthe
sido wall OF one Of the principal sales, but 1t Is
entirely neglected by the crowd This arises, not
from the absence ointrnsic interest In the picture
but from its sombre tones and unpeasantly sug-
gestivo subject. To artists and connoisseurs
however, 1t will be always an attractive study for
the science displayed In It, Nj. Dore Is perhaps
the best OF living draughtsmcn, ana were his
color equal to his drawing he would be one OF the
great masters or the day, instead OF mere Illus
traitor Of books. Alma Tadema Is represented by
0 work remarkable ior it's wonderful ndct
lily OF detail, bat monotonous and duh
IN tone. 1t is entitled la Peinture-Por-
traits Commanded aud belongs TO tho
PALMER collection at Nice IL seems to be In
tended as pendant to his picture OF last year,
Sculpture Portraits Commandes," q work equally
cold and embarrassing NJ. Puvis do Chavau-
mes, artist whose great qualities are net TO BIO
questioned, Is equally unfortunate in the choice
and treatment OF his SUBJECTS. 1t seems TO mo
that with one excepton-Caoanel-tAe veterans
OF tho grand SCHOOL have combined to give the
pas to their younger competitors.
scRIPTURAL ART
Apropos OF CabancL she more see OF hfh large
historical work, described In former letter, the
more il plelses me. You probably remember tho
subject-.Absoon Vowing Vengeance Against
Amnon for 0utragng His Sister Tnamar.u IL Ia
q noble composition, and 10 very general ad-
mired Munkacsy and Ribot, both artists who aim
ct force OF expression BY means peculiar 70 them
selves, ana who delight In powerful contrasts OF
light and shade. exhibit. as usual. strongly
characterized and interesting pictures. l DO
not ike n. Munkacsy's "Hero OF the vilage''
porifat o. NJ. Walden BROCK Is WORK Of unoTes.
tiona6e power. so are the two large pictures By
nar raw Ne Pons ana n u o.
the story is told wish clearness and simplicity,
the impression sought 80 be conveyed being ar.
Loneliness aud terror crested By the Rreat blaHk
spaces, the sIifIeneed corpses and the Dlocked-up
church doors which reveal the ecclesiastical blight
which has fallen upon the scene portrayed IN tae
latter picture. Bougerau's picture OF the ''Holy
Marche, who, by the bye, Is q great patron OF art
occupies the place OF honor In he rst sale OF the
DESCRIPTION OF this beautiful work. 1t Is
one Of the pictures most sought after by the
the subtletIes or ART 70 enable people 10 apprs.
clate them. Stockholm painter, NJ. Alfred
which also arrest general attention and ara varl.
ousN appreciated by the critics. l have heard
lot OF any pictures since Manet nrst exhibited ms
abortlons. There IL vast difference between tue
Two artists however; Wanloerg Is man o. real
seeks to disguise the absence OF genius by MS
sccentricities. The picture exhlbled BY The lat
sane creations. The wonder 10 me IL that the
jury out OF respect to bis anteeedents, or cut OF
any consideration Whatever, should have admitted
It to place 10 the exhibition.
AMERICAN ART.
Another wretchedly bad picture, to which prom
inence has been gwen, has for subject an evsnt
interesting to Americans. l allude 20 the sur
pnmsr.s "a an artist Who faxes pleasure IN
trayestying on canvas the history Of our country
Whether It be from the desire OF being COM
PLEASANT to Americans. or from Wish TO supply
pendant TO the picture OF Henry Bacon, winch Is
nung on the same line, me Jury nave samI..ea
that Mr.. Bacon has reason 90 ieel satisfied WITH
the preference. His pleturs-a subject also taken
can In treatment. and, as stated on former
occasion, Is exceedingly clever. Let him RESI-
COMO unded In merit with that OF bis french COM
pettor.
An interesting feature OF the Salon this rear -
the number Of episodes OF the Franco-German var
ostSnce 81 the events which proved SO disastrous
70 their country the Frencn evince less repug-
nance TO pictures perpei uatlng tnose Souvenirs.
Immediately alter the war the idea OF exhibiting
memorials OF this KIND excited general lndigna-
ton. Now, with the determination 40 prohg
by the lessons OF their disasters has come tho ue-
sire 10 refresh their rccollectons OF them. To
this feeling ne owe the large number Of battle
scenes whlcn are TO be found Ia the collection. and
whicn own Is TO me- OF the most attractive
features or the exhibition. Apart from their his-
torIcal interest some OF these pictures posssss
high artistic value. Take, Or Instance, tue two
pictures exhibited by N. dc Melville, Attack By
rIrc VI house Barrlcadcd and Port-holedu aud
"a surprise In the Neighborhood OF Metz.u The
nrs. these affairs occurred at Villersexel on tho
ON Of January 1871. After q bloody struggle the
place was carried at the close OF the day by tn3
troops OF the Eighteenth corps. Fortified In sew.
eral Ui tho houses, the Germans continued q mar
derous Gre on the French soldiers. The latter,
AFTER vainly endeavoring to burst IN the barrl-
cadcd doors, fetched from the 0ushousos iagota
and straw, which they piled up against tho OBJ
staoes that opposed their progress. Once lro
was applied the names spread rapidly. All that