The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-08
FINE ARTS.
The Ma tional Academy OF De-
sign Exhibition.
FEATURES OF THE SOUTH ROOM.
Pictures that Are Good, Bad and
Indifferent.


they hold very responsible position, and that their
influence in guiding and developing TO It's best ends
the art tendencies of the country Is great Which do
they think the most commsndabIe and advisable
thing TO the interest of the Advancement OF true
art-to cover the sails OF the in the galleries az
their dis posa furnish for public instruction and
inspection a collection OF paintings OF good average
merit the cachet OF having secured admission among
which would stamp the picture with certain amount
artistic approval and bring credit to the arst5 or
what value this country is the fact that
his work has secured . place on the Academy wallsf
Practically mono, for the standard OF excellence
quired admission IL secured Is low that the
young lady amateur or student, the young man. who
is hardly yet student the least artistic OF paintors
run remarkably good chance OF acceptance II they
send work.
Pictures each year hung upon tho Academy
walls which would disgrace the window OF the most
modest frame maker and some OF which bear dsa-
greeable and somewhat distracting likeness to the
extraordinary works which adorn the walls OF those
picture auction marts which spasmodically make
their appearance in inlet the lower part OF
Broadway and on downtown streets. great deal OF
this acceptance OF Of this kind may put down
to a very iil-advised charity. greater Kindness TO
the persons who send the examples speak OF would
be 10 make them win their squirrels spurs In art by
hard work, or by repeated reflections to discourage
them and show them tho propriety, as well as the
adv,sabilty or taking up other profession. II
this mistaken Kindness that we owe the remark
ably long mediocrities and dead failures in art
OF men who by the publication OF their names as
artists, have become implanted in the public mind
suoh and the public exhibition OF whose work each
year resards the art of the people aud Ia
such q satire art ITSELF This sort Of thing in
will give. II It has not already given, TO the phrase
"AmericAn art Significance not at all creditabe TO
the country.
An ideal artists life has attractions which draw
into the ranks OF tho profession many who have but
little aptitude and talent. II Is easy fe-thcre
Is not much nard work-they think little knowing OF
the struggles and hardships which the portion OF
best OF artists before they win sort OF rccogn
tion often very scanty with the talented OF men,
in either money fame.
Encouraged BY admitting friends, who are glad to
have among them a sample OF species which, not
acty understanding. they look upon with sort OF I'M
conscious and by enisncy the part OF bodies
OF critics the persons speak of drag out life
painful in It's strivings after the unattanaDe, bur-
den 10 themselves and decidedly 10 their friends
Revertng 70 the Academy. How much better it would
DO TO have four hundred paintings representing tho
best efforts OF the country's artists hung two lines
than TO have the walls covered TO their height with
somo seven hundred and 1fty examples. oil which a
mendation. 1t is painful to ind many paintings
which criticism are passed over as being too unim-
portant for either favorable or uniavorable mention
Admission TO Paris Salon and The London Academy
something, though occasionally through iavor
itsm very bad picture may siip IN An example in
point may noticed now hanging in the corridor
Of tho Academy here In the case OF the London
Academy number Of GOOD works are accepted over
and above Tor which there rs space Ia tho hang
ing aud away In the building until the
h,btion is over Many artists then secure rocogni-
they would have been II there were space The
between this state Of affairs and that which
nually obtains at the National Academy OF Design is
The fault however does not lilo entirely in the ac-
Of works oy ~nSe are ns not worthy
AcademIcians have al present. no regulations as
artlss, and the exhibition OF their weak productions
the limo and In conspicuous places each year re-
duces greatly the value OF the collection as means
OF art Instruction. Ono reason, By tho way. which
the Academy may have for accepting nlucn OF bad
work from OUTSIDERS may lilo in tho fnci that II
thing not seen than the work Of some or
Its members the general public would begin TO appre
ciate that also NJ It's true value
Returning 10 tho collection now on exhibition At
the Academy WILL in continuation Of criticism
take up largest, south gallery, IN detail, notic-
will until tho whole collection IS passed In
review--the pictures which we did not mention IN
the nrst general article aud such worthy Of
more detailed notics than thay then received
Normaody. France $3.50, has cont ibu.ed one Of
the most striking aud ono Of the landscapes Of
tho nrst rank IN the exhibition II Is full OF good
drawing the gnarled willows, which cast their
shadows the stream and In the foreground plants
There STRONG realism. and the general tone IS har
|
the picture are managed with much skill As good
points the feeling, well suggested. OF The close
meadow beyond tue willows and the river with It's
vol managed rcnections
New Hampshire (54i), rs a pleasing ana well
painted landscape tho weli-known faithful style
here Is good suggestion Of distance ana inc hght
sunny, cheerful picture, full 81 a quiet cnarm and
grace OF touch - krusoman van Eiten's summer Day
on wynockic River, New Jersey" t456 IL Is bright
pressing In color, with well suagesed distance,
well drawn trees, good water and iuii OF sunlight.
w. N. Chases ''Court Jester, or Keyiug Up" be-
foro mentioned. has much technical excellence. Tho
subject - unpleasant and The good painting only
makes II moro So This expression tho OF tue
head ON the tho foos wand, which strikugiy
resembles his own Is amusing. There y good draw
character; and could only wish that moro
had been taken with tho siieboard.
In .sNonquitt Marshes" tlsS) and "A Scene in
Egypt f44Ij We have couple OF good swain Gill
lords; the former one OF those Massachusetts, coast
scenes, iull Of horizontal lines, produced BY tho
uuces A. e. Howland little picture "WInter sun
set. wIiliamstown Mass t4I9j. Is neatly drawn and
has good sky :. X. Oxford Is represented 10 this
room by soc mingiy exaggerated elect, "A Sunset.
Bay Of Now York"
gwen buih 10 remarkably artistic and very poetic
picture u OF the delicious feeling OF tue alter glow
oi sunset The foreground female ngure might have
hnd little grace and then wouii have harmon
lied better with the scene.
In McEntce's .so,cr the Hills and Far Away lasl),
already noticed, there Is a charming treatment OF
the distant hills, the liRht breaking the upland
Is we'll managed, aud the sky 10 luminous.
James III. Boards "Don Quixotc ana Sancho Panxay
(l54), lis monumental failure tor rms artist
boon credited with some exccicnt and very cal
scenes In humanized animal lie. The faces oil the
greyhound aud the pug are expressive, but OF moth
ing suggested by the utla There " some attempt,
n slight, la giving texture TO the pug but tho
greyhound, with his breast reminding ono
exactly OF that OF chicken READY Tor
carving, Is painted with no attempt NJ showing hair.
aud with tho same texture tho hard drapery, The
marble floor and the armor. W. vcton's .sThc In-
truders' ts50) Is not remarkably good example, Ed
ward Gays "rne Last LOAD, Harvest Time" seems
advance aud pleasing, though IL Is hung so nigh
that a iar judgment cannot be formed ON ~. the
insertion IN the lower part OF the frame OF obong
taste.
Iovcndcns worry excellent "Loyaiist Peasant Sol
u,cr Of La vcndee 1893" t44ej attracts us on oacn
visit 20 the gallery. The neurc lace Of the old
peasant proud OF the responsibility OF bis position
real and full OF character. Tho texture paint
| ing Is q point 70 be noted
very poor picture in everything but the color,
when 10 well managed In It's relations and pleasing,