The New York herald., 1877-02-12
ART MATTERS.
HENRY N. SMITHS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS

AM M "A i Z ND.
HENRY N. SMITHS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS
AT THE KuRTz GALLERY
This collection is made up OF seventy paintings
Of high average merit Indeed, IS not often thata
private collector gathers together many really good
works without number OF inferior ones finding their
way IN. OF the seventy paintings that make up Mr.
Smiths collection at least htyhvo works of tho
highest class, and among those very and
very cho,ce examples.
Quality
cursory glance around tho gallery will convince
any Interested that this collection has been
OF slow growth and represents the acquisitions of
years There is also evidence Of sound Judgment aud
taste not generally found combined with the faculty
Of moneymakipg, which Is the distinguishing feature
Of the fraternity Of brokers to which Mr. Smith Is
understood to beong In every the subject OF the
picture is pleasant, and the collector to have
aimed at obtaining good examples OF the artists ne
wished represented There Is total absence OF pre-
tcntious pictures with great names. which make up
the backbone OF most private collections but in
compensation all the works signed by great
sound and valuable examples OF their authors style
and touch. In many instances these works pur.
chased time whom their authors still working
for tho they have since acquired, and when they
compelled to put all thor skill their canvases
ard the result Is careful drawing elaborate
finish frequently absent from their later works II
is mistake, made by many people who buy pictures
moro Tor fashions sake than through sympathy with
art think that the latest productions OF great artist
necessarily the best The truth Is that artists, like
ohor people, work best under the pressure OF necessity
and the most valuable painting Is mostly dono In the
period before fame has been acquired An instance OF
this Is furnished by important man as Gerome
Is represented in this gallery by very small work.
.r,.~ II
anu possesses freshness and frequently
absent from his later works.
Among the gems OF the collection are two pictures
by Daz tNarcisse dc la Renal WAC died lately Paris
sale OF his effects that IL, 500 was pald for mere
sketch. The most important OF these IS the "Venus
ana Cupid landscape with number Of ngures
treated IN the classical style aud painted with tho
solidity ana inmitable vsor which distinguished
this Frcnchilcd Spaniard This Is probably the
important work OF this class by Daz In this country,
where examples OF his figure subjects very rare
account Of The enormous prices paid Tor them OF late
years IN Europe. small evening landscape, full Of
sentiment and painted with tho positive tor,e and
great breadth which are only found In master works
has also found place the collection that we can
see Dnz to advantage In his two so very different
moods Another
MASTER HAND
that death has disarmed moderate sized landscape
by Theodore Rousseau, who was 10 landscape what
rrench village IS pmpis and pnn1fen,eS ia
treatment aud admirable IN tone. The atmospheric
effects are peculiarly delightful and We look into the
picture we would into The fields from the window
OF country house. Rousseau's works urc highly
priced at homo that thoy seldom hnd their way
is Antoine Iiebert He,s represented by u small but
excellent idea OF his STYLE II represents some brig.
ands sleeping, while the wife Of OF them, gun
hand, Keeps watch 1t Is highly dramatic, and tho
preston the woman's face shows clearly how sue
realizes tho responsibility OF her position. This pic
by nSsoape an" OF no
delightful sentiment oil early morning, which ho loved
to paint. Tho trees are drawn with u freedom akin to
sketchng, and with knowledge that belongs only TO
masters landscape but tho chief charm lies In tho
pcary sky and tho atmospheric effects which mako Of
Under tho simple tito OF ''Brittany Woman with
Dstal'' have one of those csets auvres by JuIcs
Breton, which have made his famous through the
world. 1t is simply study OF peasant woman Sit
ting stOno near her cabin, but liclikc, SO
breathing that expect every moment to hear tho
peasant woman speak in her strange Pdois This udy
is painted with a simplicity and iorce that ut once
ana admirable IN technique Perhaps the most
effective work in the collect ion Is crayon drawing Of
an effort to realize the legend OF ST. Iubcrius In
glade in the forest stands stag with branching horns
and between the horns shining The moonlight
effect tho forest is beautifully rendered, aud the
s.'s tame rs an anil NAL rantcr Is sufficient guarantee
one OF tho most beautiful and poetic works we hav,
over seen from the easel Of this artist. II is ad
it not oil painting, strong tho effects rea
Iizcd with the crayon. These arc but few examples
taken at hazard IRON among collection and will
tend to show Its character.
REPRESENTED.
Among the works We have not space TO revicw Is q
magnificent Hague Merle, and examples OF Brion,
Kock Kook, Innocent, Compti-Cal,x Meyer Won
Bremen, Daubigny, Robic Sprldon, Toumouche,
vcrbocckhovcn, Vibcrt, Herring, Hiidobrandt, Es.
cosura, Coomans, Bou,ibonnc, lttcnbach, Bers,adt,
Roihden, samtu', Lanblnct, LcsrcI, Fornnri, Fche,
ZIem and others of No collection possessing SO
general an equality OF merit has been thrown 0u tho
market Tor many years, and lovers OF pictures will
have a good opportunity OF obtaining raro works. as
tho Smith collection Is announced to bo sold
without reservation. IL Will remain public cxhib
ton until tho 23d OF February when will be sold by
auction.