New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-02
THE 6EykLE COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS

The first really noteworthy collection of
| paintings offered for sale this season shown ct
pryate Wednesday in the usual unsatisfactory
manner at the Leayitt Gallery We say unsAtsfac
tory members of the sterner were by tho
OF the Invitations restricted TO the hours between
and 10 In the evening and experience has abundanty
shown that gasght crowded rooms and the inevitable
sdunos OF supper table and clouds OF tobacco smoke
cannot he&econciled with view Of the pictures 1t
was possible be 10 obtain under protest ur-
rled glance 1T the paintings In the morning but after
O'Clock Iaies only" admitted-a singular custom
which Mr. Leayitt persists in following with some ex-
cuse perhaps the of the Wolfe collection. but
without the shadow Of the most prudish reason In tho
present instance The societies OF artists in the city
have learDcd the wisdom OF abandoning evening views
for critics and OF allowing those whose business IL TO
write regarding pictures fair opportunity OF seeing
what they have deal with 1t IL time that Mr. Leavis
should this lesson, and trust that in the future
he will see lit make proper arrangements for seeing
his exhibitions by daylight aud under suitable cond-
tons.
The si1tysix paintings exhibited at this gallery arc
tie property OF Mr. j. c. Runkle, a gentleman well
known as a collector OF what are commonly termed
class paintings. chiefly OF the French school,
which he has frequently shown at the exhibitions OF the
Union League Club This collection affords fair
representation OF the work which has been most popular
among amateurs FOR the last five years. once
the Dusseldorf school held firm sway, now II small
French
wanting abundant signs of more general recognition
soon 20 come for the Holland and Spanish schools and
some OF the younger French painters Mr.. Runsles coll
lection IS interesting Offering the first break In the
apothy which has characterized the sales galleries this
season There is single picture OF the Importance Ot
Regnaults "AutomedOn," but the average Is higher
than that OF the Moron-Hoe collection shown at this
gallery year ago, while, without any direct cOmpar
ison between landscapes and hurepleces II is safe
say that this collection Is OF worthy interest than
that exhibited by Mr. Wolfe last March. The majority
Of Mr.. Runkes pictures landscapes and OF cabinet
size We find five by Daz four by Dupr6 three each by
Daubgny and rroyon two by Coro aud by Charles
Jacque. II would be preposerous claim that all these
pictures fair examples or the great artists whose
they bear and 1t is hardly necessary say that
In this. as In almost every one OF our much
heralded collections OF foreign pictures, names
made to multitude OF sins. In No. 90, for
ample, "Cupids Flight" by piaz, fail to discover
any grace OF expression nor there the richness and
radiance which night look for In his Flowers" No.
Is. There usually lingering beauty Of ooorng
some trace Of the masters skill 10 his work. whatever
the haste with which tse picture knocked Of for tho
market and seem TO find more than this In the
"study OF Trees No %, which, for the hard and
awkward painting of patches Of sky among the foliage
10 more satisfying example than 10 often met
with. Thette landscape by Iroyon. No. 90 deserves
unstinted praise. The foreground pool and sedge
the Of foliage the interrupted perspective and tho
heavy gray clouds are blended into delightful study
In color without becoming merely decorative, for
each preserves It's individuality and proper relations
There something attractive In tho clever little
Boy and Donkey by the same artist The three Pic
lures by Daubgny of higher character than usual
III such exhibitions Best OF the three is tho Evening"
spring landscape, with cluster Of trees the lett,
broad plain beyond and cows figures the water
in the foreground. Even more resttu and tender Is
The Hamlet by Theodore Rousseau, which. with the