New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-16
ACADEMY OF DESIGN.
III.
GENRE-PICTURES.

piece OF genreainting is almost always bought soon
as exhibited especially when # shows certain amount
OF technical realism 1t strange therefore, that
constantly increasing proportion of younger artists
should turn to this field of performance, that they
should represent the methods Of various schools The
early American" style Gas may call IT. with its hard
prevalent GOODNESS of color and slight exaggeratons
of expression In order emphasize the meaning IL seen
longer The later shadow OF Dusseldorf has faded from
the OF most artists; but Paris and Munich
assert themselves with open aud somewhat defiant
and the native American element which has taken
upon itself new fOru-Or, rather, many new forms
continues 10 flourish The visitor will find here al
varieties of idea and execution, and will learn at least
that school is able TO mOnOpolize the whole truth
of Art
The first genre-picture the Corridor in the numbered
order welcome subject: Harvesting CoW-pea vines
IN louisiana" by Mr.. Julio NewOrleans artist Inc
South full OF material picturesque 1t is neglected.
and surprising that scarcely any OF our artists mas
turned 10 and rich field. Mr.. Jullo5 picture Is
carefully painted but in hard and conventioRaia
manner to be quite successful. No. 90 gives us some
hope for Mr.. Eugene Benson His peasants OF Cadore,
worshping in the little chapel, properly ABSORBED
in their devoons the scene is quiet simple shDdueu
not remarkable in any way, but sufficiently agreeable
II ia almost impossible TO make any examination OF MI
Thoms Forgotten Cares large work which Is hoised
over the door 10 the East Room but recognize ID IL
school in which the artist studied very cieVery rep
resented regret that should not have been hung
elsewhere, If only for the sake OF contrast 90 hu'n
prominent space is given who have not yet AZ
tanned any independent individuality, that we must
assume elm of the hanging committee to nave Deen
the Of the greatest possible variety oi style
and execution. II So IL might easily have been made
complete, the works contributed are coheetheu
Mr. Carter's Barbara Freitchie" (Which really belongs
IN the field OF historical paintngl attempt IN the
right direction; but the action lacks unity ana thus tue
old woman who shonld have been the focus OF interest
becomes subordinate TO stonewa Jackson and the
struggling group in the foreground Ii IL ply tht
the subject wen composed and painted AZ IL Is
well selected. The only other noticeable genre-pc'cs
in the Corridor al Mr. Henry's Les Fosses Communes
and Mr. Blashfeds Treasure TrOye." The former Is
not pleasant subject cannot object TO Its cold
ness of tone which is appropriate thereto Ihere are
persons who still read Bars craze and Heryeys ed~
tions among ToDbS and there are undoubtedly per-
sons who ind curious pleasure In funereal pictures
For such subjects. nevertheless, need higher art
than we find here. Mr.. Bash1eld also, should set MS
palette brilliantly and initiate textures more care
fully il he wants to be popular.
Mr. Edtsr Wards sabot Maker" is the first picture
Of the class which ss attention In the NoFth
Room This and bis Carding Wool GO 26p are KIN
dred interiors from Brittany, still little touched by the
French school, yet giving abundant evidence OF the
artists mower to work out his own salvation. The
figures in 10Th pictures, are ccanly modelled; the day-
light white and honest; the ciar-oscuro is excellent
md the details are painted with just the right amount
Of elaboration. We do not speak OF the evidence OF
school" H. this or any other case necessary dis
plrage1nrnt the work Of young artist the value OF
good training is not be disputed, and the different
methods thereof illustrated by the present exhibition
should be positive service 70 many who cannot 20
abroad But the Of artists quality lies IN MS
power to xpTcss himself in lis Own individual way; ana
we find the token Of such power IN Mr ward ana MI
DieIman while. we do yet find it N Mr. shriaw or
Mr. Duvcneck-exccpt. perhaps, in the laters portrait
- Ny Warner Mr. Periy's "SOver" is OF the Wusow-
HoIneric school, and better in subject than execution
The sewers hand is well thrown out but the lsht elastic
swing OF the body Is not suggested ana landscape
background should have more substance, where thtrc
so much Of it, The young farmer il seems to u.s. Is m
necessarily and Lardfeatured He Is apparently
me same Individual III Mr.. Perrys Helping Hand''
in the West Room. where he shows TO better advantage
IA indeed The picture better These both legitimate
and excellent subjects. for painting but should Ike to
gee the least bit Of poetry thrown in.
Mr. story's "Testy Old >qlire's Complaint - evil
IDENTITY careful piece work and perhaps the artists
best thus FAR. ouly three hsures-the squire the
boy and man who is possibly the boys fataer-cearly
express their parts the others appear to have been
added to up the CUP 1t IL not as firmly ana sol
idly painted az the subject requires, yet has good quail
ties Of COLOR well balanced light and shade. and Is efec
tive when in the proper light Mr. j. d snii!lic's
Gaucho OF Brazil gives the rush Of stect ana the
breadth Of Pampas in single square foot OF canvas
This and little landscape study his only cOntTlbu
tons this year Mt George II. Halls Lady Of Cairo at
"a Window" is rather peach, or some other blushing
fut looking upon Us, than TIE creamilyDah inmate
Of an Oriental haTem. An Eastern poet would hardly
compare her face the full moon, unless it were
the ruddy and bealess harvest moon, through tho
vapors ~ twilight Almost the last picture in this
IS little hgurc called The Smoker" by Mr. Kappes-a
new name.-which is the simplest bit Of realism yet
somehow expresses promise Of better future WORK.
The best genrepcture in the East Room is Mr. Wnsow
Honer's Answering the Horn" II Is pleasant lad
this artist returning his many experimental trips in
the lands grot squc reality imagination. TO
the simple and natural exercise Of his undoub,ed talent
He can paint SKY and air admirably when he will; and
be has done it, in this picture. We do not quite under
stand the young farmer the horn by throw
ing his hand aoft why the girl walking beside him
should cover her mouth with fingers; but be
content so long as SIR Homer gives sucn fine, free
figures. The man good typical American, with both
10 and 81 in his blood lord Tor ought beg Of the
he treads, and hung1ly glad the falling twilight
deepens over the harvest-feld The gir in her
bonnet and plain country dress, frank yet hashy in her
simple purity Is picturesque any Breton peasant
Italian cOntadna and do why she should
have the same value in Mr.. Homer's picture
proves upon acquaintance and the visitor TO the eXhi
btiOn not simply trust the impression left by first
rapid survey Mr. Rcinharts Incident Of Puritan Lite,
Boston, 1884, is best in the heads OF the four figures
which strongly indyidualized and unafactedy
prcssive. The story does not entirely tell itself but
perhaps sufficiently so, leaving little play for the
spectators fancy: the execution good, of
tiOual kind. We FIND Mr.. Magrath's Girl Spinning"
rather languid illustration of the theme As
she has stopped the Wheel suppose she is about
to wind the thread upon the spindle by reversing its
notion but she has not space enough for vigorous spin
ming: an od-fashOned spinner would have taken much
h0orTOOm. The pause Of free elastic motion which
We should like find in her figure is there she is
either weary Of a very lymphatic temperameut Mr.