New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-27
IMPORTANT PICTURE BY An AMERICAN
ARTIST.

hR. p. A. BRIDGMAN'S THE EMPEROR COMMODUs
AS HERCULES. LEAVING TIE AMPHITHEATRE Al
THE HEAD OF HIS GLADIAToRs."
Mr. William Schaus, No. TAO Broadway,
recently received placed public exhibition pic
ture of and Of little Importance by
young American artist. Mr. Frederick A Bridgman.
which was exhibited at the Paris Salon OF the present
year Mr. Bridgman mas been for the last year,
understand a pupil OF BOnnat, but lie was originally
with G6rome and this picture has certainly been COLI
ceiyed and executed under the influence OF his early
master. We first heard Of Mr. Brdgman in 1870, when
he exhibited Salon OF that year. picture called
"The Country Circus (Un Cirque en- IrOpinee which
was extremely clever and noticed 10 several Of the
principal criticisms upon the Salon work full OF
promise. II more than commonly nat erfng for y
yonng artist, and a foreigner beside. TO have his
picture particularly noticed by good judges that
rear for all eyes we're little blinded by the
splendor Of pictures exhibited In the Salon of 1870
and which were sufic ent in themselves to make
memorable Occssion-Henu Regnaults SaOme," and
Lamacos's Education OF o Prince Nevertheless, as
we say Mr. Brdgmans work attracted no little attention
and was well spoken Of by the critics We remember
the picture WE'LL even this distance Of time, and
much seen since aud remember feeling grateful TO
because 1t a time for Americans, ana We were
glad TO be able to point the spirited studous work Of
our young CONFERENCE.-The could not then have been
much over twenty-as proof that II Mr.. won had dis
grseed himself and insulted by his great machine
panted for a NewYork millionaire, and which the
artist declared when his pupils Disguised left him. and
all the world was Ieering at him and US, was good
enough for the Americans"at least there must be some
feeling for art among our eOuntrymen when young
American could paIpt good picture as this by Mr.
Brdgman The success this work Of his certainly did
much 20 take away the disercdt that resulted from
the exhibition OF Mr. Yvons picture.
Since that time we have occasionally heard Of Mr..
Bridgmap, but have nothing OF importance from
hs hand Last year he exhibited IN the IOn picture
that showed as this does, strong leaning to those
classical subjects which his teacher Gerome at one time
70 much affected. It called the "Yi.it 20 an
Augur" and again drew public notice 10 the artist
his work present year, the picture are now
considering Is, believe, by far the MOTT important
work be has produced The the Colosseum near
one of th great At the right see the banks
OF spectators the OF seats sweeping away 10 long
perspective the left tue broad passage that cuts
through the circumference OF the auditorium aud leads
to the At the angle where this entrance stops
the seats the EmperOrs court guards ladies' Senators,
swarm 70 see pass and cheer and shout and fling
down garlands upon him aud his attendants The
trsi figure OF the composition is the Imperial gladiator
himself wreaihed with golden aures clothed with the
hons skin, and bearing in one hand palm branch,
aud in the other a golden Victory, perched
upon the globe. His breast and
bare jow elled grde uphods his embroidered tnnic,
and his Thighs aud legs covered with reaves OF gold
Mr. Brdgman has given the monster face resembling
his father the good Marcus Aureus. Irouc Oucn: Tor
curousy enough the physognomss srt meets with one
OF Its most signal rebufs IN the face OF the
Christian Of the Pagana." where we certainly ean
find small either of elevated moral character or OF
intelligence. No Mr. Bridgman seems to say. con
you nd In this handsome, smiling decidedly weak face.
the likelihood OF Its owners cruelty passing belief and
vices that shuddering humanity hide her eyes. In
front OF the Emperor walk two young boys carrying
trays on their heads ed with gold pieces the pay Of
the giadators still further In advance the great
wagons loaded with the wild beasts slain by the
Emperor in the arena with his hand; the
wagons are followed by crowd OF people,