New-York tribune., 1880-02-28
D,nn ,ch 70 tnem another day vitn pleasure, but

come back 10 them another day with pleasure, but we
soon exhaust Mr.. syInington's sketches
Mr. A. f. Bel Ows has taken rev turn TINS year. ana
for his welknown pastoral Landscapes. which miss
from their accustomed place he has gwen us seVera
ambitious 6gure-pleces. One OF these sea Dreams
No AZ seems 70 us clumsy in conception as well as IN
treatment If had been called "FisherineDs wives
R@posing" it might have passed, but FuIey the u'e
demands something pOetical tnan we nave mere
where the face of stout lacy VIC cannot see az ALL
and the face Of the other we see only too
well, But the other drawing In the North
Room. Eyes to the Blind" No. s3 is much more
serious nd important attempt and though we think ii
indefenslbe subject from the point OF view OF art
YET we must do Mr. Bellows the justice 10 say tnat ne
has achieved very respectable success where TO sue
coed at all was difficult The picture easily described
A Young man totally blind is seated on veraudah
when overloOks the Summer landscape The railing OF
the veraudah left and the young man sits face
ing us with his VIOLIN which has Just been playing
laid across his knees. His wife stands behind
him. her face half turned toward III, but looking OI
upon the landscape which she describes TO her husband
unconscOusly pointing out It's beauties Win her is
finger, a natural movement which adds an unexpected
touch Of pathOs the II may even be sald lha
without this slight action OF the wlfes hand the picture
would want meaning as well pathOs. The wiies iacc
successful than the husbands but the arus mas
ulfuly avoided the danger OF making the expression
OF the blind mans cOuntenance elther p'imu
or sentimental. II is, indeed, "A fresh wel-lookDR
face bnt then It an every day and all the artist
has put IL is look Of amable resignai"n
which, IL may he said, is quite much as the legitimate
aims OF art would permit supp0sing Though we 90 not
allow I'D that they would permit so much. However
the subject might be reaed IL could fail to be pam
full contemplate and the sole province OF Arts Deauy
and Joy not uginess nor terror. She may carry
beauty to the sublime. but 1t must De pe1uS
still, and Art is profaned and vulgarized when
she Is made TO scare with blood or shahe
us with fears We forgive this young man his blindness
because bears respectfully and because IL gives
us an opportunity of seeing how wei his wife heps niui
TO make hight OF II, but cannot think the lesson -
imuortant or the experience uncommon as To nave
made II worth the artists while TO pant pgure about
it, We say Of tins as We have had to Of many "f
our American fgurepieces II is not pictorial 1t belongs
90 the province Of the writer not 10 that OF the painter
10 describe such scenes.
A drawing which we much like, and when attracted
Us on our first vsir the exhibition, Is " The enel
herdess" No III. 10y Mr. John :. Davis THIS appears
10 us on the whole Of the best figure 81 bjccis heIe
of those ptnted by our own artists. II has not the
brilliant facility Of VI l.. Smou's work. and II Il not
ialned with much th0rougAn IS ~ iha' oi MI bae
but il Is worth fty of Mr. SimOuis drawings so iar as
uOeiy and tenderness are concerned, ana II ls more
pontaneous and sensitive far ihan Nr Bales sohd and
respectable work 1nis young shcpherdcss seems hcr
self " part OF Joyous spring" leaning against
Tree with ncr cog at her rect she knis ana sngs. a.
if she would never be old" BY the device OF carrying
uptle hillside to high horizon lue the artist has given
Ills shephcrdess "A background OF the fresh green
Of bIddiug April, with its pushing leaves
and sprlnging grass little path winds home
ward and on the upland meadow " the sheep
are feeding with sober security, while th-
pretty lambs with dumb oratory crave the dams com
fort" Altogether Mr.. DAVIS has known well how TO
weave lovely pastoral upon his small SGuare OF paper.
We wish there were more Of our arts Sho would give
us the poetic4l SIDE Of things. Many Of them have
plainly tire feeling that they should do so' hui
either they lack the training thar would make them
at home i'm such a field or they mistrust the pub
lie and are persuaded IL only for the matter
olfact and the easily understood. Thus Is great mis-
take; H. Emerson says, al men love loyer'h Is no
less true nat al love poe. and welcome posry
We turn 20 Art as a refuge from the austerites OF daily
fe in this worka-day world, ana We do not thank any
body VINO insists on following into the ideal kingdom
with real wash-jubs and real pump But. alas. We
ind too much Of this honest hut mistaken prose in most
art 2 llelies today