New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-08

| that other OF Mr. John Weir, or Mr.. Huntingtons
"Young Lady" or Mr. George Bakers bodiless creation
No 47o, or Mrs Loops Portrait No. 4l6, East ROOM
which puts us OFF with dolke prettness, devoid
OF every thing like paintlngl Once pictures ike these
have seryed their sentimental domestic turn. once they
have played their part "a famy-furnlture they are
done 'sith all serious business in this world, and go
from bad to worse pictorial tramps ready for any
charity that will take them
Mrs Loops portrait in the South No. 49o, Is
stronger picture than the OF which we nave Just
spoken. There Is much animation in the face ana
in the pose; this lady has no doubt con-
siderable talent and It Is worth her while to consider
whether greatest of the form of art she mas
chosen have shown strong dissemination as RUE
multiplying accessories In their pictures throwing
their whole strength into the head the bands, and the
characteristic pose OF their subject, and letting laces,
fans, flowers, scarfs and rings go entirely, or strictly
and sernly subordinatng them-cven when drawn with
the precision Of an Ingres painted with the flush OF
Raphaeto their proper relation TO the vital parts OF
the picture.
Mr. Ben c. POrter's &" Portrait Of Lady" No. 81,
Room succeeds better In accomplishing this than Is
done By other portrait in the exhibition, except r
Alden Weir's portrait OF his father, No. 453 Mr. Shr-
laws Portrait" No 5l7 and Miss Cassstfs portrait OF
Miss Birney. No 3is. Mr.. Shlraw's Head, however,
and that OF Miss Cassatt rather sketches than hn
ished pictures Mr. Porter, who Is the fashionable
painter Boston, rather the painter OF fashionable
Boston, will naturally mud 1t hard 10 Hatsiy more Instant
circles who his acquaintance first through one OF
bis most agreeable WORKS. and who have never been so
well suea by subject since The present portrait u.s.
however meritOrious work. subdued and rich In color
not uninteresng az picture, but somehow waning
in the impression OF life. The lady Is not
looking anywhere in particular, and Is rather
standing on the stairs than descending them, and
this want OF posiHveness found finally to result from
want scholarly accomplishment in the requirements
Of his art He paints less from knowledge than from
sentiment He does not draw the figure better than Mr.
Huntington only, he knows better than the President
how to interest his subject and make us forget his
shortcomings. These shortcomings however, are really
not OF so much importance would Reem; is surprls
ing how often the painters have cOntryed to be
best without insisting on knowing TOO much. They
were often at fault with their legs and and per
spective, but they dead in earnest loved their
work. and being bent making their pictures first Of
all beautiful and interesting, they succeeded 50 well that
We unhesitatngly ascrlbe to them all PROJECTIONS
Beauty and Observation-Disclosures qualities cover
multitude Of minor Offences. and the Nemesis OF this
scientific age Is that tho correct, and real and
scientifically true our pictures are the ugler and the
dner they are. Nevertheless, reasonable amount OF
truthfuness won't do much HARM and at all events 1t
is better than nothing
There are many pictures 10 this exhibition that are
neither beautiful interesting. II certany~ would
not injure them in the eyes OF discerning public II they
wero painted with regard for correctness Of draw
ing. G. O.