The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-30

closely resembling tableau from sensational
drama or a dime novel. A horse thief IL on TRIAL
before a magistrate, presumably Judge Lynch,
In a room crowded with Misunderstanding fes-
lows, who have strong family likoneas to each
other The culprit should be the central obj ect
Of the picture, on which the chief interest CEN
tres but In realty he Is not and II requires
some study to determine where TO locate him.
The composition IL faulty, the sentiment over
strained, and the coloring repulsivei but there
are so many bits Of detail showing a NICE appre-
eta ion OF character and dramatic fitness, that II
Mr. Mulvany will for the present. content himself
with less ambitious subjects, and give more at
tentlon to design and coloTine, we are inclined
to think he may yot take rank az good painter
OF domestic genre. He has apparently started
with little preliminary study, and Will have to
unlearn much that he nov considers first rate in
style and handling.
Mr.. NJ. Il. Oakey's Woman Sewing" No. 81,
hung In a prominent position In the south
room, represents disagreeable style OF
painting very popular nowadays- 1t aims
to be effective, but Ia really crude In color,
staring and affected. Mr.. A. W. rhomp-
sons Annapolis" No. 4GT, representing mus
tering Of continental troops, In July, 17T0, VINO
are about TO Join the army under Washington
on Long Island, ia as good a specimen OF
historical painting as the exhibition contains.
1t is characterized by what may be called a
rather unfortunate facility OF composition, but
Is wanting In those grand qualities which rivet
the attention OF the beholder. The coloring Is
unmistakably bad. Mr.. j. u. Beard Is accounted
"A good painter OF animals. His Tired Out :"
and wide Awake" Nos. Az and tS In witch
| he has attempted to combine babies with ami
mails, are simply atrocious. why were such pic
lures allowed TO occupy a prominent place In
the exhibition7 The baby painting Is 40 bad
that one might suppose that Mr.. Beard had never
seen baby, much less painted one FROM the
| life. In bis bear picture, "There's a Good Time
| Coming" No. 3Ss, he occupies his peculiar
ground, and Is at once natural. quaint, and hui
| morous. MIR. wilmartn, from whom we are en-
titled to expect better things, contributes an
illustration OF "a vulgar'incldent occurring on a
target excursion, which he calls a " Practical
Joke on the Pioneer" No. lJ7. The subject Is
trivial aud absurd, and belongs exclusively TO
the domain Of caricature.
The place Of honor In the exhibition IL given
to one OF the Academy's Oldest members, will
liam Page. who, IN HE portrait OF President
Eliot, OF Harvard College. has produced a
work Of high excellence, dignined, sub
dued yet strong In color, AMI unusually
faithful a. "A likeness. We are glad to see
that Mr. Page has abandoned his excursions
into the realm of visionary portraiture, where
he embodied such unpleasant conceptions as his
recent likeness of Shakespeare, and returned "a
the portrayal Of living men. HuntinRton's ror-
traits are fully up 10 his STANDARD. That OF
Judge Mitchell, No. 3se, Is admirable, and his
" Portrait OF a Lady" NJ. 4l4. IL noticeable FOL
hne colorinr aud graceful pose. lie Clear has
also contributed some good portraits to the en-
hibition.