The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-09-07
Doasrs VI Aug 1, 1876

Editor Jywa1
| have recently enjoyed a day Of
picture gazing, ana wish 10 say to my
vermoot brothers ard sisters who 60
10 the Centennial that they must stop
ia New York and spend two OF three
hours IN looking at the collection Of
piciares now open at the Academy Of
Design. corner o. Twenty third Street
,nd Fourth Avenue
They have been loaned by New
York gentlemen ior the entertainment
of guests from abroad and are ac.
knowledged by many to be snor
collection than is Afforded by the Art
Exhibition at Philadelphia
Attentive walters near the entrance
viii guard carefully your believe bag
and travellers regalid while you mount
the broad stairs and find yourself in
he company Of well.bred men aud
women who will not notice you, and
whom You viii not notice, so intent
are each and ali on the beautiful works
of art around them.
The four rooms Of the Academy are
oiled, as well as the corridor Notice.
lble among the pictures in the latter
tpartment is a portrait Of Benjamin
franklin, painted in 1885 hale old
gentleman. looking as il he felt real
clad that he bad signed the Declaration
of Independence.
The historical pieces are few. There
is an attractive one called Calico
before the Council The cardinal in
scarlet robes and a retinue of simple
ooking men and women in gorgeous
array surround the grand old man,
himself clad ia simple brown, his only
5oloriug crown Of silver hair, but
with "a face so expressive that it at
5nce rivets and holds the attention
Among noted works is one ty Ge-
rome called "lhe Crucifxion. = dis.
nal landscape it is Jerusalem in the
distance scarcely visible under the
dnnatnrally oark aud threatening sky
The crosses are not seen, but shadows
from them cast weird reflection on
the rocky foreground not yet over
cIoudcd, and winding down from the
mountain il the middle distance, horse
men aud soldiers, part Of them looking
back apparently with jeering taunt aud
gesture IL is picture to add new
significance to the simple words There
WIS darkness over all the land till the
Iinth hour
Eastman johnson has picture that
will take homesick farmer right back
10 his well filed barn where tho chill
dfen are hunting hens eggs Intent
on discovery they wi not look up
even TO see their lather.
] suppose he ranks high among the
artists. At all events he has several
pleasing pictures in the exhibition hat
tell their own story, and a very sweet,
simple story il is, that il does not take
an art critic to read or enjoy,
life size portrait of Booth in the
character Of Iago, the doorway behind
furnishing dark back ground, is a
very effective picture
Another OF Gerome's works, life size,
conspicnously hung, is called "The
Last Token. /, represents a woman
in the Arena about to be devoured by
wild beasts, a mittyr to her Christian
faith The beasts are just TO spring
upon her as a iull blown rose, thrown
by some friend from above, fails in
pieces at her feet, aud her haggard
face is uplurued 10 acknowledge the
offering picture 70 make ones
blood ran cold al thought OF early
prosecutions. aud ia turn the heart
may beat fast aud high IN sympathy
with a wonan's heroic self devotion.
lhere are LeautIinI landscapes by
Clifford, Kensett, Mhittredge. Church
and others
Church il represented by variety
Of SUBJECTS a lady near me directed
my attention to one. said Church,
isn't n "uh, no, replied my honest
n measured tones. Ill is
sync rqia. - beg pardon, madam,
| meant Il was painted by Church, was (
it not z. Moral lite longest way
4roIud is the sufest way home.
There is large representation Of
works by iJroign artists; several tiny
pictures BY tie famous Mersoanier,
valued II thousands Of dollars But
these subjects are FOR the counoisseur
u AT. and would be scarcely appreci. /
ated BY many o. a. dwelIers among the 1
alils who know note of farming than
se DO oi art aud are only jdst begun
ug ~ !eaan that tue picture 10 the
weather stained kitchen window frame !
: definitely FINER than The gill bound /
shromo 10 the parlor.
an lrt4.nalllt.. hrli.-r an ier.tnud y ]