New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-07
AT THE ACADEMY.
III.
rIGI-RF- pICTT-PFS AND pOPTR ATS

by greater variety Of theory and execution An unusual
number of the younger artists be devoting them
selves TO this high and difficult field OF art wherein com
plee is glorious semisuccess is intoerabe
II is not always draw the line between figure
painting, the simple representation of the endless
forms and features OF human life and genrepanting
which aims to represent or at least suggest, story or
characteristic illustration OF classes and Of men,
But the number OF such works in the exhibition obges
attempt this selecting the former for prior eXaIn
nation. of these, their hopeless conventional
character will not require notice. others from their po
0n the walls, cannot be adequately studied; and II
is possible that and there the worthy effort OF an
asprant for artistic hOnors may be overlooked. We can
only undertake to consider all such in our judgment
express differences of method AMI degrees of success or
failure. thus mpressing boh characteristics upon tile
exhibition.
The Corridor appropriated chiefly small pictures in
oil sIfe aud crayon drawings. is sort Of limbo Tor
large Hgurepictures. Yet cannot but admit that
few Of them belong here. Oienheimers "Briinniide
would be sweeter by any other name. The amlable
maiden. with her slender small, thin hands, and
costume suggesting the sixteenth century Is not even
fourteenth cousin 10 amazon the Morse saga over
the door the South Room there is huge picture by
Oerie "The Shadow of the Rock" which illustrates
one extreme OF art Duvcnecks Turkish Page y Illus
trates the other Forty years there was tendency
make pictures Of Bible texts or current phrases
of sentiment but it has been gradually dying out since
then. The words OF Isaiah express such deep sense
OF rereshment that an artist should OF touching
the subject unless he express deeper one But MT
Oertes pilgrim only represents su1ierng-and suffering
strangely contdicted by the accessories His face Is
hagGard. his eyes bOodshot, his ieet are bleeding
he is the Of fanfng yet he has had strength
and presence of mind enough to spread his mantle
fully before sinking down. and 70 arrange pcturesqney
about his waist various cOOred scafs, fresh ana u
soiled ~ II Just bought in the bazaar at Jerusalem We
Will admit that the subject might be successfully paint
ed,-but in this manner. Mr. F]aEg's portrait OF
M Frost is high in corner and DESERVES better place
the head and swell o the ample body indicate strong
individual truth. Miss Anna NJ. LEAFS Peacock
Feather" is painted with a fu, rich palette Her hesh
painting ripe and glowing in light, has tendency 10
BROWNIES in shadow, and is sometimes not properly
relieved by her grounds, but IL is never lacking III
substance. She has some points Of resemblance To MI
Porter, yet with qualities distinctly her own Tne Wis
itor should by overlook this charming picture
which like so many other good ones, Is sent up alo
Mr. William Sarain has also Heal OF an Italian Boy
(the model, suspect of his "Ndrcissus j. III the cor
ridor,-a good piece OF academic work.
In the North Room we first encounter Mr.. Mlets por
trait Of Chas Francis Adams r This and the portrait
Of Mark Twain at the other end of the his only
contributions Tee latter, 70 its subject Is the
more characteristics Both portraits excellent yet
with higher esh-tnts than the originals the figures are
solid detach themselves immediately from the back
ground and are a refreshing contrast to the diin'
vapory forms which portrait painters give US MI
Waterss portrait OF Walt Whitman lacks this sold
reality but it Is carefully paued and il very good
likeness Of Kosmos. such subjects a. Mr. Ander'ons
Young Oriental temporarily popular, ana this,
with it, sufficient perspective and ts subdued giare5 OF
color compared with other o. the more agreeable
II belongs the less to that art which l. more oPu
lent kind of furniture for the -ure Of the girl means ali
solutely nothing only for the grouping O
rich ,tus and gltteTing accessories Mr. AndersOns al
bantam soldier has much more interest the handsome
face suggests story to come, If not one already hVed
through We cannot with the best will to do so, like
Mr. Hmcklcy's Portrait OF Lady This and his head
of gentleman the opposite wall. seem rigid rather
than sod and the impression is Increased by the cold
livd character Of his h.- lint, portrait by Mr. Hunt
ington near the former shows how a head may be
painted.
Mr. Wyatt Eaton's "Harycstrrs AT Rest has the best
place and attracts great deal OF attention Il shows
decided and vigorous talent and good schoonG ana
perhaps should not expect the stamp OF the latter 10
disappear too suddenly The man, wife, and child noon
ing IN the shadow wheatstack the brown-headcd
grain $50 much brOwncr Ours and even the stub
| bles showing how the wheat was planted all say
France"-but The artists mann9r is still his masters
/ rather than his II he had taken an American
wheatfed and painted it IN the same decided way he
might have found Il wLol@some-.ookIny farmer aud fair
faced wife, instead Of these dirty, sun-burn almost
peasants not picturesque enough 10
be agreeable. There IL 80 much 10 like ia the picture
that We regret il sould not have been original
Esmcralda," by Mr. Bollcs will az least furnish young
artists with the lesson that the Dsasrceable should
never painted unless they have art enough 10 make 1t
agreeable. We next come upon TWO "Reyeries' 1t
seems that when an artist finds good female model,
poses her claspng her knees with her chin resting
ore hand and the mechanical patience OF professional
sitter spread her fac. ne IND no other name FOR
the picture than Rcveric" Mr. Morgan has put
his into plebeau costume and seated her near
window Mr. Low clothes his in aristccratic crimson,
and gives her greyhound AMI au antique chair IN the
midst OF a cold eulpty hall The may be better
than it seems for it is in had hight the latter is by a
pupil Of Cabaucl and hr.ath@s OF the master IL Is a
good token Of proficiency nnder training VII must
wait for more independent WORK before can judge Of
! Mr. Lows real ability.
There is no need to wait, however, in Ny Delman's
| case His little picture called Pdtrcan Lldy-l6th
Century" 10 by 10 inches in Dimensions Is his only con
uIbuon To the exhibition a1d it argues well for
bodys taste that already sold II il single figure,
nearly full length painted with all the mnuteness OF de-
tail and technical skill which attractive. but
painted for them alone On the contrary they fall
into the proper subordnation as soon we look upon
the calm proud loneliness OF the wOmanface The latter
is the light and glory OF the picture. The artist
over shows rare retcencc the his techni-
cal skill. single feather OF the peacock fan, painted
with exquisite decacy Is Touched by the light; the
Others gradually lose themselves in the shadow. In this
and other slight characteristics the true artist Is re-
veaed-the not the slave, OF FORM color aud tex
tura effect Miss Leas portrait VI Mrs. Fearing very
sYeety expresses the bright, joyous beauty Of early
womanood il picture which deserves larger can
vas or a; least amper margin Of background Mrs.
stoughtons Chapeau NOir" as amateur work. is note
worthy for certain honest drecness and lack of pre-
! tension.
In the East Room, must first admit that Mr. Orel has
either found good model conceived good head FOR
his Elijah on Mt Horei" Here he has chosen a legtI-
mate subject and although MS rocks very gran