The Portland daily press., 1877-03-15
Art and Artists.

galleries At the former is ''marvelous" paint
ing by Frank Duveneck, whose heads, exhibit
ed at the art clubs rooms, two years ago. met
with such admiration for their bold and graphic
power. The Transcript says it represents
some spolt child of the harem, dusky little
despot of a dozen years or so, lying in corner
of a tessellated floor, fenced in with oriental
shawls or rugs. He is naked to the waist, and
his meager flesh, with It's wrinkled and yellow
ing skin, the weak fall of his head upon Lis
thin shoulder, and his emaciated arms, suggest
that the baby princeton his wraps of velvet
and gorgeOusly towered silk betosen high BIRTH
and he is listlessly tantalizing cockatoo, which
struggles to free its claws from his pinch--is
the victim of some long ailment." But the Ad-
veItser says the boy is feeding the eockatoo
with fruit, and, moreover, is not an oriental at
all, aud half believes the artists intention ia to
represent the tragedy of models life with
lap full of Injuries he can't touch. This
critic, while allowing that the whole work is
wonderfully painted, complains that it gives no
evidence that Duveneck is anything but ''a
genius of the Senses" and calls it "stammer.
ing babble OF meaningless color" The paint
ing at Brainard's is II. H. Moore's 'Almeh,
Dream of the Alhambra,' work which wes al
first rejected by the Centennial art committee
as indecent, but, after some weeks exhibition
at the Philadelphia Academy, was finally given
place of honor in Memorial hall, and received
medal. 1t represents a woman of superbly
voluptuous beauty, very slightly draped, dane
ing before Moor, who reclines on dais of
skins, and whose face expresses tigery sensu-
ality; the scene being the "hall of the two sis
ters' in the Alhambra palace. In its way it is
probably the most remarkable painting ever
done by an American artist. The flesh paint
ing is emnently sklllful, and the handling of
form as mastery as it is audacious. Besides
these two American works, there is large and
good collection of European art at Leonard's,
on Beacon street, owned by Mr.. Highwood
Munich artist; it includes works of Verboeak
hoven, Adenbach and other Dusseldorfers, a
Rubens, and number of pictures by young
German artists.
Verdi, the composer of operas, has no doubt
gone through many interesting experiences in
life, but it may be doubted if he has ever had
one more satisfactory than that on the occasion
of the performance of his Requiem at the Royal
Albert Hall. This was not, indeed the first
occasion of the performance of the beautiful
work composed for the funeral of his great
countryman, Manzoni. Two years ago it was
performed, Verdi himself being the conductor;
but it takes some little time for new piece,
especially one of such Importance to become
known, Since then it has attracted the atten-
ton of royalty, and on the present occasion the
prince and princess of Wales were present with
their suite. Verdi did not conduct, but sat
aside and gave himself up with abandon to en-
loyment OF the scene before him; for it is a
scene when ten thousand ladies and gentlemen
in full evening dress, lustrous with color and
sparkling With diamonds, meet together in the
finest hall of Europe. OF all that throng rising
from parqoette to dome IN living terraces, and
stretching beyond the fifty arches at the top,
making sort of frieze of human tableaux
w q IA nrlIu r,ar or in rl.oh
ing costume. He had Cd a PLAIN frock coat
and black cravat, and to all but few was
inc0gnito. He is of dark Italian complexion
OF medium height, about fifty years of age. his
face thin and somewhat furrowed, his black
gray hair bushy and plentiful, his moustache
and beard the same-a very marked personage.
Once or twice be tried to pay attention to the
music, but was not very successful; his gdgeti-
ness and delight in the general scene almost
prevented US who sat near him from losing oul-
selves in his exquisite harmonies. His lorg-
oette was perpetually on the range around the
splendid auditorium, and when the great bursts
of applause came. he seemed fairly bewldered
with delight This Requiem, has certainly
raisei the author of "rrovatore'' immensely in
the homage of his musical contemporaries
He had not been supposed at all capabl- of the
religious ferVor of the "Offertorium'' or the
exalted passlonateness of it's Angus Del" At
one point of the music the half chorus sends
IoIth It's plalntive prayer, and the response OF
iOuoiO NOiCCo COmCo ltUul sAldT dS III IL were UQb
reply from the heavenly host, the male chorus
then oreaking In most effectively with mas
sive harmony which resounds through the
building, and seems to fill all space.-M d.
C0nooay.
Says the Tribune in an article on cart Stu
dents in New York. "The number of per-
sons engaged in studying pure art in New York
at the Academy, a. the League, at Cooper Un-
ion, and in private studios, is estimated at
about 800. 1t is stated by many artists that
while the opportunities which New York offers
to art students do not compare in number or
extent with those of the Old World, yet it is a
false notion that impels so many young artists
to strain every nerve to go to Europe in the
early stages of their careers, upon the supposi-
tion that no real progress can be made in Amer
lea. Decided opinion is not wanting that for
many reasons America has even now superla-
tive advantages. The artist William Page
says, If we were only allowed to bring the
Academy up to the right standard-if it could
only regain its old position, which it might cas-
lily dot could not be doubted that an Ameri-
can could study to better advantage in New
York than in any place in the world. The be-
ginner for long time Could ask for no better
advantage than the Academy would offer, for
no abler instructor than Wilmarth can be found
anywhere. If the student studies long and dill
igently from nature here, he will later go to
Rome, Paris, Munich, or to any of the art cities
of the Old World, so educated and cultured
chat he can almost Immediately grasp the fin
est points of the treasures there. But if he
leaves home too young, or too early in the
course of his studies and becomes familiar and
satiated with the galleries of the Old World
before he can rightly appreciate them, be may
never arrive at such a fine understanding of
their almost imperceptible beauties. Famili-
arity will have dulled his faculties And there
is still another consideration which should not
be overlooked. While the young artist is
studying his character is forming, aud it would
be much wiser for him and better for the coun-
try If he would remain at home uutil he is a
thorough American. well grounded in national
habits and principles, than to spend his early
years abroad to become imbued with undesira-
BILE foreign ideas which it would take years to
Eradicate"