The New York herald., 1877-01-16
THE LENOX LIBRARY.
OPENING OF THE ART DEPARTMENT..

OPENING OF THE ART DEPARTMENT.
Under somewhat untavorablo circumstances the
noble building known the Lenox Library yes
tcrday thrown open to tho public. Tho situation Of
the building between Seventy and Seventy frat
Streets avenue, Is at this period OF tho year
remote and lttlo difficult OF access, although
tho Fourth within
block, but the library Is rather intended
for the New York Of tho future than Of the pres.
ent and, doubt . few years will 30 materially
change Its relative position to iully justify the
judgment OF its founder. The building is solid u
unpretentious, and acquires beauty through It's
treme simplicity. 1t has been constructed
almost wholly Of granite, and Is well
adapted to the to which II Is
destined. Tho library proper occupies the
lower floor while the second floor 10 devoted TO the
art galleries, which very properly divided into
departments OF sculpture and painting
GALLERIES.
They are, however, tho same floor; but
interior wall cuts Off the gallery Of paint
ings from the sculpture gallery, and pre-.
vents these two distinct branches Of art
from coming into conflict rne sculpture depends
the light from large windows, which 10 almost
strong, and nterercs somewhat with the effect Of the
artists work by keeping binding high light ON
marbles aud deprlving them the softening effect
Of shadow to which sculpture owes SO much OF its ex-
preston The picture gallery, ON the contrary. suffered
yesterday rat her from want OF light than IRON
much of II. This was explained as being due TO the
quantity oil snow that had gathered the roof upon
which the gallery depends tor ITS light TINS difficulty,
however, IL only temporary, and Will dissolve
II II be not swept away. or course the weather is
wholly responsible this little drawback It also
ungracious enough to act as a kind OF wet blanket
on enthusiasm that would doubtless, under other
tne new Ursry. AS IL was. however there was lair
attendance oil visitors We fair ndvlsedIy tor The
ladies seemed bolder IN doyng the rigors Of the day
than were the gentlemen, and were good enough to
lend additional interest of their presence to the
Inauguration OF this educational institution which
the public OF New York owes to the princsy generosity
and public spirit Of one Of her citizena
THE COLLECTION.
Aud truly the addition ls something TO be proud OF.
| It is not merely present made py rich his
fellow citizens: II Is also gft OF Judg
and taste IL may bc that some works which have
found here resting place not exactly those that
man Of the highest art taste and knowledge would
have chosen, but the collection, as whole,
marks honest aud sound appreciation OF good art
There Is something strongly Individual about these
works which Is always pcepng out One icels In
snctivoly that each picture was bought because the
purchaser liked II and found some sympathy In H. II
bought to please public taste because the
many As resui. We have pictures In oil snges
some mere sketches others highly hnished some
have been purchased because Of their assocalons but
this is evident, and they give those who
them much pleasure as they, no doubt, gave
the purchaser when first he became their owner.
There some lao canvases IN ALL ard they I'LL up The
walls OF tho gallery completely that very little
space remains tho hanging OF other works should
they be acquired. Most OF these paintings are by
artists WHO popularity known to the past
generation than to the present. though most OF them
are familiar 10 all convcrsant with ART and artists
| IMPORTANT WORKS.
Sir Joshua Reynolds IS largely and well represented
by number oil portraits which give excellent idoa
OF his style One OF Them shows thut he possessed
greater power than could DO judged from the manner
| Ism oi his everyday work The portrait vi Edmund
| Burke attributed 10 HIM is probably copy, and in
the catalogue Is attributed to John Jackson. But
there be doubt whatever Of the authenticity OF
his portrait OF MISS Kitty Fisner, which bears
the signature OF the great English colorist In
every brush touch. IL 10 noticeable, however,
that chemical change to be taking place
the coors which urc undoubtedly fading, this beng
due to tho OF Inferior maerals or the ntrodu
OF some hostile chemical agent Repetitions Of this
| woI IN tho possession Of Mr. Munro and ut the
| Iandsdowne House, ana II would DO worth while 10
compare their condition Vi preservation order pos.
sibc, to discover the cause Of the peculiar tad ng
OF the color 10 this work. II any 10 taking place The
full length portrait OF Mrs Ellington SAnt Cecilia
| in which we choir OF angels floating round her
head and making music to her voice, IL inter.
esng US historical rcminsccncc OF the great actress
than as work OF arr thought II serves TO illustrate
| Sir Joshua Reynolds method. small canvas
representing boy dressed IN red velvet, leaning or-
| ward on green cushion and holding IN MS hand q
pen ana paper, almost like Rembrants work In its
warmth aud richness OF color Ibis picture was
bought from Mr. Mctcalic, the friend aud fellow trav
ccr or the artist, who selected II under tho artist
| will
| POOR PICTURES.
| Charles II. Leslie 10 represented by number o.