New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-21
FEATURES OF THE FAIR.
DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS.
GREAT BRITAIN.

GREAT BRITAIN.
PROV STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSEl
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 16.-Our criticism upon
the conservative character OF the Art Department CI the
Exhibition taken as whole applies in full force TO the
British Section Perhaps 1t to apply 10 it more
strongly than does to OF the other sections for
the reason that we know and hear about what the
young men are doing therein country so near our
own and to whose people Of so near kn-than we
do about what the yourg people doing France and
Germany If, indeed in this latter country the young
men are doing anything original or distinctive.
II England found IL impossible to show MS Of the
work Of her younger sons should have been glad II
she could have sent us more adequate representation
of her earlier painters Certainly the Royal Academy
has loaned the Exhibition very fine Sir Joshua, but we
should have been more fully satisfied If could have
had along with this line portrait of himself of those
portraits OF in which he much exceed all his
contemporaries, GainsbOrOugh only excepted But let
be thankful for what we have We could hardly nave
expected more. England, nation, could hardly have
felt justified in exposing greater treasures than these 10
the pes of IN ocean voyage and with the exception OF
the GansbOrough and the Turner 1t may perhaps be al
lowed that the pictures of other deceased artists that are
here do adequately represent them. Only, what we
want Is pictures by artists other than these Hogarh
Reynolds GansborOugh, ROmney, Mulready, Whkle,
StOthard, Leslie, Blake, and David scott, among
the men OF past generation; leighton,
Dante G. ROssetti, Whistler Mais, sandys, Frederick
Walker j. c. Hook George Mason W. Davis e. DAVIS OF
LiyerpOolO Solomon SOlomons, Ford MADDOX Brown,
Burnc Jones, william Hunt-among those still living, OF
only recently departed; how few out of this list OF
splendid names are fifty represented here How many
arc not represented at ALI or Hogarth, 1607-l764,
there is, OF course, nothing; his pictures are 50 few III
number and highly priced, that IL was hardly to
be expected their would lave consented 10 ex-
pose them to extraordinary risks. No other Engush
artist, far informed has suffered so much
from fire as Hogarh Four out OF the six pictures that
made the series, The Harlot's Progress, were de-
stroyed by fire at FOuthill in 1853, the southwark
Fair" was greatly injured by fire I'm 1907 and IN 1874
OF his best pictures, the StrOng Actresses IN
Barn." was also burned up. Worlds Faifs,
however exceptionally well managed, are plainly
not places TO which to send pictures Tor
which fire seems to have an affinity SIM. We
should have been glad II only ilrstrate iIoenrih
could have been here, since even one would have
done something to modify the too general opinion that
IIogarh l. only inventor Of moraites, fierce carl
caturis and that artist his genius found illl oX-
preston in the black and white Of engraving Homrth
was indeed, great inventor but he was also great
painter, and painter, II j. now conceded that he has
a right to be named along with Reynolds ana Gains
borough.
The portrait Of Reynolds 1723-l702, by himself, en-
toys an easy mastery over all the other pictures in the
English collection. Whoever, turning his back upon the
shows OF Faed and Maclse will give whatever time
lac has to spare 10 this noble painting viii leave It's pres
encc some steps nearer the comprehension aud enjoy
ent OF the greatest mastcrsof Titan, Of Tntoretto OF
Ycasqucz But, great it Is all Of Reynolds is not in
H. and he cannot be judged by us until we have seen
some OF his portraits OF women and children.
The portrait Of the Duchess Of Richmond by Gains
borough l727-l7sS Is not hrstrate example OF the
artist and It Is great disappointment that we could not
have seen one his pictures IN which the beauty OF his
suI oct launonizes with the beauty OF his painting
Gainsborough and Reynolds the two greatest paint
crs England has produced and which OF these was the
greater will perhaps never be settled TO the Satisfaction
Of everybody Gainsborough has this distinction, that
besides being master in portrait painting, he was also
great IN landscape paugSir Joshua called him once
the greatest landscape painter OF his tme-and he is
indeed the creator OF the modern school We wish then
that AS we could not De allowed Of his finest por
traits we might have had Of his principal land
scapcs.
or Fuscli. l7il-Is2j, we have only one specimen
Thor Battcr!ng the Serpent Msgard," not subject
which brings out the pecuartes OF this most eNcep
tona artstone OF the fcw instances in which we see
man who n his own day exercised real influence both
deep and wide spread aud who later must be confessed
utterly dead and forgotten lie has been most urJ-ty
casrd with Blake although between them the rcsem-
bancc too superficial deceive any one who Will give
himself the trouble To think at all about the matter
Blake had invention eaucstuess grace ana THESE were
all brought to the service OK high maginaon-he was
indeed. Of Imagination all compact FuSeli had dis
ca,cd love OF horrors of what he thought horrors and
his idea Of tragedy II we may Judge from bis pictures,
was that II is something which makes people jump Ike
hand put out from under bed or face looking IN at
the window In pOky night His pictures are mon
strous sort Of practical joke lie was all sound ana fury
sigufying-nothing
There is an excellent specimen Of NorthcOte, l7l6-
Al. hmm in a hnl
above the picture Of the Marriage Of the Prince OF Wales
II owes its place probably 10 it, subject, which Is the
Marriage Of Richard Dusc OF York second son of I'd
ward w. with Anne, daughter OF the Duke OF NoTioh,
May -. 147s." II being thought proper, Doubtless 10
keep the two historical pictures together II an odd
coincidence that Northcotcs picture should be badly
hung. seeing that he always complaining OF how
badly ne was treated IN this respect by the Royal Acad-
envy Leslie records that Northcote once said to Phil
linz have scarcely had picture well hung. |
wish had never belonged to you" Phillips said, laugh
ipg We can turn you out" The sooner you do SO the
better" said NOrthcotc. "Ouly think of the men you
have turned you turned out Sir Joshua you turned
ont Barry and You turned out West and Sa be very
clad 10 make "A fourth in such company IL Is really
too bad that the pleasing picture which
shows the artists skill to great advantage should be
hung 30 out of sight Allan Cunningham in his Life OF
Northcotc-our Of the entertaining OF the we'll
luovn Lives British Painters, scuptors and ArcLi-
tect, speaks OF this picture as suffering by comparison
with some of the artists earlier attempts at historical
uniuting But 10 not essentially inferior TO
L ocrs thar belong to the series The Murder OF
l Princes in th Tower and The Burial of the Princes
The former Of tuese engraved Boydes shakespeare
Northcotc l. one OF those who are better known by
what they do outside OF their profession than by what
they do in it, We ilnd Inn very entertaining as critic,
As takcg even as a writer, and in Cunninghnms Life
become much Interested in him. Ii ~ only when we sec
li. picturcs that cease to care much about him.
Norhcotc's rival John Opc, 176l-ls07, The Cornish
Wardcr" rs Doctor WOlcot e. Peter Pindar } called
him when hc wished TO make his roteees fortune Is mere