The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-19
HOME ART.

stricken people Of Memphis.
HOME ART.
lands Some Fine Work in
| Oil and Crayon.
! Dropping into the studio OF Messrs. Buck 4
Molynarl few days ago, we spent an houl
delightfully."- In looking over the works, botl
| finished and incomplete, OF those two artists
IN whose growing fame New Orleans feels {
just pride. Art In this city since the war has
not nourished. The fierce struggle Of The
many to procure even the necessities OF liz
has not been conducive to cultivation Of ,ns
thetic taste. and hence our artists have either
been compelled to abandon brushes and can
vas for other and more lucrative pursuits, OF
have sent their best works to the North ant
East, where the people are able to purchase
and adorn their homes with gems of art that
should be retained In New Orleans.
| Many Of Bucks exquisite landscapes have
been sent to Boston and elsewhere because
there was no demand for them here, or rather
| there seemed to be no money to purchase
them, even at extremely low prices. Most, II
not all, of these were scenes In and around
New Orleans. delicious glimpses OF our Lou
isiana lowlands, lordly old oaks with their
sweeping branches almost dipping into the
water of quiet bayous, in whose translucent
depthts Che woody banks and every tree and
shrub supon them is reflected with photo
graph accuracy.
Sine. Clague no artist has succeeded In de-
plotting with such fidelity the peculiar charac-
teristl 3 OF our Louisiana landscapes. which
have quiet. tender beauty Of their own.
There are no grand mountains, with their
blue mists and picturesque heights; no deep
gorges, with rushing, leaping cataracts; no
bold scenery, such as is found elsewhere, and
which artists from time immemorlal have
loved to place upon their canvas: only quiet
dreamy scenes superb old oaks stretches Of
level land, deep and still iagoons, i'm whose
perfect mirrors the minutest objects are re-
Elected SO clearly that the land seems a mere
rim OF earth with forests growing above and
beneath, and deep blue, cloud fecked skies
arching over all.
Buck has SO fully imbibed the hidden beauties
Of these placid woodland scenes. these lovely,
dreamy landscapes which are peculiar to
admire the more-the real or the painted pic
lures. Like q true artist. he always works
con dmore and his works bear evidence Of
close study and elaborate working out Of the
smallest details. He is rapid and accurate
draughtsman, and his atmospheric and water
effects are particularly fine. Standing on
an easel was q nearly finished picture Of a
pretty scene near Vaudeville. In which the
water effect is especially fine. point Of land
juts out into bayou, the mirror-like surface
of which Is unbroken even by a ripple and
the eye Is deceived by the singular translu-
cency Of the water. The woody point seems
the merest rim. and the unreal forest below
is almost az clearly defined MS the real. The
lights and shades are managed with con-
summate skill, while brilliant sumae bush
In the centre OF the picture gives just enough
color to offset the quiet neutral tints.
There were other unfinished pictures and
sketches Of scenes near Covington and Mande-
vile and Spanish Fort which give promise Of
great beauty.
Molynari has now on his easel q scene
In the French Market which will he, when
finished, an admirable realistic sketch. The
drawing is perfect, and the figure Of the typi-
cal negress with gay colored bandanna, and
smiling face, serving cup Of steamng coffee
to an eager customer, will be recognized on
sight as an old acquaintance.
The old negro playing q banjo and singing.
upon which Molynari has spent much time
and which Is the best thing we have seen
from his brush, has been christened 20.
carry me back by our Southern story
teller, Geo. w. Cable. It was happy idea,
for the old darkey has plalntive expression
and seems to be looking sadly into the dis
lance as If longing for the "Virginny home"
20. carry me back to ole Virginny" must be
the burden Of his song.
Molynari excels as portrait painter, and
some of his works In oil and crayon have at
tracted much attention. We noticed a very
striking portrait in oil, Of Col. Ed. A. Palfrey,
president Of the Factors and Traders Insur-
ance Company, which Is a remarkable like
ness and a fine work OF art.
In an adjoining room to the studio of
Messrs. Buck Il Molynari there is a very
fine crayon, by Mrs. Elliot, Of Maude Brans-
combe, whose rarely beautiful face has be-
come familiar to the world by her photo
graphs, which are eagerly sought after.
Mrs. Elliot has also small painting In oil
representing young and lovely girl wooed
by Age and Youth. Age exhibits his gold and
gems as an offset to wrinked face and snowy
hair, while Youth pleads with only the love-
light In his eyes. The maiden seems unie-
termined- wavering Atwixt avarice and love
and which Is the successful sutton who shall
say. In these prosaic and metallic days the
old gentleman would lead the lady captive
sans any doubt, and youth would betake him
to Lady Clara We're de We're" or Locksley
Hall for comfort.
A DIFFERENCE.
AS an instance Of the difference between
workmen and as illustrating the wide differ