New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21
FINE ARTS.
the CHRIsrMAs-cARD COMPETITION.


general verdict that while there is almost advance
whatever display OF last year, when the col
lection Is looked at whole. yet there few de-
signs here better in opinion than any shown In the
former competition.
Ana indeed II we'll for those whose labOriOus duty IL
is to make up their mind and pass judgment many
and varied OBJECTS, that there few merltorOuS
ones. for nothing can be more dsheartenlng than the
sight of so much human labor hopeessy wasted as is
forced upon here. And though is disposed
mrth on studying by far the greater number of these
designs, yet there Is feeling stronger than
this that Outweghs it-a feeling OF pity,
for we know that most Of this work, and all the
worst OF IT, epresens phase of the struggle for existence
Oh the part incompetence and-what shall FAY q
on the part OF PRIDE that will not be content to earn It's
living in ways that are healthful and natural to its
capacity, but Will elbow its INTO tins where It mas
no srengti 10 walk, and as II were, essay to take
the Kingdom Of Heaven by storm. Out OF
this whole collection Of close upon 500 designs, we
have only been able 10 lnd dozen that show any real
capacity an Of these several are evidently by practsed
hands amusing themselves with tralOfkill that Is
pretty bring of them pleasant addition to
their years pn-money. Then there a dozen more
that tease us by being too good to condemn
utterly and by no means good enough to
be approved of. while outside OF these
is the multitude whom no regardeth, most OF them
despamngy incompetent and silly it s impossible to
say why they have been allowed place at ALL Yet 1t
must be remembered that here is exhibited only
quarter part of what was sent and that piled up
somewhere mercfuy out Of sight the heap OF tteen
hundred rejected designs recSOned unworthy TO DC
by OF the four hundred ana fifty accepted
which cannot In conscience allOt word
Of praise
II we are right in our Judgment and we believe the
public will bear it, ths is certainly bad show
Ing Yet bad is 1t ia well the trial has been made
and we thank Mr. Prsng tor king 1t, AMI hope no Will
be encouraged by result to go and try the expert
N.s. In
which hope TO advance the arts OF design In our
country by an appeal that shall set large numbers OF
people at actual practical work in any given division OF
the field and expose the result OF their competition to
the wide criticism of the public Elm spite OF the I'M
happy general OF the display thsyear there Is
clearly a gain IN particular instances; there are
few designs, at least, where the artist has
brought to the work sentiment, skill in drawing
and agreeable color. with some notion at least
OF what meant by composition
There several very pretty and very skifuly eI-
ecutei pieces OF illumination here. Nos. 2 H. IL, jos
we have noted particular In oil but the last of these
Illuminated pieces the border is the successful part As
soon as the artist begins add his detail
the design Ia hurt there is fatal incOngruty Thus let
he visitor look No. H. The whole work Is executed
with exquisite and accuracy the lettering Ia
beautiful Kind but the three shields introduced
border wholly incongruous tho designs are
petty. the realistic matched cottage in the mid
shield supposed place where the Child Is lying. with
the rays Of light streaming from door and window aud
the star overhead pouring down It's rays again-al this
is OF keeping with the rest OF the design, which II not
copied literally from any actual example IA yet rgor-
Ousy consonant with the spirit OF hundreds Of we'll
known xampIes II Is bad taste 10 NIL things up In
this manner In No. 10 again the border
ana Is as asrfuy selected and adapted 1t is beaut
fully executed. Bot we come TO the |
contents OF this border we fad de-
sign, ugly in ITSELF blunted oval me |
rt.alt
squares with banderoe. uttering about-a design
that would have impossib the media val designer
Of this jewel-like border IL No the OldfdsiOBed
square headed notes lead themselves appropriately to
the flower Of the border but the inspd angels in
the lower g hand do not belong to the rest
though they without certain refinement In their
nspidty. Cannot the author OF this design that
the Introduction Of the rectanele ncosnR these angles
1, the too mu that often comes IN at tho last 10
make the spectator wish well enough" could have
been let alonei No. 305 again tries 10
unite natural treatment with arti-
ical one by Iucing into the border Of his
design bunch OF perwinke. prettiy and carefully
painted after ure. though In treltmenta lille sta
This without good pr cedents the chief difference
between aud the Older examples being that tue old
illunIn itor', when they nled Their borders with
partIruar plant, varied tue composition with moths,
buttefh es, Shells ETC.. etc, gave 1t AZ much lie and
variety possible For part, think very favor
alb these illuminated designs ana wish they could
win favor too from the public. But If copying the beau
u old models TO be carried 40 far It is here the
designers would do we'll tn recoect that the medieval
ars settled laws that controlled their work pretty
clearly. and 1t better TO submit TO them until
sure we can break them with profit
pretty little design 10 M. 4l0 Violently by prao
tsed and skul hand Tue central picture, rectangular
n shape. has border filed In at the side with tall
lily stems IN painted j,rs. well-lesgned banderOle
floats at the top panel inscribed with appropriate
he ia fha gipal gla wit
notes belong these words. All this Ia well
balanced design II lutte formal, and executed with
finished neatness The central picture however IA the
best part OF the design. wintrY landscap, hand
sleigh with the driver IN regulation urs and livery.
pa r OF ceSerydrawn horses and two ladies dressed
In the style that suits with such equipage, have
stepped into the AMI astonsh forornity
and her child basket Of vands put up by DclmOn-
co. and of bOnbOns from MaIllards wherewth to
IN IKE Cbrlsmascheer In their humble home. There Is
comfortable OF high IN tnis clever re that
We are suite will make II many friends
Another design. and ON the whole. barring the fact
that Is particularly appropriate to the occasion
Christmas caro- Is No. 442 young mother whose
little boy has pulled hmsel 10 her neck aud Is giving
nd receiving hug. The figure OF the lady one
OF the best IN the whole collection indeed for action
and grace combined there is BETTER the cooring is
agreeable and the mstetoe border the only rt which
attaches the design to Christmas is well composed and
harmOnizes with the rest way usual here. This
is much more artistic piece OF work than the one VIC
just been noticing No 419 but II had nything
about OF them would certainly carry of the
first prIze.
e another that in itself deserves notice praise
No. 473. most drOll embodiment of Puck borne along
the snow wthered oak-leaf What the elf has
TO do with Christmas 1t puzzles us TO know but no IL a
teal elf and mistake. like chesnut-bur In his absurd
ltte body and with much drollery IN his pnched-up
face. He sits lightly his slender and that
again II lightly borne the snowy field
There is pretty bloted color No. 4G2 but no par
tcular design and little beside this botlIng 10 take tile
For n uufp uke ne