New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-12
ART md LIFE.
From TIE Lopdon Spectator.

From TIE L000OH SDeCtIfOr.
When Greek art had taken the first new steps in
the decline IRON It's perfection in Phdias 1t pre-
sented spectacle simaI in certain respects to the
condition of art here. Inc manual skill OF the
sculptors was perhaps greater than that of their
predecessors. Never has marble been so finely
handled as by them but the dignity I'll inspiration
had vanished. The representation OF tue simple,
great sentiments no longer suihced them: they
stroye to give their work dttractveness by depict
ing interesting situations, or pretty conceptions OF
the popular deltleS OF the minor MY tnOlOgy. In
the place of Athene they carved AphrOdltes and
forsook Apollo for DiOuysius. This OF course.
the beginning of distant but certain end Now,
wi hout pushing the parallel too far, and without
mulyIng that artists have any pasG which X
related to them Phidias was TO PraXitelrs. 1t
seems 10 tnat the art of the present age too is
characterized by skill without inspiration, by zeal
not according TO knowledge Our altlsts-there
dre of course many brilliant individual exceptions
to the genera statements we are about TO ulak"--
have acquired an extraordinary dcXteTitv the
manipulation of their tools and materials but they
seem destitute Of creative imagination, and their
works exhibit neither originality nor insight.
They resemble the man who could talk fifteen IAN
guages, but had not an idea to express III any OF
them; or closely STILL our army, which is sup
Piled with weapons OF incredible precision and
power, while the reasons for which 1t lights are
ilttls if any, better than those which guided men
when they used bows and arrows. Sir FreGerck
LeightOns painting of the faces in Day dreams
and MetuOn " III execution are exquisite almost
beyond description but as faces they are unm-
agndtiVe and undressing The same thing is
true of the landscapes they exhibit an astonishing
mauipuative skill, but are such mere limitations
IL good part of the occupation OF the landscape
painter Will be gone.
4 second point OF similarity to the same period of
Greek art is furnished by the choice of subjects
Our artists seem to choose the faT-ietchcd the PIC
turesque the staitllng,in word the llkely.to.be.
ia lked- about. An Elton boy shot dead Just as he
saving of the guns at Malwand Romeo and
Juliet" two cats " There's a little lady on with
her cloak" 81 he FIRST kiss -; Iommy,s got IA
prize IAN anxious moment ~; Hnsh-a-Dye,
baby on the tree. top these specimens OF the
subjects and titles at the Royal Academy. Not
few of the pictures are unintelhgible without an
explanatory quotation. Now, picture Is "A perina-
neat representation; 1t Is intended TO bc always
before US; we are to take IL like bride 10 our
home. and to live with 1t. What would be the
state of n ind produced by being surrounded with
PICTURES like these One shudders At the thought.
Ellen macy, WEAKNESS, finally irritation and dis
| gust, would he our CONSCIOUS state, and uncon-
sclOusly should certainly suffer dulling of sus-
ccptlblIty TO Oty imagination and noble emotion.
Turning TO another aud greater of the ants,
| poetry, we ind It's condition similar but worse.
| Many of its rising votaries men Of splendid
| genius and accomplishments. destitute of worthy
| themes OF sOnga Their tnemes-here, TOO, we bear
in mind one or two glorious eAceptIOns-are on "A
par with the painters subjects; 10 give flow TO
their powers aud TO secure an audience they have
resOIted on the one hand, 10 things which are
simply revolving, like many of kossettis scnnets
the Laus Veneris.' and Charmides," aud, on the
other, to tryaties, pretty ballads rondels aud
concets What is likely To be the state OF mind of
tbe man who keeps himself well read in this
poetry He will be excited, without being
satisfied he will become lasciy lOus and dainty IN
this case also. the edge will be taken Oft his best
suscepti bIlitleS
Now in the habits of the society in which these
things are what do We h1d9 That painting and
poetry frequently cO-eXIst with all kinds OF petty
negligencies aud even vices wealthy man buys
pictures ana books and china AID Eastern cal pets
believing that he is a worshipper of the arts and
yet in railway carriage he spreads ms parcels
over seats which he cannot occupy and IN his bust
ness many mean actions have Dec0no second nature
to him. IL is told of old Greek professional
philosopher that when a wealthy citizen con
ductng him through room after room in his house,
where every inch of sUaCe was occupied by costly
ornaments. lac turned suddenly aud spat III hls