, 1876-09-03

Special correspondence - 1"e A*tV""e'.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 23.-Nith the exception
q 3 book Of timetables, it is doubtful II there
b any explanatory work printed which people,
as rule. take to SO unkindly as catalogue OF
paintings. The official catalogue for the Art
Gallery and aunexcs ut the Centennial EXPOSE
ton is 10 exception to this statement, Tor, not
outstanding its admirable arrangement, IN
which each country represented has lis series o.
numbers, and under each number attacned 10
tie paintings reference is made to the page ii
tie pamphlet at which the series begins, yet
he hlundcrs that are constantly made are not
only ludicrous to an on-looker, but 1nFar1-
a.ly end in Tcxation OF spirit to inc
unfortunate who is using the book; anu
It certainly would be no exaggcrat1on TO
state that this wcll-oricred catalogue
is mathematical Thousand times daily BY
tlosc wlo, not recognizing their own stupidity
contend the fault lies in the book 1t was pro-
n6unccd an. imposition on an intelligent COM
nunity'' recently by an elderly couple, who,
while ailuirine No. ST in the United States col
lestton,-which is a portrait by Stuart OF James
Ryinctou,-scarrhed for the same number IN
tie Great Britain gallery, and read with IN
frisnel a1nazcment, 1.-THE Sick Monkey" ny
Lan1see7!
Yet there are very few who have devoted
much time to the galleries Of art abroad who
have not become weaTied in fuInbling the leapcs
Of catalogues, even though expertness may Hase
been acquired in these matters By constnnt
use Of Bradshaw whose tables are as lhso1s.
ed ns the little works on the Academia dclle
Belle Ani in Florenye-which mentions Ger
tain Scrptural painting as ID. c. in the ARMS
Of His Eternal Father''-is horrlfysrg.
1t seems such an easy matter to place coln-
p:eAcnsiye label on the frames OF pictures
a. I'm
and prevent the mistakes which everyone Is IA.
bic 10 make in ascribinS wrong titles TO 1ne
variuus paintings, that it seems stra1Fe ttae
manner Of labelling is not adopted gener2uy.
Many Of the En- ylish collections, ana notaoly
tic National Gallery in London, are Nnoses9ne l.e
exceptions to the Continental galleries. a plate
attached to each frame is not only 1nsc1loeo
with the subject Of the painting, but also pears
tue name Of the artist, together with the yea!I
Of his birth and decease- Under such conu-
tons one could almost be persuaded that u1ot-
to's bizarre creations, which Baedeker lnEaria-
biz desiAnates rs remarkable, and calls atten-
tim to by double asterisk, do marx Inc en-
Ganchiseine1lt Of Art from Byzantine uegTaua-
tion, while kranacll's anatomical nightmares
which he styles Ewes and Ncnuses, might ne r.
gafdsd with degree OF good nature a1 1eas''
THE ENGLISH EXHIBIT.
In the fine display of paintings sent by m.
gland to the Centennial this same pralscWortn,e
system Of ticketing the pictures has oecn W
served, and it is noteworthy that when "earl t;rst
t,shtseers enter this department 1n:s e1uh gn ri
tEeir catalogues under their arms Will slGu " "
islef, and with look Of qualification, i pen hs hs
refreshed the study OF What may T. W., ,,r 11e ~
Termed one q the fnest Departments mem ;s M there
Elnauonal Exposition. Not alone - a.,r sns,e +
g.eat variety Of subjects treatea, put te ni iaho
ol olamaster-hand, and the result ot tue cIeatEc q.
uo u genus, that one leels ilc1.sn -. ha.
puse me assertion that painting ~
sa asansren retIosresslon since 1 ono con.
asata, anu Lnat It Is no" iii4lheu =! v b;nhe
tu9Q u{ElcSS 6tylC and G nGGlcGG VI LIE A4s7A@4