The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-02
CLASSIC AND MODERN SUBJECTS.
Tho American Artists Who Have Painted
Their Way Into Favor.
PRESIDENT MACMAHON'S VISIT.
A Longing Resort for the Fashionable
World of Paris.
AESTHETICS FOR THE MILLION

rBy CABLE TO THE HxRALD.1
PARIS May !, 1877.
The opening Of the Salon to-day was marked by
the usual concomltants OF eager curiosity on the
part OF the public and OF feverish anxiety on the
part OF the artists and their friends. There is no
annual event except, perhaps, that Of the Grand
Prx. which creates such iutter OF excitement
among the cultivated and fashionable residents,
both native and foreign, OF the French metropolis.
Among gentlemen the Salon is regarded as one
Of the most agreeable OF lounglng places; among
ladies as Of the most favorable for the display
OF their spring toilets. 1t has killed Long
champs, because the fair ha0itues OF that once
fashionable resort find protection for their nnery
there against the vfcssitudes Of the weather, and
because the men ind it place OF convenient
rendezvous and prolific Of amusement or the
crowds that daily frequent it perhaps not more
than fourth Of tho persons composing them are
animated by any real taste for art.
It Is amusing, after the Salon opens. to hear how
furnishes topics Of conversation to society people,
Even young girls make themselves acquainted with
the argon Of art in order to be enabled to impress
their admirers with the extent of their &C.
quirements. The Salon is therefore godsend to a
large class Of fashionable idlers as well as to the
nodfstes and coutur1eres, who look for its opening
a. the inauguration Of their summer harvest.
TO another and more select class 1t is an event
Offering great intellectual enjoyment. Here men Of
nigh culture and kindred tastes meet to note the
progress that has taken place during the past year
IN one Of the great refining influences OF life and to
compare their mutual Impressions.
THIS YEAR STANDING.
I wish could say that this years exhibition
showed as marked IN Improvement in the quality
OF the pictures as IN the quantity sent in. Such.
unfortunately. Ii not the case. The average OF
merit is perhaps as great as ever but of high class
productions the number Is very small The exhi-
billion is decidedly inferior to that OF last year.
There are few works OF genius This Is in n mea.
sure to be accounted for by the fact that artists OF
genius have become indifferent about exhibiting
their works at the Salon, and some positively de-
cline doing SO. This repugnance is, presume, to
great
centre Of wealth and refinement artists OF reputa-
ton cannot keep pace with the demand for their
works and do not care waste time In painting for
the public qualification.
THE WORK OF THE JURY.
The number Of pictures sent In this year largely
exceeded that OF any previous exhibition. The jury
passed judgment no less than 1923 oil paintings
and drawings, OF which little more than a third
were admitted. Out OF this latter number only 40
were cassedas No. l. and 100 as No. 2. TO the pub
lie is left the task Of classifying the remainder
TIE PICTURES
The following is brier review OF the works which
constitute the chief features Of the exhibition
BAUDRY, p. J. A., exhibits portrait OF General de
Palikao the hero Of Pekin and the chief mourner
and undertaken at the death OF the Second Empire.
The picture is vigorously treated and with all the
Importance BETTING the tysts celebrity Of its SUBJ
Iect.
Of France has two beautiful panels, part OF series
which he Is painting for the chateau ofAulnay, in
the envrons Of Paris The subjects are naturally
such afford full opportunity for the display OF
Judgment The scenes chiefly pastoral, and rival
those Of Vatican in their spirit and gracefuness.
1t Ii pity that this style Of decoration Is not
ployed more in the United States.
BERrIER, F. E., exhibits two fine portraits
OF MRS General Sckles, very beautiful woman,
and the other Of Nine. THUR, the Hungarian gen.
erals wife.
BERNE-BELLEcoUR exhibits another Of his spirited
episodes Of the Franco-Germ war. entitled "Com.
bat dams une TranchGe." Pictures by artists who,
like M. Belecour, have taken part in OF this
description will always be. regarded with interest
BoSNAT exhibits portrait OF that much abused
much lauded and much limned little Frcnchman
whom Bismarck once designated as "the tallest
and smallest OF European statesmen" NJ. THEIRS
There Is no public man, past or present, believe,
OF whom there exists so many authentic portraits
for It Is either OF the Weaknesses or one OF the
vanties, II you choose to call It, OF the ex-Prcsi
almost any painter OF note who chooses to solicit
the honor OF reproducing him on canvas NJ Bon.
mats portrait is. I need scarcely say, powerfully
painted, but to my mind 1t falls to convey those
traits Of nncsse which, to those acquainted with NJ.
Theirs. must always constitute thc strong points OF
resemblance In his features like Healy's portrait
OF him better because IL gives, 1t we're, moro OF
che spirit Of the original.
BorGuEREAU W. A., is reprcse nj ed by two beauti.
full pictures, ia Jeunesse ct rAmour" and LA
vierge Consolatrcc.u This artist is reproached by
isa,ous rlvala for want Of breadth and too much