Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-30
ART NOTES.

II is said that 800 proof engravings OF Nun
kaczy's Calvary" have been subscribed for In
advance OF the finishing Of the picture. As each
one costs sloo, el5o.0oO are already assured.
Add to this what the painting itself would
orihg or what would produce by being ex.
hibited in the principal cities Of the world, and
some idea OF Its value can be formed
Mr.. Guillaume goes in short time 10 At
lanta, whe re he viii spend some time. having
received commission from Senator Brown OF
Georgia TO paint several portraits Although
he studied and graduated In France. OF which
country he Is a native. Mr.. Guilaume has for q
long time resided In the United States, meeting
with gratifying success Mr.. Corcoran has been
one of his best patrons.
According to the New York Tribune, "Mr
Thomas Ball is making q bust Of p. T. Barnum
for the Smithsonian Institution" That there
should be q bust made OF Mr. Barnum, seems
natural and proper enough and that Mr.. Ball
should make II is not strange; but 1t will prob
ably puzzle the average scientist more than a
little to tell why II should be made for the
Smithsonian Institution. Hasn't the Tribune
got parts Of two stories mixedi
Mr.. F. J. Fisher, who has been regarded az
confirmed bachelor, or at least welded only to
art, quite surprised his friends last "Wednesday
evening by takingt to wife Miss Elizabeth Brewer,
OF this city, VINO Is also artist OF decided tall
ent,-the ceremony being performed by Rev.
Mr. Chester, or the Metropolitan Presbyterian
church, at the residence OF the brides parents.
Sls East Capitol street. The happy couple nave
since gone to the mountain regions OF vir-
ginia, where they will spend the summer,
making studies sketches, etc.
Mr.. Charles Armor, who has lately been Civ
ing his attention almost exclusively to the re-
producing OF still life subjects is remarkably
happy In the representation OF fish. pair O!
shad from his easel lately finished would com,
pare favorably with work OF the same class by
any artist In the country; and indeed 1t would
be difficult to name one who could equal much
less surpass, this particular example. In mod.
cling there was nothing left to be desired, while
In color. and especially in the iridescent effect
OF the scales etc, they were nearly perfect
as could well be imagined
Altogether the best work In that line Mr..
Forsberg has yet DONE and, in fact, one OF tho
best bits OF landscape painted here lately, is O
view within the walls of the old Van Ness estate,
near the Monument lot, in this city, which was
on that artists easel few weeks ago. In tone
and composition it was thoroughly harmonious
and pleasing, while In color and accessories IL
might easily be taken for q glimpse OF Old
Spain. III the promise held out then be finally
fulfilled, the work IL one which cannot fail to
add largely to Mr.. Forsberg's reputation, and
of which both he and his friends may well be
proud. 1t is. We believe intended for the fall
exhibition In the New York Academy OK Design.
The memorial statue OF Gen. R. e. Lee, I'M
yelled at Lexington on Thursday, il the work
Of Mr.. Edward K. Valentine, Of Richmond, and
is pronounced by those who have seen 1t pleas
ing and meritoriUus work OF art. The recum.
bent figure, which is rather above life size, lies
on handsome marble sarcophagus. and this rests
on a solid granite tomb, beneath which reposes
the remains. The sides OF the sarcophagus are
composed Of two panels. and the space between
the panels bear In basso relieve on the one side
the coat OF arms OF the Lee family and on the
other the arms Of the state OF Virginia. Gen.
Lee is described as Lying In his uniform, as IL
in sleep, upon his narrow soldiers bed. One
hand Is on his bosom, and touches uncon-
sciously and gently the drapery OF his couch
The other Is lying by his side where 1t has
fallen and rests upon his sword. The portrait
ure is perfect. no less as to form than feature.
The whole expression Is that OF tranquil and alb.
solute repose, the repose OF physical power I'M
shaken though dormant, OF manly grace most
graceful when at rest. of noble faculties alive
and sovereign though still"
Mr.. w. V. Birney. who has been pursuing
his art studies in Munich for some time past,
recently sent home a photograph Of the paint
ing he proposes to offer for exhibition In the
Triennial International Art Exposition, which
opens In that city next month. Whether II shall
be accepted or not depends upon the decision
or the committee of selection; but the photo
merit for so young an artist. OF course no idea
of its color can be formed from mere photo
graphic representation, but I'm drawing and
composition the picture IL In the highest degree
creditabe. The scene portrayed is a sick room,
with an old country doctor feeling the pulse OF
an invalid girl, the accessory figures being two
elderly peasant women and a little child, who
are deeply interested in the probable result.
The whole is a pleasing effort. and gives promise
of great future success for the Young artist in
the field Of genre and figure painting. After
the exhibition opens Mr.. Birney expects to
spend some time In the Tyrol. and afterward to
go to Naples. Rome, Florence and Venice re-
turning to Munich In the autumn, when he
farther period Of study.
The current talk in favor of something IN
the form Of an Arch in lieu OF equestrian stat.
uary as q means OF adjoining the national cap
ital is a healthy indication, and shows an i'm
proyement in public taste, as well as desire for
something at once more appropriate and more
worthy than most Of the works OF the latter
class we now have. The sentiment ought there
fore to be encouraged. Those i'm favor OF q
change must not be disappointed, however, II
their ideas make Roadway slowly. and are q
long time in reaching realization. Arches that
are arches are costly affairs. both In time and
money. The immense structure which spans the
Avenue des Champs-Elysees. in Paris and the
largest triumphal arch in existence. cost over
construction. The same work done here count
ing the difference between the rates paic by the
two governments for like services. would be at
least one-half more. or. i'm round figures say
s. 100000 The Arch OF Peace at Milan. which
lis second in size only to the famous Paris struc-
ture, and even finer in architectural and artistic
effect than that. must have cost more than a
million dollars of our money, notwithstanding
the low price of labor and materials I'm Italy;
and it too required more than thirty years time
for building From these facts it Will be seen
that an arch which Is worthy an event that is
worthy of being COMMUNICATED In that way 10
not q trifling matter of year or two aud few
dollars, but one involving q vast amount OF
money. infinite patience, and the very highest
artistic taste and knowledge. Whether eiab-
crate or plain in design, it must be large
enough to be impressive, or it is q fat failure.
There can be no middle ground. Anything less
than complete success becomes q trayesty.
Those who have not seen the one In Paris can
form some idea of its great size and the massive
ness of its proportions when they understand
that the archway itself il 81 feet In height and
IS feet wide while the whole structure Is go
feet high, TAG feet wide. and ~ feet in depth or
fhickpasa That ot Milan "a lsxQ