New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-04
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARTISTS.
FIFTH ANNUAL rxn,pr11oy-xrw PICTURE.

FIFTH ANNUAL EXHlBIIION-NEw PICTURES.
The picture that first strikes the eye on en-
tcrlng the gallery Of the Society Of American Arts
completely relying with pictures not before e1nt-
itcd-is Mr.. f. d. Mllets portrait Of Mr. Lawrence
Barrett the tragedan, odsStS This is the most i'm
portant picture remember T. have from Mr.. Nil
let's hands, unless the FeTy brilliant and life
Ike ones hc paints skLiully with his models the
stage when he delivers his lectures Greek ard Roman
Costume. His present picture has dignihed
look hangs in It's architectural frame in the ccntre
OF The south wall and deserves TO be looked at ser
ousy. 1t is distinctly portrait although 1t is IN eos
there has been attempt Oldeaize the actor
done by Reynolds III The Of Mrs Siddons when
he painted her the Tragic Muse, or as was done by
Gerome when he painted Rachel az the Muse Of Greek
Tragedy III both these there an attempt
the part Of the painter to touch the imagination by
accessories well give Interpretation OF char
acer. Mr. Millet has tried to do more than merely
show us MI Barrett IN his stage dress, and he
has been content To make as agreeable
picture as was possible with his material We
90 not confess understand the action Of Cassius He
does appear be simply drawing the toga from his
face but holds IL II he were cingng 10 II IN
foorn hope. The best parts Of the painting are the face
and the barred the drapery If well designed IN It's
folds hut has little substance the forms beneath 1t are
suggested, and this they must be- # drapery is 10 De
acknowledged well drawn. Nor do the feet TO us
firmly planted and why should they be 80 mistily
are details results from the study OF the picture
Us a whole Is impression Of dignity, OF no small learn
ing The artists part and the wish that he might ind.
what he yet has found subject where that learn
ing might be Wen employed
Mr. Walter Palmer's Venice" il not an advance. an
we cannot think it ndisputably an advance. upon his
autumn landscape of last years exhibition, ia notwith
standing picture that does the artist great credit 1t
curious contrast 10 the paintings OF Venice by
artist Bunce, who the subject only the
most delightful opportunities for reveng In beautiful
color" by BAYS peacccks neck in hue" Mr.. Pal
er on the other hand. the Queen OF the Adriatc
yelled in sunlit mist and with hardly more than sug
Qestion Of color anywhere, so that We find
ourselves looking at his picture as
delicate drawing in pastel The eye
across a broad stretch Of water to the city, which
M the borizon-sta Maria della Salute the
and to the right the Campanilethe only far distance
being the Canal OF the Giudecca on at the LETT aud
even here the eve cannot get far for the pleasure Of
studying beautiful lines made by the smoke from
seamer and by the reflection OF the smoke in the water
This part OF the picture find the most pleasing, and
we constantly return the airy grace OF these meeting
and departing curves The water Is also beautifully
painted and there Is disturbance OF mar
monte relations long as we can steer cieA
of the too prominent and wholly uniuteresuns
moorin posts in the immediate foreground Consider
ing delicate key In which the picture IL painted we
cannot think that anything more substanual thah
company OF waterfowl diving seagul SHOULD nave
disturb the serenity Of this gently laps
ing water Considering too, the relative distance rom
the line Of the picture Of the nshn boats at
the right hand and Of these moorinsDoAtA bsrn onhi