The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-20
MR.. JOHNSTON,S PICTUR Els.
The Second Insfa iImcnt to be sold at CHECKER
inv Hall To- Might.

ing Hall Tonight.
To-night's sale of Mr.. John Taylor John
ston's collection will include ninety. seven pic
lures and three pieces OF statuary. II would be
idle to compare the respective values OF the
paintings disposed Of last night with those TO be
sold this evening. Some admirable works OF
art were brought under the hammer yesterday,
and some quite as 1ne Will be knocked down to
the highest bidder to-day The great features
OF this evenings sale ought, however, to be the
statuary. There are only three marble pieces to
be sold; but two OF them at least are most re-
markable works. Vincenzo Vela's Last DAYS
OF Napoleon" is an admirable piece OF sculp-
ture. 1t Is llfe-sized statue OF the Emperor,
sitting In an arm chair, In bis night shirt, his
knees covered with rug and his Weakening
hand holding a map Of Europe The severest
critic can ind little to reproach In this superb
piece Of work. Tho marble speaks and breathes
In every fold OF the shirt and rug, as 1t does 10
every feature Of the noble face.
W. W. Story's Cleopatra" may Ind more ad-
mirers among the American public, but 1t IL, In
the writer's opinion, an Inferior work. Her
pepium 10 far from being as lfelike as Napole-
on's shirts the calf OF one OF her crossed legs
suggests the idea Of Its being much thinner
than the other, and the necklace she wears
certainly looks more modern than II ought TO
be. The expression Of tho face, however, per-
fectly conforms with the idea which we have OF
Cleopatra, though perhaps 1t Is shade too cold.
III these two works Of art do not bring all the
money that was paid for them, and all that they
are worth, 1t will be because there are few pri-
waite houses capable OF giving room to statues Of
this size.
Among the pictures to be sold tonight there
are some which have an almost Irresistible
#. A. nf I'm
has a" Cairo Donkey Boy" In looking at which
one does not know for whom to feel more SYM
patty. tho master tho boast. Julien de
Vriendt Of Antwerp contributes kind OF pre-
Raphaeltic picture, The Story OF a Battle"
The name OF the artist Is but little known
either hero or abroad. The picture, neverthe-
less, must have great merit In the eyes OF those
who appreciate this style of painting. Tama-
coIs's, THE Two Confessors," always drew
crowds around II when IL was exhibited last
summer. He has never been more successful
In his sarcastic reproductions Of Catholic priests.
Decamp's Turkish Patrol" is a good piece Of
work, though somewhat defective in perspec-
tive and In light and shade. Those who are
fond Of Troyon's landscapes and cattle have a
1ne specimen in his Autumn Morning." cata-
iogued as No. No. GIstave Brion's " brittany
Peasants at Prayer Ia one Of the warmest pic
lures OF the collection, and had 1t not been for
some what too pale colorina, would probably
rank as one Of the finest. Ayoune Italian pupil
Of Fortuny, SImonctti by name, makes bright
promises In his picture representing the procla-
nation Of the French Republic In front Of the
Pantheon.
Bouguereau, In his "On the Way to the
Bath" appears In quite novel light. Instead
OF his invarable matronly-looklng peasant
woman, he gives us here a charming girl carry
ms her little rascal OF brother In her arms.
Corots " Path Through the Wood" is the best
landscape In the collection after Diaz's Forest
Of Fontainebleau," which was disposed Of last
night. Madrazo's picture Of a gaIdily- dressed
Spaniard playing a guitar In a cafe, 10 as fine
piece Of painting as this artist is wont to pro-
duce, but 1t has not the Interest OF the" Church
Of santa Maria," sold YESTERDAY. Sir Joshua
Reynolds Theopnila Palmer" is a portrait Of
his favorite niece, and her face Is familiar, for
she sat for many Of SIR Joshua's pictures. Meis-
soniers Marshal SAKE aud stan Is not prefer
able to the " Soldiers at Cards" which was sold
yesterday. but II shows most strikingly the
great ability for coloring which has always dis
tinguished that artist. The uniform OF the
Marshal is OF a red which no other painter
could produce.
OF Geromes death Of Caesar" u schreyer's
" Retreating Arabs" and OF Lelolrs rempta-
ton Of st. Anthony," THE Sun has already
given an account. to which there is nothing
TO be added on this occasion.