New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-29

adeauate in conception and the most comlne'o
in execution. and "a there Ia no use blinking
the fart that Alston believed in his own ability to treat
such subjects well to have the power TO test tna
ability The Portrait is n work that, with artists no
less than with the general public must give strong l
presson of the painters real command over the genuine
element Of his art lie most certainly could paint ana nc
most certainly could make picture five did not know
from his other worksf might never have suspected
If from tho "spaatro"-we should know it beyond the
nossibity Of question from this youthful masterpiece
THE "Tar1uin and Lucretla," by W. Won Miers, Is
miracle of initiative Skill and viii serve the useiul pur
nose ~ giving people who think imitation the object OF
painting a supreme standard by which 10 judge the
swarm OF artists chiefly French who are wasting their
time and in showing us how near the shadow may
mo brought 70 rhe substance W. Mieris was the son
of painter much more distinguished, and he himself
had son who made himself very comfortable by sellihg
the comics he made Of the works OF MS iather auu
grandfather The works Of the grandfather Franz are
Teckoned among the choicest products Of the Dutch
school, and bring prices that answer TO this high repue
The present picture by William Mies is one OF his
capital works, and Will well repay n careful study
Hasenclever's Illustrations Of the Jobsade," three
mixtures out OF a series illustrating German poem
which describes the Of student bring back the
DAYS that are no MORE" when the Dusseldorf Gallery
was the artistic godsend of the period and the one chief
arcenter OF city. 1t was indeed most enjoyable
collection and gave great impetus to our education in
such matters Another picture in this exhibition, D.
Hackers "The Reapers Return Home" No 70, was Que
Of the most popular pictures ever exhibited III TINS
COUNTRY this fact those who see again in the ght
of to-day may serve measure OF The progress
,ro bave made Hasencleycr's "Jobsiade" will
hardly make the new generation laugh as Is made
the old one laugh but there humor IN the WORK ior all
that if we are willing 20 take IL as 1t 49, ana not nssI
upon an immodcrate demand. German hunof Is very
delicate product; II you smell TOO hard at the mower the
perfume in most cases disappears We fancy Beekers
an -t,,,1 M. lrpf
whrs Of time better than Iasencleyers rather Doer
Gus fun.
Charles Iouis Mulcr's Roll Call OF the Last Victims
OF the Reign Terror IS picture whose absorbing IN
erest general public never to come TO an
end IL deserves this longcontnued esteem for the
simplicity with which 1t deals with the subject and Tor
the absence, almost complete, OF sentimentalsm ana
sensatonasm We, for part see no good end TO DC
attained by the choice Of such subjects lhey
ought to be rcpulsiyc, and they show either morbid
mind in the artist, what Is worse nercenafy deSe
10 play upon the morbid love o. horror that s always
latent in the public. But in this particular case the
artist has te5tcd the subject If he honestly thought
some good WIS to be done ny painting it, and conse-
ouenty he has got out Of IL all the good that was posi-
bic His composition Il well managed; the separate
groups while they are naturally isolated are yet all
made with gfeat carry the main story ana the
frrocity OF the dreadful Is sUbdued and soul Of
consolation put into its cruelty by the calm face OF the
die OF the picture
The Voyage OF Life" By Thomas Cole, the original
series consisting Of four pictures, Childhood YOUTH
Manhood" and cold Age" ia another work that years
ago would have made chief attraction 81 am gallery IN
this country nor Is Il likely that IL has lost all It's power
to please with generation that has enjoyed suc
opportunitics as our own. Whatever may be said
of Coles actual accomplishment, II cannot be De
med that he was one OF tie clc1reSt minded
OF men iu his own way OF looking at his art ana
most energetic and steady in the pursuit OF
his own distinct ideal H. looked upon AIT ~ means OF
moral teaching and this might not have stood III the way
OF his painting very good pictures II he, like Nston HAD
moi INSISTED on taking subjects that absolutely refuse 20
Dc painted and that bottled by even the greatest
minds who attempt them. To paint abnormal SUBJECTS
requires abnormal mind and that ., the reason why
Blake succeeded iu DONG what no othw aiLsl ever
came within n thousand miles Of doing 50 well
But neither Alston Colo had anything diiorderiy
or abnormal OF even extraordinary In his mental
constitution. Yet Cole. n he had not thought II
necessary 10 have imagination and 90 be- great moral
teacher might have been landscape painter whose PIC
lures would have gained ia reputation win Ihe instead
OF wearing out steadily. The voyage of Lie' was
very pretty conception and II IL had been carried ont on
one canvas or IN les, prcteutous way than the one
adopted something pretty might have been he result
We can imagine an carly Italian painter, or Blaze or
Stothir,l, o. some one 10 the modern Ingli,hmcn,
making charming thing OF Il. bat 10 cannot hold To-
eether when spread over much can'a Besides
n the truth must be told there ia much that is vulgar 10
the management Of the different scenes, aud wle the
fatal word theatrical must be- written over the whole The
tpeau Of the where the Celestial city presents itself
a. sort OF compound %! frosted Weddus-caae aud the
Capitol Washington produces very uncomfortable iee
ugs st 20 10 good that these early pictures are Drought
back To- our notice from time 90 time. How could make
ans intelligent progress 70 dd NOT have frequent on
portuulte, for comparing what think and perceive
to-day with the thoughts and perception OF yc"rs that are