The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-21
BRITISH ART.

| 6fNl 1911 Ana
| CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY Ex-
nIBIrIoN-rHE GEMs OF THE COLLECTION.
From the London Tiuneal
Labor ct Ingenum" has now become the standing
motto OF the Academy catalogue. II this year we do
not Iuu moro than usual OF the slngenium' the re-
suits of tho Labor" agreeabiy apparen; IN the
large proportion caned by the pictures Of young and
comparatively unknown In the most noticeable
and attractive work OF the Exhibition. This we take
be large the result or the well directed
labor OF recent years The influences OF better teach
ing.-more thorough study moro Intelligent appre-
citation OF artistic aims and objects. and better guild
OF artistic taste Is apparent-that Is, within the
| limits and conditions OF the Exhibition There is
still tho same absence OF the nober style OF deco
ravc painting and even OF history largely
ceved and gravey treated which may be explained
without reproach to the painters by the all but entire
absence Of any field or demand for painting OF this
| kind Such historic We have IS Of the minor
kind, dealing with the anecdotic and picturesque in
the past and choosing subjects they happen to give
opportunity for piquant point or effective costume
The only forms which our painters takc note Of
contemporary persons events are portraiture do
nestle life In its affections humor pathos sport
Ing pieces and scenes OF manners a. home or abroad
which after serving the illustrated papers become
part OF the stock In trade Of the painters who have
owed their first opportunities and often the best part
oil their artistic education, TO those papers All who
know painters, as class ara aware OF the largo
and increasing number Of the most successful among
them brought by tho illustrated papers and perl
odicas Landscape, home and foreign comes largely
in aid Of these sources Of subjects Tho faco OF ma
ture, oil events, Ia much and the whole, well
painted now in comparison with other times
PICTURES
In room Mr.. Eyre Crowe's sSanctuary" shows us
fair haired woman In rcd, ciaspng III terror inc
tuary stool OF church, while behind the rails, winch
shuts on the sanctuary, gcstcuates crowd OF balcd
pursuer Tho defect OF the picture picorally the
wdo empty space between the woman and her
suers more serious detect il the difficulty the
spectator feels OF conjecturng tho offence OF
young ana seemingly so innocent Tho painter may
have meant to set US this problem. But 1t is a
bold tnisg TO do, for the chances TO that
tho impatiencc OF such puzzles stronger their
interest There Is no puzzle In Mr. Fraak Dcksee's
''Harmony." The painter Is q recent academy medal
list, ana his masters may we'll be proud and pleased at
this proof Of the soundDsss OF their selection. In
antique chamber lighted by painted window of
sllvery rather than gorgeous splendor, luminous
gray predominang In the glass, ana leaving the SUI
premacy OF coor 70 the human actors tho scene,
sils bright haired maiden, robe OF golden brown
brocade at the organ the sunlight through the painted
window cncircling her fair hcud with aureoic,
while hor young lover leaning on tho organ in rapt
alteration, ioeds eyes and ears AZ once. Hcro is, In
dery icIt ana las.eiuly expressed BY tho painter.
From harmony we pass to dscord from the cathedral
organ room WIN us par o! young Levers 70 Inc Com
lament oil the Petition OF Right and tho First Remon
sranccs. with It's crowd oil old cnemies lis hot Church
KING cavaliers anu It's sturdy, self asserivc Puri
high Consttutionasts ~ that most critical Of lis
many crsos whcn on tho spsaker refusing 20 put The
question OF the reading OF Sir john ElioL's remon-
STRANGE and declaring he would l~ave the char by the
Kings orders If any offered 10 speak after delivery of
royal message Hollis ana Vale hold the Speaker
down in his cnair Dy the arms, backed BY coryton,
Hayman stroud Sciden and Hobart till the doors
should bring Innovations in religion, or sock TO
bring IN Popcry Armnianisn, or should advise tho
mcnI. or should pay the same, should be accounted
4 enemies the Kingdom" Here tl0) Mr.. A. e. Cow
has indeed chosen q critical moment in English his
tory, when the Parliament nrst broke decsvcly with
the King during the scene represented, Charles hun
self was in the House OF Lords whence alter yainly
despatched the Captain Of thc Guard to break the
door Of the Commons house Al the moment OF their
adjournment. 1t Tor this OF determined resist
ance TO the royal mandates that Eliot and his leading
associates were committed 10 the Tower, where he
died three years later. aor refusing the subns
sion by which the others had purchased Their liberty
Cromwell should be recognizable in the crowd,
though We DO not hear OF HIM IN tho group round tho
Speakers chair. Mr. Cow has certainly not exagser-
ated the personal dignity or comelincss oil tho Com.
nous champions the good looks OF the N. 7. s oil
Charles third Parliament generally But theie Is
laudable absence OF theatrical strain OF
any kind about the picture II II shows none OF the
vvidness or effect vitality OF expression that
sisDIy attention those who know The historic
OF the incident with lind matter interest
them in the picture That Is more than We can prom
lee them IN Mr. Politics. "Huntcd Down" (2S) y big,
hall naked and wholly savage hgnandman, iixo wolf
Ut bay breath against rocky wall OF
the Ia which he has sought refuge from The pur
suers, whom he awaits, claymore in hand. Mr. Petite
Is here as always effective. But the canvas Is TOO
big Tor tho subject which would have been quite as
telling and ess obtrusive ON smaller scale.
A TOUCHING sUHscT.
II ia not easy read Marcus stones "Sacr-
fcc' or But presume that tho OLD couple who
mother oil the iar tall girl, who holds IN her hand
burning letter, her cad face still swollen with recent
weeping. The color Is tender aud pleasing, tue scnt
me Mt unobtrusvcy, yet iecingiy, conveyed. Ali wo
lind suggest question Is the choice oil tho costume
now so much Affected by the younger painters WHO Sc
lect the architecture OF Queen Anne Tor thcr houses
and her style IN Their arniturs and decoration MT
his seated "seracaLt Major o.! toe Ycomen OF the
Guard' On The character Of age IN tho texture
effect tho eyes, and the conflict oil years and disci-
pine IN pose Of tho head And Carnage OF the body,
ana the painting oi the Dress and the power OF the
ensemble stamp tho work ~ worthy ot the artist.
.Bcceacrs" too, like cardinals are historical monu-
ma rt,cuiarly IN such a consum mate example Ser
rcant Major MousaaueY J. w. Cakes has found a
pure breezy spacious subject In the border countries
whcrc Chcvot ridges swell 10 meet the sky" and has
aitiucIy clothed his swell and sweep 0f green hill
with the mantle 0i gray cloud they SO olten wear In
TINT solt; region Of ihe island. W. G. Horslcy lately
employed abroad for one Of the illustrated papers,
s Sravsr on board Turkish iron- Nothing can
be truer than The deepiignsd shadows OF the tween
decks coItras,od WIN the glimpse Of SEA AMI shore
through me port, the figures kneone or pros
tratpx themselves IN inc direction oil Mecca each
on MS little prayer carpet The workmanship OF the
picture ~ solid texture rs u Is strung in color, aud
Warrants hgh expectations iron, tho young painter
son Of the acadcmclap. who has other pictures here
one OF hunting trying TO lug out his horse stuck
fast in Dcvonshre boz. which shows humor as we'll
as the power paint We have seen Erskne Nicoi's
persstent Irish tenant and his legal adviser (b be-
lore there is character and humor enough IN both
| TO mako us glad 70 SEQ them again In 'Ihc oid
bcuux ana nvads, pretty and tho reverse, Mr. Storey
has found u capital subject and skciched what WILL
| no doubt be an effective picture when he has mad