Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-09-02
EIPOSITIOE YOrES.
Correspondence of The Evening Star.]

dead or living. Secondly, 1t Is the best single
collection In the whole htbition. That Is,
the artistic grade is the highest, and its
money value is also the greatest In proper.
tion to numbers. Then, again, IL is thor
oughly representative In cb aracter and STYLE
giving to the intelligent observer fair and
correct idea of the development and advance
OF art in England almost from It's first be.
ginDtngs to the present time. Tais cannot
be trutnidlly said OF the exhibit of any
other foreign country, except, possibly, that
OF one or two OF the South American repub-
lies. To bring about this important and in
teresttng result there was needed aud happily
secured hearty corporation between the
British government itself, the Royal Acad-
envy, private owners of choice pictures, and
the leading artists, both In their Individual
and associated capacity; so that the collec-
ton contains not only examples OF the work
of Epgland's greatest artists. but likewise
what are cons, dered some or their very best
Efforts, alike IN oil and water colors. 10
short, our mother country has not only paid
as very high compliment, but also done
hersei great credit In the character aud
ton. And these distinctive features are all
The more apparent aud striking when the
English collection is compared with those
OF other countries, the most of which are
nc ade up apparently without any INTELLIGENT
purpose in view, frequently without contri-
buttons from their leading artists, and often
with only Indifferent examples of those who
are represented. AS many as twenty-five or
thirty OF the best English pictures exhibited
here are already pleasantly familiar to
Americans through the media OF nne steel
plate epgravings. A visit to the rooms
where they are hung Is therefore much like
q call upon old friends, whose appearance
and expression, heretofore only seen by dim
twilight, are vastly Improved on closer ac
quaintance with their features aud color
under the clear light Of day. II were to open
wonder why more attractive specimens OF
the bandiwork OF Gainsborough and Turler
had not been sent over. Certainly it can
hardly be expected that the great reputation
which these two artists enjoy ia England
can be sustained in this country on the
single picture which bears the honOred name
OF each In this exhibition. But l shall not
undertake either criticism or description.
l will only say that the collection is char
acterised throughout by great good taste In
choice OF subjects and rare success in repre-
senting or Interpreting them, remarkable
purity and freshness OF color, excellence in
handling, and marked elevation In tone and
sentiment The pictures are, In brief, both
In theme and treatment, strikinEly typical
or the best traits Of British character; and /
earnestly counsel all intending visitors to
give them as much time and stu iy As posi-
Die. The more / see of them the more en-.
tertain the wish that the purchaser OF
French paintings for the Corcor An gallery
might be induced TO take short vacation,
and thus open way for the transfer OF some
x.
Several OF the best are for sale, a. prices not
higher than have oeen paid for some pictures
now there not their equal In merit, and the
trustees OF that noble Institution would at
once crafty the better taste of the public
and enrich their own collection should they
see TO 1t that at least q nalf-dozsu OF them
are added TO its treasures.
&**
To visitors from q distance one of the m lst
useful and convenient features OF the expo
nd ho
ally utilized If its character was fully under
stood, is the Newspaper Pavilion, erected
and kept open for puolic accom- n liatioa by
Messrs. George p. Rowell & Co, the well
known advertising agents. In tails spacious
and we'll lighted building writing tables
with every appliance aud convenience are
provided for the free use OF newspaper psopls
and correspondents, and to suc1 OF the n a
have real work to do other facilities are a.
forded TO enable them to do It understand
lngly and with comfort. Not only this, but
nles OF All the leading Journals IA the coun-
room for public use, aud L believe every
newspaper published In the United States
and British provinces Is received aud kept
where 1t can be found in q moments time
TO these the general public as well rs the
craft have free and welcome access at an
times; thus visitors from every part of
from their own neighborhood and thus kee D
advised OF the general happepp
fngs therein, and In more satisfactory and
Medium Of sS letter tSs c% homie sSs
when one remembers how anxiously the
home paper Is always looked for by trav-
eiers, and how careless the postal people
cry OF transient newspapers, the value of
lois peculiarly American annex becomes
apparent to all CLASSES OF visitors.
**#
Tn n a cononorot,,,aIr -..or, a..
the most exasperating obstacles to an intel.
ligent study OF many attractive features of
the exhibition, and especially OF the picture
has been the incomplete and un-
reliable pamphlets sold to the unwary as
'onicial catalogues" This annoyance,
which was hardly less discreditable to the
managers than 1t was trying to visitors, con-
tinued for SO long q time as to give little
hope Of relief before the exhibition close ed.
however, q reform has been accom-
plished In this direction. A really new and
revised edition OF the Art Catalogue has
essential feature OF an alphabetical index of
exhibiting artists, seems to be botu full and
trustworthy. Similar inventories of several
other departments have also appeared, and
those OF all the others are understood to be
IN press, so that in a little time visitors who
have not already been ieeced will not have
much to complain OF on that score. 1t is
figured and swollen 10 unnecessary thick
ness BY having advertising sheets inter-
leaved between their pages; but they are
well arranged, fairly printed, OF good form,
and sold at q not extravagant price. II they
were supplied with complete indexes. as
suggested above, they would be entirely sat
tsfactory; and this much felt want ought 10
be supplied in any future editions that may
be printed.
&%&
In no feature OF the exposition does our
own country suffer 20 much by contrast as
In Q comparison Of her lay figures for the
display OF military and naval uniforms ana
arms In the Government Building with those
OF Sweden and Norway in the main build
ing. 1t is not an important matter, TO be
sure; but these figures are rather conspicu.
ous, and attract attention, Is well for their
historical interest ~ their snowy appear.
ance. Our failure here n therefore quite a.
noticeable and nearly - mortifying - II de
monstrated In department OF moro conse-
quence. Having made an effort In that
whoever undertook the task ought
TO have been able TO ct least approximate
success, whereas his work is little better
than melancholy caricature. On the other
hand, the figures sent here 70 illustrate do
nestle life In Norway and the military ard
naval arms Of service In Sweden do thar