Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-10

X
ceptionally fine one, and am sure deserves all
the distinction the jury Of the Salon have the
power to give 1t. Ever since / saw Ii the first
time have prayed that it might go to America,
and be retained there. but l am very much
afraid it will never have an opportunity of cross
Ing the water. Monsieur F. Fertiault, by the
way,-a well-known French poet and one who
rendered some valuable assistance to Long
fellow when he was in France, has composed
poem on the picture, which will be printed In
one OF the foremost art Journals here when the
Salon opens. He was kind enough to give me
permission to send it across the Atlantic for
publication in advance, and take great pleas
ure in giving it to the readers Of The STAR. 1t
describes the picture quite well. For the bene-
mt OF those who may not be otherwise favored
append here a rude aud hasty translation but
still one which will give the reader some idea Of
the original:
THE MARRIAGE DOVER"
The The notary s sits at 2 corner Of the table
The parents Of both sides. group 90 respectable,
Warmly contend for exactly their rights.
"a contract! ali. sir. it is no laughing natter
But the father Of the boy responds to the l,ster.
And desires in gold two more cows on the table.
Th An Yd during this eager and stormy affair
In thstsnus little corner. for them earth and air.
They speak not but bright their sparkling young
No No. more Naic spins: All! her John is 50 wise
1he fingers are charmed. and the staff idle lies"
The Salon exhibition promises to be about the
same as usual this year, and there will be the
usual number of mediocre pictures If the in
stitutlon wishes to preserve it's reputation it will
have to adopt more rigid rules for the future.
Another OF the Important pictures. hear will
be the Execution of the Emperor Macmillan
at Queretaro," by Jean Paul Laurens The mo-
ment depicted is that i'm which the guard arrives
to lead forth the unfortunate man to his DOOM
Inc confessOr Weeps, and the valet is on his
knees before the Emperor while in the omen
doorway, through which streams the strong
sunlight of a tropical afternoon, stands a Mexi-
can officer, with the death warrant in his hand
CarOlus Duran sends his death of Christ"
which, as composition, is not strong) and, 1
believe also, full length portrait Of Lady Dali
hOusie, of Scotland which is one of the strong
est and best portraits ever saw 1t is wonder
fully bold and free in its handling and vet is
exquisitely delicate. The figure is full of life
and motion, and l venture to say the Salon
never before saw finer piece Of portraiture
than this. Mr.. John S. Sargent, the young
American who has been so successful in Paris
| sends large composition of rather impress
sonlstic character, representing a stage of q
Spanish cafe concert, as well as one or two
portraits. Mr. Sargent was pupil of Caro-
LUIS Duran, but is already a rival Of his
former master. It is said by some that
he paints better than Mr.. Duran, but
how just the statement may be 1 am
talented young man, and has most brilliant
future before him. being not yet thirty years of
age. He has lived almost all his life in France
ana In many ways Is more or less a Frenchman
Bouguereau (who, by the way, has been very
ill with diphtheria) sends to the Salon nude
female representing twilight. The figure is
floating half envelOped in q dark blue gauze
drapery. He sends also q group Of peasant
children. Hector LerOux sends one of his
POmpeiian subjects girl fishing from a ouay.
with the rIlinS and VoSuvnc in fho hoo OH md
A. E. Hebert sends q muse playing q harp.
She is looking through the strings and the
composition is said to be very poetic. f. H.
Bridgman, the well-knOwn and popular Ameri-
costume, which is very cleverly painted, and
also rural scene in France. Burr Nichols
another American. sends q large Brittany SUBJ
ject A. Harrison exhibits an Indian funeral
and boy by the seashore.
PROSTITUTING TALENTS.
How true it is do not know but think it is
all true. what heard'the other day about Num-
kacsy. viz: That he retires to his country seat
every summer and for six months paints spot
boilers" for the American market, with special
understanding that they are not to be exhibited
on this side the water. I suspect too, that
more painters than Munkacsy do this sort of
thing. They know the Americans will pay any
thing for picture, however bad If it is painted
in Europe by celebrity, and they act accord
ingly and ill their purses. This does not speak
well for the men who do it, of course; but when
man has vast and princely estab-
lishment like Munkacsys he must sell a
good many pictures to keep it going, and
the gu1lible Americans offer a tempting OBJ
portunity. l wish Americans could learn to
bay picture on Its merits, whatever the name
attached to it; 1 wish they would buy what
pleases their eye and their heart, rather than
that which pleases their vanity. If they did,
Mr.. Munkacsy and Others would be compelled
to shut up their ''snide' factories
The Figaro not long ago printed a long
article beginning Hip hip, hurrah! the Ameri-
cans are cOming!" meaning the picture dealers
who come over annually from New York for the
Salon and the spring season. 1t went on to say
that at the. present time pictures were rated
more by the square yard and the numbers of
figures, each yard and each figure being counted
SO much extra, than by the special merits of the
whole. have mislaid the copy / had of the
paper, 80 l cannot give q clearer idea of the
article at the present moment It was very
amusing and very sarcastic cutting not only the
American purchasers but the Partisan artists as
well.
FRENCH ART FOR AMERICAN HOUSES.
Baudry is now at work on his ceiling for
William K Vanderbilt's drawing ROOM It rep
resents the marriage of Cupid and Psyche, and
will certainly be very fine, if he does himself
Justice. Mr.. vanderbilt's house ought to be a
palace. with ceilings painted by such men as
Baudry. But fail eyer to have heard of Van
derbilt buying picture from an Americanor
employing an American to paint a ceiling; and
yet there are Americans who could paint a good
ceiling and who paint good pictures But there
Is probably more cheap glory for the average
millionaire American in Q careless danb by Num-
kacsy. made exclusively for the American trade,
than in the honest work Of the native artist.
4 LANDMARK GOING.
The ruins Of the Tuileries Palace are, il is
said, to be demolished, and tho site thrown
open a = public square, connecting the gardens
n mont Of the present ruin with the Place du