, 1877-05-27
NEW YORK.
4 Letter Mostly Devoted to the
Subject Of Art.
Mr.. August Belnont's Oil
Treasures.
His Magnificent Gallery Opened for a
Charitable Object.
1escription Of Some Of the Best Of His
Collection.

Anniversary Of the Brooklyn Sunday
School Union
From Our Oacn Car1sspondent.
NEW YoRE, May 2f.-Slr. August Belmont, II
opening his gallery for the benefit Of an artists
widow and children, has both done most kind
and generous thing, and furnished rare treat
to lovers Of good printing. Since the
sale of the Johnston collection, Mr.. Relmont'f
is beyond question the first private gallery In
the CITY. OF the hundred or more numbers nc
one belongs to the class poor, which speaks
emphatica1ly OF the taste and Judgment Of the
buyer. The criticism has been often passed on
the Lcnox collection, that the eminent artists
named in the catalogue are represented by early
aud inferior work, which, OF course, results in
disappointment to visitors whose expectations
had been raised too high. No like fault can be
found here II Rosa Bonlcur, Scfreyer,
Troyou, Horace Vcrnct, Achcnbach, Wiilems,
1feissonicr aud his pupil Dctail!c, Dckcysez,
Hcbert, Bougereau, Daubigny, Paul Dclaroche,
Meyer, Firmin Gerard, Villegas, Clays, Bel
1ange, Prof. Gcyer, Merle, Gerome, Duprc,
Bonnat, Eastman johnson, Boughton, and
other weli~known artists, have place on tho
walls, they fill it worthily with characteristic
and thoroughly excellent work. These names
alone in the absence OF detail, serve we'll to in
dieate the pleasure to be derived from such op-
portunity as the present The 81 paid for ad-
mission not only goes to enlarge the measure
Of noble charity, but is well spent in any case.
THE PLACE OF D1sTlxcT1oS,
so far as such place could be made in such 4
company, Is given the artist ]. Beaufain Irving,
whose sudden death left wife and eight young
children With but ecanty means Of support. Six
Of his paintings aside from the two owned by
Mr. Belmont, are placed on cascls or hung.
Among them is the t'Scene from Riclelieu,"
painted at the order OF the Hon Leland Stan-
ford, Of California, and most fortunately fin
ishcd few days before the artists death, thus
securing 5000 toward an inheritance The
scene Is that startllngly dramatic one, not to be
forgotten by any who have witnessed it, where
Hchclicu rises to the words: "Mark where she
stands-around her form draw the awful circle
Of our solemn Church. Set but foot within
that holy ground and on thy head, yea though it
wore crown, launch the curse OF Rome!'
The expression Of the moment is admirably
caught The eyes Of the Cardinal blazo with
ire and indignation, his attitude Is full Of power.
Nor WIS the artist less happy in portray1ng: the
will to do checked By the fear OF doing,-or that
Of confidence in the sweet face Of the protected
lady. The figures are posed effectively. The
background shows lofty flight Of steps bor-
dered with trees, fountain playing in the c1-
treme distance. As whole the work is pre-
ctsely of the kind Mr.. Irving delighted in, and
well represents him, though not SO finished as
his " Cardinal Wo]scy and Friends" nor SO
pleasing as the lighter pieces, such as .The
these the same peculiarities appear They
arc bright and striking. The eye is attracted
to them at once BY the dash Of color.
1t might almost be said that Mr.. Irving could
not paiut picture without introducing
A FIGURE N CARDINAL
In "The Cock-Fight,n II for instance. though
small hit Of canvas IS covered, two of these fig
ures are at hand. The place is monastery
garden, and in the wall-doorway stands one Of /
these holy men in scarlet, holding above him a
blue umbrella to protect bead aud back from !
the sum- while he watches with the same keen |
enjoyment as his two churclly companions the !
desperate conflict Of the cocks. The effect Of |
the sunlight, pouring in through thedoorway |
and mingline with the blue and scarlet, makes !
this, to my taste, the most artistic and skil1fu1
pieee Of work done by Mr. Irving. '.The Wine ]
Taste1B,'' owned by Rr. Belmont, is another
capital executed number *tThc End Of the !
counter. has four highly ycolored figures, one Of
them, to be sure, in the Identical and dazzling
cardinal. The artist caught the public taste, |
discovered IT. and why should he not continue |
persist in painting grotesquedes which many |
think unworthy his talent, Dut that thc=e 4take'
Us one says And it may he mentioned, by the |
way, that Mr. Beard, who received companion
urc, has chosen for his subject 1.-THE Diyorce,''
this meaning the divorce OF monkey couple.
Mr.. lryng's taste lay in the line OF producing ]
figure scenes, historical and romantic, |
Prod,gd Son. by ueslc IN % his noble " youps n.s
artist turning scornfully from the allurcfnents /!
II pleasure And in this line he was SUCCESS |
lie had rot attained to the case and expressive
ness OF Messonie1, neither hau he known Ateis- |
sonier's opportunities and years OF study, but I
he ,ook rank amoug our American artists |
rated. only from the fac1 that be took it TOO
rapidly, and over the heads of those who had |
bcen IN the studio months to his DAYS,
TIE HEcoMrESsE or PREFERENCE,
however, vas his: To Mr.. Schaus goes the
credit Of discovering hts talent, bringing him
into position to do his best and introdututr him
TO the prosperity which would hare rendered Mr,
3clmont's generosity unnecessary, had death
delayed his call. His pictures were sold With
OUT waiting ut prices more satisfactory
than the common. The success Mr. Irving
acheved IN the comparatively short time be was
an artist Is the more noteworthy because Of the
Late hour at which he entered upon the work,
and the circumstances connected Herewith. II
has not yet been told in the West I think. how
&c WAS wealthy Southcrner before the War. I
1oueht Tor the cause he believed in, and found I
end, with faznily dependent upon him. Then !
It WAS that early talent for drawing decided |
him to make lIs way and living as an
artist 1cars Of study and struggles were
port, but the sure promise Of rcgainire by his |
own Efforts a fortune equal to that he had In