New-York tribune., 1878-11-09
CALIFORNIA STANDARDIZATION BY w.
KEITH.

Several pictures by Mr.. William Keith, a
6cochman by DirtD but for some time resden; this
country, first. believe, Boston, where he made II
considerable reputation and lat F III California. have
been for three Our weeks on exhibition at Kavltts
Art Gallery, in Broadway. These pictures have been
much praised by the California newspapers for
the accuracy with which they represent the
scenery of that State, and they come here 30
heraded and with such cloud OF euOgy about theln'
that often the they disappOnt eXpecta-
ton ItIs certainly possible that these pictures do
faithfully the scenery OF that part of Caor
mia IRON which their subjects taken. but we must
mildly dissent from the conclusion that thev are thee
tore. worthy Of praise as art. All the commentator
they deserve on that must be generously ac-
corded but art has little TO do with Literal portrait
ure; is concerned with what IL characteristics
but even not satisfy herhe will have pictorial
fleet, and VIII sentiments II she be not
these, she quietly dismisses the work to the
mapnaker's province, and waits IA patiently as she
ca for the artist. In truth however, Mr. Keith gives
us not even mapmaBer's work. nothing so useful, but
only conventional performance of the scenepanter
who abors not face face with Nature, but with per
petua reference to academic code and his technical
receipt book. Some years ago, very hardworking'
painstalng but unmagnativc artist went to Virginia
CITY aud made II number Of drawings 10 I'LL coinHl~'
sion When he camo back. OF his friends SAID TO
hm: "An, John, where have you becnV Been to
mel >" drawled out the arust And hls drawings.
begging plrdOn of the gentle innabtInts OF Virginia
City, said the same thing But It was not because the
artist wished to CONVEX any such Impression 1t was
simple result his faithfully recording every TACT
In scenery feat his patient SKILL his long trained
observation made easy Tor him. He did nothing eN-
teuuato nor set down augH in malice yet the result
was one 20 bring tfers up with round turn. # they
could once be got To look the pictures Here nj
once porlraiture essential character and sentiment,
ana there was not IN the execution anything tnat be-
raycd that the artist had been taught the way to do
IT." The execution much the result of the artists
sincerity was the portraiturc.
Itis Of course. possible tuat Mr. RethS pictures may
accurately represent the OF California; and, IN
deed since the newspapers unanimous IN assuring
that tnls IL the fact, We are ready TO bclicvo In
That case, there is nothing peculiarly characteristic
about the scenery Of these particular OCales nothing
distinguish them from the lrs extraordinary points OF
the swiss and Norwegian landscape And this Likeness,
for which not at all prepared Is carried
out by the artist IN ms way Of painting. which
u exactly like that employed by any one OF
half hundred Gcrmau Scandinavian painters, with
whose insipd works tine Phladclpma Exhibition and
shops the German in tins city have
made YEARLY familiar. OF course the scenery of CAT
iiorua s. peculiar, and Of t not at al rDpre
scnted in these hastily painted scenic pictures but put
It TO tine test; set these canvasses down anywhere ia
Europe and the general pubcnot OF course the sclen
title people, the general publicwOuld at once sup
pose tncy the result Of the application OF the usual
academic formulas 10 inc OI
scenery.
These pictures are fOrcble illustration OF popular
error among us but happily not wIdespr ad as 1t
once was-that to have great painting, II il necessary to
paint great things II lac been thought. and Is still
thought in certain circles the fact OF artist
selecting the peaks Of the Rocky Mountains OF the
Sierra Nevadas or Niagara for his snpject had
mnch 10 do with the greatness OF the picture pro-
duccd as work of art The fact Is. every acKnOwl
edged great work OF proves, the bigness OF the
model has nothing TO do with the result. II an artist
a mountain out OF mountain. II the sub
lime Is in mans mind, he can put IT
into A dandelion as we saw Mnct do not long ago In
this city and the roof Of tho cOwstabc Miss VOLTS
Conr" by VOllOu. Is far sublime than will
be Mr. Renwicks ucw cathedral This is not TO teacn
freak or paradox 1t is the result OF ali study Of
literature and eioquence. IL Is the mind that
makes things great: no NOire Dame 40
tremendous % Victor Bugo's romance makes II. Dover
Cliff is not high Shakespeare describes it. Georges
Michel used go every afternoon and sit upon the
height OF MontmaTtre, overlooking the suburbs Of Paris
and there in that landscape which never inspired artist
before or since found the motive nearly all the many
pictures he nantrdnO alike and not all OF them val
uabc bnt some them among the very grandcst land
scapes of modern times sublime compositions made ont
the smUlc elements Of eaFtn ana air. Dut seen WIN
the poets creating eye.
We must begin 20 take this truth TO heart In America.
or pantu doomed % years Of pettincss and IN
Significance defects that made dOuby dishtareng
when displayed in the treatment OF what Is grandcs IN
natural scenery.