New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-27

and at the affairs ranged along the wall Of The
tripods smoking with incense erected before the
statues OF tine gods, and the priests in waiting 70
add their servile applause to that Of the multitude
Behind the Emperor his giadiatOrs and attendants
one carries tho huge golden helmet by his master
in the arena one, we told 10 the printed extract
from Mrs Hoopers letter to The Art Journal. represents
Mercury and seems TO conduct the souls Of those killed
in the areuahghts to Hsdes. Another is the Retarins
with his trident in his hand; this seems to us
of the best figures in the composition.
The subject of the picture will be better
understood and acquire meaning by referring to
q bbop's account OF tho EnOeror COmmodus in the
fourth chapter OF the st volume OF his History. We
do not know that any particular edcaton will result
from this pcrusa for CommOdus, like Nero. Caligua and
the rest. WAS not man. but an insane monster. and We
small good by contemplating such speclacos OF evil
At the time he is here represented, his madness had
taken the within 10 believe himself the god Hercules and
in order emulate the oeneacent feats OF that nero IN
staying lions aud wild beasts, nc set his suhi'cs at WORK
hunting up all the wild beasts that could be found far
and pear and bnuging then Rome TO be killed by Their
lord and master III the arena He styled himself Ias
we still read on his medal h Roman Hercules the club
lions hide placed by the side Of his throne
among the ensgns of sOverCni,y, and statues were
erected in which Hercules represented under the
form Of Commllus. Laier he CHrew OF the style and
ntlc o. the god ana insisting being called by the
name OF Pduus % the mos famous prize fighters
ladiators # the me s;endcd into ire arena ana
fought with the lowest Of nGind. He had tue name
OF Pus inscribed his colossal statues but he forced
those fought with Ii to only oinnted weapons
wAIc hs sharp; tie Sndtors were ordered 10
shout Ptuus hr1t Of the GlIlators" GIG times
SAYS GibDun BY way of encore; AMI when the
gars were C1mmO lus insisted on being paid OUT
OF the common und tor the glad atOrs snare 80 large
that 10 pay became heavy tax upon the proFe' IL
may be worth noting in passing that Gbhon. writing IN
gty ~ tffYrn
klled camre aardsi, 81 CIR fr Tho talest, the most
gentle. and useless OF the large qnadruprds.
THIS Singular animal native only o. Interior parts OF
Africa. been IN Europe since tle revival OF
letters ana though NJ dc BfJu has en- ieav1red to de-
SCRIBE he has not ventured to del neate the graft"
The curious story naming OF the c1meieopnrd by
tia Roman popul4ce, when Commodus introduced the
animal INTO the arena is well known Tle animal that
Button never Is now wcll-Snown visitor 10 cOnh-
try in ms time was just beginning to ne civil Zrd
Mr. Brdgn ms picture deserves much fol- GER
tain solid qualities which thtt lac has been well
and carefully trained and has known how 10 study the
tccnnics Of his profession His perspective is excellent
Ills drawing Of the figure firm ami learned, he has
studied manners, dress. armOT 81 the nt ana haS
done all that he could TO make MS picture an au'heho
repIesentatlon OF IN actual While it reminds us
at every point. AMI cOuld not be OtherWlss OF MS
master Geromc IN drawnE. in color, in comp 'siton,
It shows OF that the artist Is as vet very Tar De-
hind ma master rs was OF be looked for, IN that
intimate Familiarity with the details OF his subject
that alone can give life aud reality to such
scene. The picture is thin in composition, 1t wants
animation and movement. It is Ike scene upon
the stage. ii il make believe, MT real ana while the
drawing Of the principal gronD gives substantial
promise future mastery at present 1t gives Us only
promise The sam charge of unreay has been brought
az inst G6rome's plctures Of such subjects, and GER
tanIy it Is sometimes deserved. but he has sometimes
succec led in making ais scene real notably IN the best
Of these works. the " Ave- Ca 'ar" We regard thr'n'
however, when done. merely as tours de force aud
maintain the usoessuesS OF such merely archaeological
res, orations At all events If artists will go back to
Greece aud Rome for subjects we protest that they
ougt to choose such enuoble and encourage u.s. or
charm us with Their beauty the least not such de-
grade us and ds gust Artists. Ike poets. ought to
Bring In. bnug In the golden age,
And let the ape mi tiger die"
We cannot conceive III times. OF any useful les
on or any warning cyeu that be drawn from tie
life OF such wre,c oh Commndus Way paint, then'
scenes from his fi Why let him be forgottenl We
know Mr.. Bdgman Is 10 France and In France OF late
years there has been mania among her arii'ts-and
they must have a public beh nd tbem-for painting
bloody disgusting forbidden subjects The manis best
VINO can up most nauseatnS peck OF dirt ana
spread il over canvas his play over his novel
No doubt Mr.. Bridgmans picture, In Paris. will seem
Ike very quiet and virginia. piece, and those who know
what the time really wac will laugh at TINS cxpursaied
page OF history compared with which the Cities OF tie
Pain were villages OF pastoral Innocence aud peace
Here, in TRUTH Is the gist OF our criticism DO
not pant such subjects at ALL but. II you will.
dare to paint them Don't mnce matters. but with
the courage and the recklessncss OF swinbufne roll
tine whole flood OF abOninable Nth through your
picture aud scare us out Of our sIns Show scorn
her own image, ana tbs very age and body OF the
time his and pressure. The mere statement
of the case a. cpoug We see cannot be done.
Then why attemptItl We consent 10 have our Horace
amended sexes cJaDGed, ana its ugly lines cut out
because there is much NAIVE beauty, inherent
swcetness essential goodness left behind. But the
Rome OF Comnodus stripped OF its vices Commodus
himself made a clean and smiling gentleman who had
a whim TO wear a hons skin. ladies today 10
dress Ia D1rectoire, Is to play Hamlet with Hamlet
omitted anu put with sn In rial snug the Joiner