New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-02-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

FsTuErICs. ny TUGENR vRRoN Iran o mn n az j
French by W. H. ARMsToNd. b. A. l-n'O' ~ --''
T., ,I,s treatise. which forms volume OF
,,o ondonl Library of Contemporary science lno
r,rc,rlcs OF rationalism applied TO the
t,on of art In opposition TO the theory IN WHICH
,,,,tod pc n tissue OF transCendental m!Sci'''
,c,os finding their final expression III that absolute
convention Of ideal beauty which is tho uheh"nEu"'0
md divine prototype OF the real things afounu U.s.
o view Of the author art IS the natural result OF m
accumulation lie IS so constituted that ne uciN'
pleasure from certain combinations OF lorhs' me-
colors movements sounds. rhythms ana H"'tV'
But these combinations give him pleasure o'''
when they express the emotions OF tno SUI
an ,trucclinc with the accidents OF me- V'
an nres,nco OF scenes Of nature. The p'as'Ic
art. which are addressed 10 the eve names
these impressions by the representation OF "'ge'"'
forms and attitudes, and OF thc reai ana lld'iu"
sccnes which they call up The other avs "hlch Sio a."
dressed 10 the ear have for their domain inc minute
,np,tnlicity OF sounds outside the material conditions
chat relate 10 optics and acoustics, Work oi art 10
founded ON the personality Of the author It's V"ue
dcpcnds on the power with which it reveals ms
final and aesthetic characteristics, not on the rediIdn
OF The ideal and eternal Beauty of Plato Bu II Is suo'
10 the necessity OF conforming TO the mode OF thinking
md feeling Of the public TO which II appeals ms mar
NOM, however il not a condition Of the intrinsic merit
nj the work But a. a matter o. fact the want oflt oeh
causes a work 10 fall rapidly into oblivion SUI eases
of this KIND happily are very rare An arust Vi u"'
feeling has but TO abandon himself 10 hls emo
tiop ard IL VIII become contagious ana ne VIII
receive the praise which he deserves SO long rs ne
ohserv,s tbe rules that spring from The organic nature
az man he need not concern himself with academic u-
di,ions and receipts. IL there Is no such thlug az
absolute art the author continues, there Is aISo "'
deHn,tivo and final system Of Esthctcs The various
formulas under winch ia It has been comprised Ideal
Ism naturasu and the ike, merely Inherent ways
NftIIsf ~ ID
thc,n Each may be suited to certain individual or
national temperamcnts, while repugnant TO natures VI
different character We may prefer one to the other
according TO organic attractions, but nethef can pe
excluded by Fsthetics. any mole than 1t can DING
passion or fancy into the domain OF science Inc
autbor recognizes the tendency OF modern scIeuVo
IN deal with positive facts rather than meta
plysical distractions Art, also, he ma1h'alhs'
e. moving m tie same direction. II Is retlilDS
rom The sphere Of mythology 10 the world OF
reality Hence the portrayal Of the passions ana seh
ucpts Is becoming a strongly marked characteristic
The present volume accordingly is devoted to the lns'
tra'!on OF personal art the manifestation OF individual
tmprcs.ons as opposed to tie academic method or the
imitation of previous forms and the realistic method OF
fhe literal imitation of actual things. In the develop
meut and illustration Of these ideas the author pursueS
m original line OF thought; he is always ingenious out
NOT ALWAYS satisfactory; and though he is familiar with
The methods OF forcie his arguments are not
always conclusive nor bis suggestions convincing h'S
book has the form exhaustive treatise hut IL must
be regarded as collection OF hints rather tAan pro
found system.