Morning journal and courier., 1884-11-19
French satire on Artists.

CASPehoSAA A-O-OS-- 0N-S
 graph.l
 The exhibition of the "Arts Incoherents,'' ,
 which is now open in the Galerie Vivienne,
 near the Palais Royal, is evidently intended
 as a satire on successful artists'and celebrities of the day Its humor, however, is heavy and grotesque and the whole exhibition is strongly suggestive of the morgue Thus, on the entrance floor of the so-called salon where the exhibition is held the first thing that strikes the eye is ghastly and realistic picture of man dead from hunger. Around are hung fragments of tattered garments, described as ''studies in pantaloons," or jackets, as the case may be. Over the stairs is large canvas, ,on which M. de Lesseps and l his children are shown, the poles only of the latter being visible. Sarah Bernhardt is not forgotten; the famous actress appears in various positions; while Theresa, the popu- lar diva of the cafes concerts, is mimicked by monstrous and ugly head which hangs sus- pended from the ceiling of the upper floor. There are a good many pictures of human beings without heads, eliminating in one of St. Denis, who is in the act of shaving that appendage preparatory to escape with 1t ! under his arm, according to the legend. M. Puvis de Chavannes great picture of The Wood Deer to the Arts of Muses, ," which was exhibited at the salon, is satirized by an empty panel, to which several pieces of burned wood are attached. Henri Rochetort ! is exhibited by Alfred le Petit, who also cari- catures M. Hyacinthe, of the Palais Royal Coran d'Ache, whose military sketches in the 'FVie MiIitaire'' are well known, sends a humorous drawing of Napoleon l. harangu- ing the Forty-seventh regiment on the eve of Marengo. The great captains back only IS visible, while the Colonel of the Forty seventh s, 1oAI AI,al s,, 4oo- 1 irH to the apostorphic ''soldats" with which Napoleon invariably commenced his battle I field speeches. The same picture ls again represented under the effects of the snow, Napoleon, the 1achrymose colonel, and the troops being dashed with white. A morbid ! and indelicate picture of Hamlet flying from \ the dead body of Ophelia disgraces the ex- | hibition, while there are one or two paintings | that are really effective. One is intended as | a scene from the new ballet at the Eden l theater. A nymph is represented seated on
 rock, while behind her stands her lover, who maintains a half-bandit, half-troubadour at \ titude. The nymph is brought out into re- | lief by jet of limelight, the whole being characterized as FFobscurantism cleared by | the influence of light" M. Georges Lorin's | Comet is also pretty picture. A female | figure floats through the air, leaving in her ! wake line of light, splendidly colored. l Besides the pictures a number of grotesque objects are ranged around, which excite l curiosity and provoke smile. There are books and blank leaves, wonderful umbrellas, lamps and baked earth labelled as terra cot ! ta, and dozen other humorous combina-
 tions, suggested or en evidence. Altogether | the exhibition, which is redolent of the seamy side of the Parisian art of life, is curi- ous, amusing, and characteristically French. The exhibition of the E'Arts Incoheoen4s"
 has now entered on it's second year, and may probably assume larger dimensions and greater variety in the future.