New-York tribune., 1883-06-05

i the cir iurid with portsnts, tho Hight shin Ing
| strangely far below, tho figures pausng at the
threshold Of the fateful temple, Opposite hangs 9
picture which recalls very different sRomej MT.
Alma Tadema's "Oleander"j an interior where
| all Is as sunny and cheerful and charming
| AZ Mr.. Poynters work is the reverse. MI
Tadema has perhaps never painted more
brilliant piece Of antique genre, or better
drawn figure than the seated woman, or ever
| moro cunningly laid color upon color, rose PINK
against Pompeian red, and russet marble ana
mosaic pavement on which lies an open mother-of-
pearl shell, opalescent and tangible. II you arc
still in pursuit of contrasts you may walk into the
next gallery but one to see what you can make Of
Mr.. Fildes's VILLAGE Wedding; which is modern
and English and fu Il Of that suggestion of simple
joyous life which appeals strongly to the average
English taste Mr. tFlldes has learnt much since he
made his reputation not many years ago by pic
ture from which this is far away in feeling and
method. He does not shrink from color that an
aesthetic critic might call crude, nor from rather
startling alterations In scarlets and blues There
Is perhaps want of refinement in the general tone
OF the picture but no want OF sentiment nor OF
skilful composition The canvas is crowded with
well disposed figures and there Is expression in
overy face. Another young favorite among recent
Academicians Is Mr. Briton Rlvicre, who has sought
to diversity his speciality of animal painting by
larger proportion of humanity than one 10 accus-
toned to see In his interesting contributions. On
the whole, tho animals are still tnc best painted
with deep sympathy. with spirit, and, whether in
repose or in movement, with real truth to nature.
OF the portraits it must be said that few. the
Millais already mentioned excepted. reach very
high standard. Mr.. Hollis "John Bright" is not
successful than the earlier one by Mr. Ouless,
which looked as il the orator had been baked. or
than that by Mr.. Mllas, which looked as II he
had been rinscd The Lord Wolseley Of the same
artist Ia much praised and to my mind most
melancholy warrior; with All expression as II he
had an Egyptian and did not like the look of
him; pensivo, not martial, and one side OF the
face most oddly ont OF drawing Mr.. Millaiss Lord
Salisbury Is the Tory chief In the House of
Lords in the attitude Of earneft prayer every word
poisoned arrow, painted in an Ill fitting frock coat
with uncompromising fidelity 70 every mistake OF
his lordships tailor. Mr. Saut-but no, not Mr..
SAINT. Mr. Long, who once painted an Oriental
marriage market, sends a portrait OF the baroness
Burdett-Coutts which II curious in such matters
may compare. II they like. with the two plump
young maidens whom he chrstens !" Merab and
"Mchal." Oddly enough there Is the same want
OF q sense of sodty in BOTH
VI. Carolrs Durans Countess of Dalhousie" is a
picture tportrait it is not in which chic" is car
rcd to the point of npertlnencc In technique 1t IL
as llmsy as IL is daring. the touch of n hand mis-
akenly believed to be strong enough to take iber-
ties with tile ordinary processes OF art. The gown
III. ght pass; though done in sapdssh way, II does
at a distance look like gown. But what does this
lady's face look like. with its upward shadows.
and Opaque hesh aud eyes ont OF which the sparkle
has gone 10 give place to something very like
leeri ". Carolus Duran has long had nooriety
In Paris ss an artist with talent for turning fine
natural gifts to bad account. Perhaps no less com
patent hand than his could have succeeded in thor
oughlY vulgarzing the look, the bearing. the whole
air anil attitude of lady whose beauty is In real
life set OF by u singular distinction of manner.
And with tLat, having got away from strictly
English work. it may bo as well not TO venture back
again on ground which proves so uncertain and
sometimes 90 troublesome to tread. have left un-
named few good pictures. and host OF bad ones;
but a. clear notion Of the general merit and de-
merit OF this exhibition may perhaps he got from
sixteen as from the whole sixteen hundred.