New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-22
HARDER.

The second paper on Fifty Years Of Amer
lean Art" which appears in the present number OF Hdr
ger is occupied with brief sketches of several of the
more prominent artists Of this country, whose merits
are discussed in tone Of candid appreciation, rather
than Of profound critical analysis The following par
ngraph the writer's highly favorable estimate OF
Mr.. Church The objective school Of American land
scipe painting found its eliminating exc Hence as II
seems TO u.s. IN the art Of Frederick Church In his
art life are demonstrated the tendencies and aims OF tho
chef national school have produced during the last
half century In his works tIe technical weaknesses q
This school are apparent and the time its noble
sympathy with nature, and its love for the crauder as
pect Of the external world 10 also represents the rest
less unsasfed genius Of our people during this period
ever reaching out aud beyond and ycarnlug Venice
Ike to draw to itself the sp1 the riches the spondoIs
OF the whole round globe To ant the paintings OF
Mr. Church are what the geographic csntos Of Cmide
Harold have been to the poes OF Eng and or the burn
ing descriptions OF 50. Pierre and ChaeaubrCnd TO the
literature of France II such topic is permissible in
,etteTs NAV il not also De allowed sonnet mes in paint
ingl Whether the is as lofty epic poetry or the
other as great historical painting or subjective land
scape is a question which We do not need here TO
analyze Il is sufficient that each holds important
position and carry Of the palm in either can only he
the result Of cOnsummate genius Yes, what Cmde
Harold did for the scenery OF The Old World, the art Of
Church has done that OF the New The v3sness and
the glory this continent were yet unreyeaed 90 us
With the enthusiasm Of Raleigh or Balboa he has eX
plored land and sea- combining the elements or the eX-
porer and pupil Of Cole lie has carried 10 its
full fru.tion the aspirations Of his master, first gaming
inspiration along the magical shores OF the Hudson, and
amid the ideally beautiful Of the legendary Cats
kills Our civilization needed exactly this form OF art
expression at this period and the artist appeared who
taught the people love beauty, and 20 find It among
the regions which with the of our pioneers
Some Of the characteristics of Mr. Page rapidly set
down as follows: William Page native of Albany,
who stud el law. ana for time also theology az AndO-
yer Seminary from the first BIASED IN favor OF art
His mind is combination Of the speculative and the
practical and IL he union OF these anttheca quail
ties which has alternately aided hndercd the success
of Pages efforts and experiments. He is deliberate
rather than nsprauona, guided bv exquisite feeling
for color ana an admirable Of FORM but too often
undulv controlled by the logical and analytical faculty
Had his fancy only been chldike, and been left
more to the guidance Of his natural and correct in
ttincs Mr. Pages works would have Oftcuer moved Us
by their beauty rather than the dcXierty OF the tech
nque suH. IL is 10y the aid OF a few such questioning
minds that art makes its advances aud cOnqueIs the
rrets Of nature. As portrait painter Page has placed
himself among the first artists OF tho age. We see
I'm his portraits dignity and repOsc, grasp Of charac
ter aud harmonious richness Of color that wonder
l1ly Impressive" Newport Society in the last Cen
tury presents quaint picture OF fashionable lie at
the date OF the Revolution; Gold Mining in Georgia
and The Navesuk Highlands" reproduce the local fca-
lures OF interesting portions Of the country, but widely
Offering in and character; and the usual variety Of
nctlon and poetry completes The body Of the number