New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-13
CHRISTMAS CARD DESIGNS.
FRANCS THIRD PRIZE COMPETITION.
PRIVATE VIEW or THE EXHIBITION AT THE AMERI-
-. r-c..r


o 70 the public to compete for mOneyprizes for designs
for Christmas cards is we regret to cay most Gisappon
ing but OF the large number OF drawings on exhib
ZION ut the American Art Gallery it will be found work
ONO little difficulty to select four that shall be in any
way worthy OF the prizes offered In each Of tie two
! Exhibitions that have gone before, there was
SUFFICIENT number OF designs to choose
! rom II one looked at the execution
aohe The difficulty in selecting from the fact that
so many OF the competitors had forgotten Christmas
oru should nave some relation to Christmas. As 1t was,
since selection had to be made, the prize card Of the
hrst year was chosen with slight reference to its
ns bat chiefly the ground that the person who made
u khe" little how to compose and not absolute
Ehotamus IN the matters of drawing and painting. And,
last year, all attempt at making significance element
III the choice was frankly given up, and design
CHOSEN Tor It's so-calcd artistic qualities alone 1t
wei composed, well drawn and well colorel, and it had
no more reference to Christmas than it had to the Irish
| Land League.
luis year nearly everybody has kept I'm mind the de-
slraoleness OF having his Christmas card Christ
mas, ana to nothing else But them unfortunately the
WORD everybody in this includes many people
VINO are Ignorant Of the first principles Of des n say
nothing OF drawing and cOloring, that only
count Tor their assurance in competing all by suppos
ing them 10 nave believed that 40 long the card did
have relation to Christmas design drawing and color.
ing might be entirely left out allowed to take of
themselves In fact II "A call he issued for all the
competitors {" come together a given day. we should
mol he surprised to see considerable number of infants
lh-dnS appear together with schoolgirls in tittering
pouHo nor do we forget the pale faces Of those many
"ho without any reason for the hope that is IN them do
SIN hope that. by some lucky chance, OF the prizes
even the smallest would be a eodsend-mav fall TO their
share and help to exc the earnings OF the sew
Ing machine or the petty clerkship.
We pave faithfully done duty to the present collcc
ton and we regret that nothing pensauter can be SAID
OH hr Prane has, with the best intentions, and in an
honorable business spirit done his generous best to draw
ont cfedahlc display, but 50 far as return fo his
outlay 10 come from the sale any the cards
hicd here Is concerned, It certainly be looked
for II tn" present exhibition were to be taken
mack e" ur average ability oi our people IN the arts Of
"''S"' the verdict would I've That very little is To- be
hoped Tor from ns Ia tnat direction. BY far the greater
number Of the designs contain figures and there is not
really good piece o igure drawing In the collection and
very few indeed that pass0bIe Yet many OF the de
~.us that call for h,urcpgllug and for nude cures
chcrub. and chdrcn-iu din.nt af utldr arc vcnurcd
upon with uouclalaucr that would become an
Acadeu, cian. and with a result may DE guessed
when say tha' the authors are by the greater
humber OF eases. ignorant 81 an other knowledge OF
anatomy than can be obtained from studying the second
joints druusticks aud WINGS Of the roast chicken
their own d.nuer'ab,s. And they are not content 10
make child su pictures u which their want Of technical
KNOWLEDGE would show bu uttIe. II nj an they must
dash at subject, winch demand an the powers Of accom-
Pushed artist, TO do th.m Justice and ro make them
selves. and COME near 90 make their subjects, ridcu
ious.
T.cn some take refuge in copying, and make
md cards IN which IA. work Of artists d,.d and
gone "a used very frankly auI without any
intention 10 deceive but mistakenly because
fla, object Of the clrpetiuou is 10 draw out original
ideas and not merely 10 reproduce the work Of other
time. Tins we have q GOOD mann, eliminated" Dor
dcr which If not absolutely copicd from old examples
might Al. wen have been. ~ closely do they adhere to
certain well defined STYLES aud follow wclIbnown cVau-
pies one connection has four or i've drawings IN each
- which ia 1,tfp. M a ryu,rl ON dark hack
,,r,ptt ,ab ry,r Ken, from, a familiar Poupeian cK
au.pIe These are numbers $50 30 81 and 7I3 In %
ver, NEATLY executed card 80 ~, the design shows am
iprspt I,su. In ssyndIinc clothes staudiu, in the
middle of n siy.pctn,cd star so divided a,
to show q cross the whole enclosed IN a border Of pas
sion N,vcr. .! course All the Communication is subor
dnAto 10 the figure " the child. aud this is borrowed
without any attempt ~ dsgso from one OF the lovely
suld-d children o, Luca della Epbna. that sHhle 80 IA
FROM their row ~ d.. inserted the flclics of the
Founding Hospital In Florence. fhc.e figure, are known
TO every traveller and photographed for all who vi"
~ buy. To borrow onr's main aurt u this way seems
hardly fair way % entering ON competition. ~" IA
very neatly painted subject OF most
charming Prince Fi"rnrH presenting o" band'n
Knee ca-hci TO q lovely BlT ~ the same period,
b. evidently the work Of a p7nctisci hand, aud
win no doubt uai its way to the album Of some
amateur uf ,uro-tcs: itmay even get prize and
Hiu. f execution goo for an 10 usually doe, bon such COM
prtit.n. bnt ,s subject b. mere uur,aniy and yapidy.
No 5CI i,a curiosity aua might have been than
t1-itta. iu.ruious author had shown greater power
over facial expression. u les i1 low relief head OF
SAINT. clan. a., bears H's uu ..' shoulders several
la- tl .f him dom. I..- 900 the i.tutllu ui his
., - ,. ..., ....., a.,
l.-- 400" 'H' I''.' IN ''"''.' DIT ''' '.'' i''' ~
a.y, Int u B.. 4,d....tt.I, luu firmly handled and is
,..I t. r...f al. .. .,f ,.t ,.lt -.i. t,.fr that
'''.'' .. " ~.
"r lId.' wen iA- tuI'i ui' "'"u ''''"' q" ny HI7
ltt AZ . guT par. iy p.r.u..gt. .. There ai-
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'hi Nr .''" - ii' 'I' OF .''''' e." 90 F'''' !"
reality. u.u...r IUfr. uf fnr lr.iru lies not $50
3D.. .. ..,,...,. "a ,a 90, t.l. rl,,biIf.
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