New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-26
PICTURES BTL. ALM4-TIDEN1.


We have had the pleasure OF studying al
The rooms OF MI Charles ". Deschamps' VINO Is '4'a
TN, country as the agent Of NJ Ana-Iadema' le" PIC
lures recently painted by this distinguished ARTIST l. "
now several years since any pictures by Anna 4'ull'
have been seen III this country There was time "nen
Ii.uome had familiar sound, and IN the pleasant days
,,tap fine late Mr. Michael knoedler was III person
NJ the head of the house OF O'upA'
in this city, several of the pictures py
Alma-Tadena were from time TO TINE ID TIE "a
leres There were the pictures by Henry Le!s' n7
master md there were seen the hrs WorhS Oy announcer
follower Of Lcys James Tssot who, Ike AlinaIadena
has lonc since left behind HIM the traditions OF t"e
..bol in which he was nursed. Tissot has flung him
self entirely the field of modern life, ana paints or
for his painting does not seem to he so
much talked OF as 1t was-deslGhs, inc LnIH9h
young man and the English young woman
with singular penetration and dIrectness. Alma
radelua on the other hand has changed his SKY but
NOT bis mind Taught the studio OF painter who
was devoted to the restoration, in his pictures, or
edPyal times and particularly 10 subjects drawn from
the history of his native city, Aniwerp-sui9ects IL
which archaeological truth was the main thing sought
after: this first, and pcturesqucncss ncIt-M Tade-
ma began with stories drawn from still earlier times,
ana painted episodes in the histories OF the Mero'ih
gan kings
IN Lie school days he had been greatly drawn TO the
Greeks and Romans, and II was i healthy instinct that
led him. in looking about for subjects 10 choose such as
his own ancestry offered il the times when the Roman
Influences were still alive though yielding the stronger
force Of the tribes that to make Of Gau new
Nation Thus one Of his earliest pictures, and which Is
owned we believe, in this country, was called the tdu
c,u Of the Grandchildren OF Cotida the young bar
barans exercising themselves before the eyes OF their
carcut and their mOnkish teachers In sports OF mimic
war Other subjects Of like nature followed, but IN
these earlier pictures the artist had large and simple
manner learned from his master Legs AMI though adj
hariur as strictly as he knew how to archaeological
truth made no attempt to deceive the eve
or even to please it by initiative skill IN the painting
Of marble and bronze or woven stufs
soon after tAs Tadema Turned frankly to Roman sub
ects and entered Oh the way IN which he has continued
~ rho u-csent time He painted from Roman his
tor and from the private life OF the people sometimes
inycuting selecting subjects IN Which the spectator
easily found a story anecdote sometimes uu-trat
ING traits of manners social customs; sometimes
merely setting himself to portray an individual character
Thus we saw Claudius made Emperor by tue Prgtoran
Guard" subject which pleased the artist so much that
he painted II twice. the second time with an entirely
treatment; the Entrance 10 Roman Theatre" .an
excellent specimen Of his talent for archGOlO cal res
toratou; "Catulus and Les5ia, the Roman
Dancer; "Agr.ppiaa. with the Ashes OF German
icus"; "sccues III the Bath"-al studied with
great care. and showing. taken together a
knowledge " the details OF classical life very remark
able not only for but for its intimacy. The
reality Of these pictures not only in the technical
skill with which they painted; there some |
thing more than His and yet there not all that the
suect.tor demanded There however, all perhaps
that 1t would he possible to get matter how learned
or how devoted the master. No paint or
describe with partial truth land
not his own.
The pictures which Mr. Dcschamps las brought US |
are with one exception. small ut they very perfect
specimens OF the masters skill. TIE large repre- /
n. fI,.l a.af
to our thinking however well painted in part, Will not
do much the reputation OF the painter with
those who know him already, o 10 make il with those
who do not know him. The TWO figures at The right who
are dancing along a road raised above meadow |
are so large. in proportion to the people WHO |
are dancing and dlsportiEg IN the meadow, as to |
make an uncomfortable want Of continuity III the
position II composition it can DE called. The best part
OF the picture is the extreme upper part where villa
seen out o. which people are issuing with s gardens
and portcos and the fields and orchards about f. This
Dit il painted with great skill and with charming sym
patty but il quite unrelated TO the foreground
Another picture likely to make stir among the artists
is called In the Tcpdarium." ana represents nude |
female figure reclining on marble couch with q /
strigil in one hand and with Of feathers IN the
Other Her head supported Oh cushions, and panther
SKIN s1ljeus the marble % her luxurious body. At lie
left scarlet aZalea bush Ia bronze pot makes IN. kcs
note To "a very agreeable, lot mastery, scheme OF
color The 1nsh u IA-s picture Is cttl'N 10 point
seldom seen m tA, country, and The painting OF e1tures
the initiative art carried 10 The very point u
d-cerfIou. allowing for tho small size /
Of The Objects certainly very remarkable.
II - indeed carried 10 q dangerous point! for 20 newt
ably prevents tGc curious eye, delighted "Ih It's own
uhaoiug from dwelling upon what ought 90 ulaster 70
.g-tHc Body OF The woman herself V-C Is the
subject 81 the picture. WhO books al lluan's Venus
anu thinks 1t auytug but the body o! Nerus herself
iycu thr lovely Etlr dog cannot dcalh Us long IRON
these oca ful limbs, t- body-tac seat OF al perrc.
toa-tAr flesh tat makes al comparison To Tie and
sc rDs. r.lcuIOLs
III picture tla pIeases u- most in this small colcc
ton IT. that OF The TWO lovers yOAue boy ana sl, WGO
GTc s tcd upon marble acLta near tie sea- OF what Wr
take 10 be a. r-a-tOr Mr Iadtla can paint marble
bench 10 perfection bat what has life be Uor- not cnr
e. near There a1EcCjHess and simplicity ia tnis de-
sign that Nutd CARY NtrJ thing bao.c D., were there
more 10 De- ;tal d. the aces 81 these children The
mere otShl L Tie sunshine OF existence t hey share
y ia L. tens aad puppies. Bat tLls j. the draw
bacA u All NJ ladriha- perfection OF skill. 10 his much
praised color, and % bis drawing Often though By
mean away r. ic lf4"lhE az master. ", glad 10
rec these pciurrH clt, want every example
~ technical excellence Thai sOycHly and
careless ways iu art bat should be sorry
~ Adueha DliAcuiOun marble seats should persuade
ham. - N' 49, -4'- |