Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-03-23
ART NOTES.

preparations, it cannot be doubted that Com
missioner General Mccormick did the very
best thing in his power to render the Ameri-
can art display at the coming Paris eXpOSi-
tion both representative in character and
creditable in quality. Yet, while it may prove
to be the latter. in a somewhat restricted
sense, the former merit can hardly be claimed
for it. Only eighty four pictures were selected
by the committee charged with that duty. OF
this number fifteen are water cOlOrS. But the
eighty four pictures chosen represent ffty-one
artists only. Three of these are the happy
contributors of four works, each four of three
pictures each, and quite number of two each.
The roll OF names includes some of the best
all the best: and the charge is insinuated
rather than made, in some quarters,
that the Of the eOmmte .s
ries much more literally than was demanded
by the necessities of the case or sanctioned by
good taste. But this charge is probably with
out good foundation. The fact appears to be
that number of the artists applied to did not
respond to the request of the committee, while
control the particular pictures they wished to
send, and SO contributed nothing Thus it
came about that the committee We're forced to
take what they were able to get, in orderto
make a respectable show, or any show at all.
1t was literally HObSOn'S chOiCe,-that or moth
ing: and there is little reason for doubt that,
when once made, the gentlemen who under.
took the delicate task did the best they could
under the circumstances. 1t is expected, fur
thermore, that the advisory committee in
Paris will be able to add to the collection sent
over number of works by American artists,
now IN Europe 50 that on the whole it is CON
fdenty:eXpected the American section OF the
gallery of fine arts in the exposition will reflect
credit on our country.
The first exhibition of the Society of Amer
lean Artists, now open in New York. is largely
attended, and has probably attracted as much
attention and provoked as much discussion as
any display of the kind ever made i'm the
country. As matter of course, as well from
the circumstances under which the exhibition
is made as on account of its character, Opin-
ions as to its merit differ very widely. Those
who are carried away with the new departure
in art, as indicated by many of the works on
the walls OF the gallery, praise most of the
pictures without stint. and in some cases, it
may be added, without judgment. On the
which may be said to be fairly represented by
the ordinary exhibitions of the Academy of
Design, see nothing to admire in many of
them, and much to condemn. The ground of
justice probably lies between. AT any rate, il
must be admitted, we think, that, While the
exhibition is interesting and in many respects
to the unbiased intelligent observer, who
loves art for its own sake, and is not
bound up with any particular theory or
lures impress one as thin, unfinished and
| sketchy, alike in treatment and effect, while
many OF them are of too little Importance to
ut. puDllCif tA1lDiitu dUy WIltIS. lne cOlltC-
| ton fails to make up in strength what it lacks
| in finish and minuteneSS of detail The pub
lie Viii be slow to let go its hold on the old
until the new offers it something better, and
this the exhibition does not furnish 1t creates
the feeling that it seeks to take away. without
giving in return. = 1t is promise rather than
| performance. 1t seems to be, moreover. a
reflection or echo of the new European schools,
| rather than the development of or a move
ment toward diStinctiveiy American school,
as was rather expected of it,-thongh this eX
| m II N nd nhlh Ivy urnS
| without warrant 1t may be added, also, that
the catalogue price of many of the pictures is
| abSurdly high, and out of all proportion to the
reputation of the artist, the amount of work
bestowed upon them, or their intrinsic merit
| and value as works of art. But in spite of all
this, the exhibition is well worth seeing and
studying.
The art event in New York for next week
is the sale of pictures composing the colIec-
| ton of ex-senator Latham, of California,
which takes place On Thursday evening. The
catalogue contains eighty-three numbers,
| comprising the works of tifty-nine artists, all
| but fifty four OF whom are Europeans. 1t in
| cludes many tirSt-clasS names, and the cOllec-
ton embraces number of very fine works of
art: but on the whole the grade is hardly as
high as the great wealth and reputed exacting
There is reason to suppose, indeed, that the
collection was brought together by order, or
rather Oh commission. and that it represents
rather than T those % Of Mr.. Latham am himself.
though this impression may not be we'll
| founded.
In regard to the portrait of Washington,
by Gilbert Stuart, in the White House, to
which reference has heretofore been made in
this column. Mr.. H. n. Barlow. the well-xnown
| picture dealer and reStOrer i'm this city, sends
! us the following interesting note:
" In the Art Notes in THE STAR OF March
10Th, reference is made to the portrait OF
editor Of the PhiladelDhia Item states that Mr.
Neagle, the artist. told him that the picture
was cut from the frame and taken away when
framed at present, shows that the canvas is
manifestly smaller than an artist would have
chosen for such picture.
Permit me space enough to reply. and |
think can settle this question. On the 10Th
Of June, 1866 l received instructions from
Public Buildings and Grounds, to line and re.
store the portrait in question. When took it
from the frame. found it had 1aecer been cat.
The selvage edge, with the old tin tacks, were
understand that when this portrait was vas
painted, the canvas was first nailed on the
the aaa edae sn e re
aportrait have to cut off the picture to the
edge of the stretcher. This did in this case
ma Of kee sSsSed aha he od
vas to many gentlemen of this city. The pic
ture was never cut from its frame, nor taken
| OH SlIetCHtT uutll L ulu IT, IL WAS IIiOSt
likely taken from the frame, and moved fol
safety at the time of the British occupation
| As to the just remark that the figure looks too
large for the canvas, any one who has paid at.
tenliOn to Stuart'S full length portraits must
have noticed the same defect in all. AS to its
being an original have not the slightest doubt.
have lined and restored many portraits by
Stuart, of undOubted originality, and believe
| tiOn.''
The splendid gallery of paintings belong
ing to MI. Laurent Richard, of Paris, will be
sold on the 25d, 24th and 25th Of May next, a
the Hotel Drouot in that city. This magnif
cent collection comprises ninety modern pic
tures twenty five pictures of old masters, be
sides eleven articles of ancient tapestry. Th,
particulars of the whole collection are beins
prepared for print.
The Great International Walking
| Match.