The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-06
HANS MAKART'S PICTURE.
4NTHONY j. COMSTOCK DIFFERING
WITH ANDREW d. HOPE
Il Nude Figure Objectionable IN Fulton
street and Not In the Loan Exhibition
The Entry or Charles v. into Antwerp.


Il Nude Figure Objectionable IN Fulton
street and Not In the Loan ExhIbltIont
The Entry OF Charles v. into Antwerp.
For week prior to Thursday last pic
ture was displayed in the show win low Of Mr..
Andrew j. Hope. a Fulton street confectioner.
which attracted deal OF attention. 1t is
spirited composition representing the entry Of
Charles V. into Antwerp. On Thursdny last
those who had been accustomed to stop in pass
ing to admire the picture found over tho glass
that protected It in its handsome walnut and
gilt frame large show card. on which the fol-
lowing had been conspicuously printed:
Broadway the enclosed picture which he bad sSGibi
ton In bis window, aw,terc9or copy Of Matarts great
Antwerp which Is az prescn; al The rngC gt the Expo
country eore CHRISTMAS. TOOK pr1ie in showing Il 20
The pu6ic A gentleman eiaimlne 90 be the s,cietv for
and persmp.only ordered 1T ont OF the widow surely
The picture is 3 feet long by is'inches wide.
The Characteristic Dutch architecture is shown
in the background. Advancing UP the street
on a high stepping charger is tho youthful En-
peror. Behind him and by his side ride his
retinue OF gorReously habited Generals and
courtiers. with whom several beauties OF Ant
werp are not unwilling 20 engage in pretty
irtations from the quaint old windows. As
tho Emperor advances comey mothers
hold up their babes that they may see him.
There are In all over fifty inces In the picture.
10 Tar there Is nothing nj which Mr.. Anthony
]. Comstock of the Society for the Suppression
OF Vice could take exception. Hans Makart is
recognized ns a great artist. and the picture ex-
hibited In Mr.. Hopes window is declared By
good artists TO be a creditable copy. Walking.
however. in, front Of the Emperor's horse are
throe scantlly dressed women. There 10 nothing
in their action In their faces. or IN the arrange
ment OF the drapery. 70 suggest lewdness. Art
lets. In discussing the picture. explain that in
those times tthe sixteenth century, 1t was Gus
tomary, on an occasion ON which the people OF
city desired 70 receive monarch and tn eN-
press profound sense Of allegiance to him, for
noble ladies to disrobe In order to walk before
him as heralds. IL was deemed symbOlical of
the sacrifices the people were willing 10 make
Tor their royal master and the ladies them
selves esteemed 1t nm honor 20 bo selected to be
heraldS. This is sail 20 have l@en done in the
Such scene Hans Makart has represented.
The gazo Of the spectators 10 fastened upon the
Emperor and rot upon the ladies, whose walk
proclaims their pride in tho position assigned
to them. and who are unconscious Of any sense
IL connoisseur in art said yesterday.
Mr.. Hope cannot exhibit that picture. then
the Loan Exhlhition must tnke down from It's
walls the Birth OF Venus by Cavanel. a nude
figure by Bouguereau. and picturpby Leloir."
Mr.. Constock. however. makes tho point that
what may be perfectly. proper picture in Il
gallery may be altogether improper In "a show
window. He says that in point ot tact boys did
gather on the sidewalk in front OF this picture
ana tnAt lie VIII swear 10 CIRCUMSTANCES That
were to him Iroof that the boys minds We're
improperly affected.
We don't Interfere Mr. Comstock added.
with the snl. Of any work Of art. as such.
| The DecHmcron of Bp"nerio can be- found
in every nIN;-class book store In New York
We don't interfere with it, sElc there: hut wien
a man advertised Tho Dccamcron NJ rare.
rich, and racy reading. and put il upon the
market At prices so cheap M 10 tall within the
means OF boys, We int.rier,d aud were ~us-
tained hv the courts. II. ha, boon expressly
hold that jury shall hc tho lud-o 81 VIVA; j. To-
bo held obscene. and that they may take into
consideration the price at which the alleged OBJ
scene matter has been sold
Mr.. Comstock says n has done nothing hat
be is not compelled 80 do by mis- oath ~ of'irc.
The statutes 81 the state. he says. prohibit the
sale or exhibition OF obscene how'd. or lasciyi
ots publications ~ pictures. aud long before
the statutes were made. tnU common law. rs IN
| tcrprrtnd by tho mos; distinguished Judges
had defined oli-crnity. Tho Lord Chief justice
| Of Lngapd. Nlr. Comstock tuntiu ucd. used these
words. which bear on the case IN point:
What can De more obscene than many PICTURES puhlicy
exhibited a. the Venus "a the Dulwich Gallery, Il doc,
ai tg4ow HAT breags such aictugu II ,Alhto4 in
STREETS viii impuuib. " ~
Other decisions OF the court OF last resort In
England affirm this view.