New-York tribune., 1884-11-29
ANERICAN ART GALLERIES.
THE SCULPTURE.


Seen against the pleasant background of the
broad slaryay with its flowers and stained glass win
a,v Mr. Brewsters David" seems feeby trying to put
behni him tho temptations OF too luxurious surround
ings Here is well poised expressive head placed upon
n holy weak a. sculpture from its obvious self con
traicons The heal erect In resolute defiance one
thing the chest drawn in. when 1t should be thrown
o,t ard inflated, is quito another. The
gesture Of the left and hand expresses nothing III
regard the approaching combat 1t Is the gesture OF
one gathering something to himself and 1t is strange
that the artist should have modelled the hand palm In
ward and the fingers relaxed and placed In position
really feminine The lower part Of the trunk ia brought
forward instead Of upper and the right hip thrown
awkwady out. Not only do these different parts con-
traet each other and sttify the idea which the artist
had mind that of warrior ready Tor the iray put the
resut as "A whole is weak Literally weak In this case
for we feel that little more than tap from lady
fan is needed TO throw David of his balance. On
the right side OF the figure tho general outline
In possibe but the left side presents strange
eonfuson OF broken lines and irregular planes which
convey of either grace or vigor 1t would seem
that Mr.. Brewster has been seeking some new ana
striking pose for his David. some attitude OF original
and in his search he has left behind the
simpe idea which he had to express A very shaky
warrior is this the figure shows that the sculptor
has An honest hatred OF conventionalty and has ac
ouired no mean skill in modelling. The head OF tho
David Is proof enough that the artist has 1t In him to
give good account of himself in the future.
Mr. Gsrhardt shows less facility ia modelling,
more inclination to trust to the smooth prettiness OF
rouniel surfaces but he is clearly able to
look below the surface. In the group called Ewes
I.,llaby" the unconscious tenderness and Low
ting solicitude OF the mother bending over her babe
exist as realities merely In the imagination III
rare thing for young sculptor 10 express feeling as Mr.
(erhardt has done here Having accomplished so nuch
va that abandoned the infant IN despair Tor we
must confcs. that child Offers little reason for ma
terual or any other interest Just tho pose OF the
mothers shoulders, neck aud head are worth seeing
There is no subtcty in modelling, but that may come
later Mr. Clemens bears formidable aspect Tor
hunorst I'm Mr. erhardts bust We think that the lat
ter succeeded better In obtaining characteristic likeness
when he modelled little basreef OF Mcssrs. Cable
aud Clemens together II the bust Is considered like
subjects friends II Will doubtless be cherisheu
by them But Is very different work from The pusts Dy
Warner and the nedalons by 81. Gaudens, which we
have grown love works OF art not rs portraits
~ is refreshing to come upon such unanected work
"a Mr. Bartletts" John Brown" We do not mean that
fits without art but the art Is hidden by apparent
incompromsng stern rigid Bible and rifle both ready to
nj. hanst il an almost forbidden impression which we
r an AZ first of this young artists Jobu Brown Mr.
hoyenden gave us sninpse OF .ns There char
ac,<Y here and excellent wOrknansnip too as SHOWN py
the the folds In the coat ana tne carry
Ing out OF the attitude. Nc. Bartlett exhiplts also
bronze crocodile. The list OF sculptures sn
woss by Messr- Echeler aud Hartley The latter SHOWS
bust OF Mr. Lawrence Barrett all stiuiiiapc suDcCy
upon which Mr. Hartley has evidently done CONSCIENTIOUS
according to mis- lights This bust gives no npies
son virity nervous force In the sculptors oncn
IL Is pronounced good likeness but we cannot heip
thinking that Cassius has bcen by the artist set LII
hsts book, IeaEnd and conn'd by rotc."