New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-28
DRAMA AND ART IN PARIS.
MINOR WORKS BY GREAT ARTISTS-DE MUS
SETS LAST COMEDY.

',''O PARIS February %. 1852
The small pictorial exhibitions which each year
give foretaste of the "Salon" are all open. Art
lists do not send to them their finest works. But the
best painters and scuptOrs represented at them,
each by apaintinG. bust, or small group. AT these
shows the eye is not wearied almost 10 blindness.
1t take in pleasantly all it sees. There is, IN
coming away no disagrceable feeling Of surfeit.
The Salon in the Rue ST. Honore is devoted TO land
scape and to seaseape group Of lady artists have
hired q large room in the Rue Viyienne,
belonging to the Cerclc DIES Arts Libcraux.
Some works of merit are to be seen there. Water
color views done by Madame Laubinierc, nee Seeple.
may indeed be qualified frst-rate. Some pictures
done by this lady were placed on the line at tho
Royal Academy Exhibition in London and pur-
chased by Queen Victoria. Nine. Laubinere is.
should say, a lady who from childhood upward
has lived her own life. Her works show marked
individuality and power to receive impress
slons and TO convey them. She now,
for the first time. exhibits in Paris.
The place given to her panel (which holds six
teen water-cOlor drawings at the Rue Vivienne
shows that her talent is appreciated by the Hang
ing Committee
The Exhibition at the Rue Volncy (Cerce
Artstique is poor one. The exhibitors in tho
greater number of instances either belong TO the
club enjoy the friendship of members.
This accounts for the immense quantity Of
rubbish included in the 3,107 works on
view there. The Bonnats" "Bastien Lepages,"
" Honners" and "Leroux" are not TO
figure at the Salon, to which Basten
Lepage will send a brother of his old "Mendicant
of last year. who has led hard working life as
newer Of wood in a forest. Bonnat is powerful art
list and his style is true and rugged. Cromwell
wouid not hayo felt. if he sat to him,
any necessity TO request him to paint him
with the wen just he appeared TO him.
There is. however. no crudty in BOnnats re-
alism. He has The sentiment of the picturesque, is
a fine coorist, and draws admirably. In some re-
spccs he has the fdire and method of COurbct,
to whom he Is much more than equal. When he has
a vigorous model he works with bis palette knife
instead of with his brush using the
steel instrument as a mason might a trowel The
shadows are plasered on thick, and then scraped
and covered with transparent color. He also tuIns
his thumb to account. The coup de ponce de
Partste is often to be found in his studies have
seen portraits of women done by Bonnat, which
We're masterpieces. He does not render well mere
prettness There must he character in the model
to inspire him. His drapcr;es are ample,
aud harmonic with the physiognomies
Of those whom he portrays The painting he has
to any of those works exhibited by him in the
Clamps Elysees durinG the last ten years.
Carolus Duran exhibits n portrait of Baron EZpe-
tata which it is the fashion just now TO rave about
The Baron's head and neck only are given, and the
frame il cXiguOus. ] am not enthusiastic about
this portrait, which, | admit has two qualities,
sobricty and strong effect. This hidalgO
is dab at fencing. His proficiency in this
art one reads in his face. lie just missed
being a swaShbucker One sees in him uan of
action. who, though fool. is not a thinker. His
head, which is dark and we'll modelled, is erect and
the eye which seems ID bear" upon an adversary's
foils, is the window through which n shallow but
an intrepid soul looks upon the world.
Baudrey sends two little girlsmoagre and somewhat
pre-Raphaclite. With lily and ,unfower in their
hands they might be taken for juvenile aesthetics.
The best works of Baudrcy are not his portraits.
and the least good of these are Of feminine
models Delaunay is happier in the paintings that
he sends to the Rue Yolney. Hcnners Prayer is
wonderfully suggestive OF much that is not seen.
IL is young lady III the most earnest supplication
TO higher power. OF her we only see the neck and
a part of the cheek in the auricular region. Some
trasscs of fair hair escape from beneath black
lima veil. arranged as though she were young
widow aspiring to be a nun. Intense curiosity Is
aroused One longs 10 the whole face, even the
profile The flesh painting IN the neck and check il
simply admirable. 4 tragedy, one feels is bound
up in the praying figure.
The " Bastien Lepage is sci down in the cata-
loeme as Pas meche.p " Pas meche" is a slang
term. Ii IS a French Mark Tap.cysm When
tremendous effort is made to keep cheerful under
irving circumstances, the situation OF the person
irving to do So is d" pas mechc." This picture is a
chef d'nuvre although, save the head it unfinished.
We see country boy III sOrddly shabby clothing
and old boots world too wide for his feet He is
on the outskirts of a no less sordid village, and
looks right ahead with frank and interrOgative
eyes He may be saying; " It's long Lane that
has no turn; or d" When things come to the
worst they mend" This youth is philosopher, I'M
known to himself. He has whip i'll his hand, and
means to crack it. BaSiicn Lepago is going in the
way of Millet. One looks with pleasure
OH his stout-hearted, cheerful, unsophisticaed
country boy whom this rising-Or indeed newly
may have rcsembled i'll his youth.
The Theatre Francois has brought out a comedy
in three acts by Alfred de Musset, and dramatic
curiosity in the person of Mile. Fcyghine,
a wild Slav who is said to fence
as dexerously as Paul de Cassagnac, to
row as well as Canotier of Amiens to ride bet
fer than the Empress Of Austria, and who certainly
is bewitchingly pretty. Her beauty is very odd.
1t has wild SAVIOR. The skin of her neck and her
are made up of lilies and roses, and the
hair is golden fleece The features show slight
cross of Tartar blood-n what, it would be hard 10
say, they being regular and neat. The
eyes show intensity Of feeling with whimsi-
cali.y and brain-DOwer Mile Fcyghne
is very shy, and keeps aloof from the theatre and
dramatic associates unless when il is positively
cessary TO be with them. The name of the comedy
in which she has appeared is La Qucnoullc de
Barbarine," or "Barbarinc's DiStalf" This work is
light lively and loosely hung together. The pot is
fimsv, the action is without Conference, and the
whole q petit chef FGuTG II was written
nnn lnr NIInn HIM LLlt