Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-12
Correspondence.


EsIADLlsHED-SOME AMERICAN ARTISTS JFAI.
Gus OF THEIR FOREIGN BRETHREN-rHr st.
pERIoR EXCELLENCE OF FOREIGN PICTURES
dERoME's DEAD CRsAR"-'rHE DEATH OF
MosEs' ny cADINEL--AN ATTEMPT TO PAINT
| DEIrY-cHURcH's GREAT wArEpscArE-Ar PIC.
TURE WITH HISTORY, ETC, ETC.
Especial Correspondence Of TIE Pnux11l
Since the establishment Of the Corcoran
Art Gallery in Washington, the capinl of the
United States has become quite IN art centre.
No city in the country, perhaps, can show as
many painters who, either as professionals or
amateurs, WELD the brush and dabble in col.
ors. A life school of art has been established
in the city, and l am told that fine physical
specimens of both sexes are standing as mod.
els.
There is some expression of disapproyal
among American artists of what they call a
disposition on the part of the trustees of the
Corcoran gallery to encourage foreign artists.
and to ignore native American talent. There
Is doubtless some truth in the impeachment,
but the trustees whose duty it is to select
and purchase the pictures. deserve more
praise than reproach for the discrimination
True nrt belongs to no section; the Kosmos
is ITS Bdtride, and to ennoble idealize, and per
petuate, its patriotism. The gallery contains
few pictures by American artists. of real
merit, but the worthicst pieces, it cannot be
denied, are foreign subjects by foreign artists
Among the most imposing pictures both in
size, subject and treatment. is "Cipsar Dead"
by the great French artist Gerome it is said
n he pttlts -, IL r IL
reproduced in a larger picture. where the as
sassins are represented fleeing from their
ghastly work. Here only is seen, on the
blood-spattered marble of the Senate floor,
the gashed corse of Cesar muflled in his
MANTLE retaining even in the helplessness of
death the imperial dignity of the first of Ro-
man emperors. The picture shows a thor
ough knowledge of color, form. and perspect-
i've, and, like other pictures by the same ar
tist, is expressive of intense dramatic feeling.
Among the pictures is one remarkable for
its historic associations as well as for its ex-
cellence as Il work of art it is the "Adora-
tion of the shepherds" by Mengs and it was
bought from the collection Of Joseph Bona
parte, who purchased it in Madrid during the
brief time his great brother was able to hold
linn on the Spanish throne. The artist has
reproduced the conception of Correggio in
his Holy Night, by making the light of his
picture emanate from the infant Jesus
The Death of Moses, picture of 10 by
l3 feet, is one of the early. ambitious ESSAYS
of Alexandra Cabancl, French artist who
has since become famous. The painting,
though meritorious in some of its details is
upon the whole, unsatisfactory, if not shock
ing, for the artist has attempted something
too high for mortal reach-a portraiture of
Deity. 1t was the purpose of Cabanel to
represent the death of Moses Us described in
the 3ith chapter of Deuteronomy. The Al
mighty is represented enthroned i'll air point
ing with one hand to the promised land, but
indicating with the other that Moses is not to
enter there. Groups of angels sustain the
majestic form of the Jewish leader, who lifts
to God face expressive of reverence, resg-
nation, and trust.
One of the largest pictures in the gallery
is the Drought in Egypt, by Porteals a
Belgian artist. The subject is taken from the
I'D and fifth verses of the 18th Psalm: How
he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his
wonders in the fields of Zoan, and hath turn
ed their rivers into blood and their floods that
they could not drink" Aside from the pow
er portrayed in the expression of such intense
suffering, the fnely-drawn groups and single
figures furnish abundant examples 10 the stu
dent of sacred historical subjects
A picture that has been very much admired
and copied, represents French lady in the
costume of the time of Louis NJ. walking in
forest attended only by her dog. For har-
mony Of color, and rare grace of form, this
painting by p. c. Compte is unsurpassed.
Niagara Falls, " by Church. is one of the
most remarkable productions of Americas
greatest landscape painter; it may be said
that it represents all the stupendous scene
not omitting sound and motion, for these are
powerfully suggested in the relentless sweep,
swirl and plunge Of the massy waters. 1t is
such realistic study of the awful cataract
that the beholder half hesitates to approach
too near the canvas. Mr.. Church, who seems
TO delight in water scenery, has another pic
ture in the gallery: a View of a River in
Grenada" which is perfect as Il composition,
and the foreground OF tropical foliage, as well
as the background in which the snow-crown-
ed Andes appear are worked up with the del
icate detail and power which distinguish all
the paintings of the eminent artist.
The Corcoran Gallery is receiving every
week valuable additions to its already rich
and varied collection of paintings, bronzes,
statuary, busts, and bns-relcfs from the an
tique.