The Portland daily press., 1884-02-19
ART.
A Choice Collection of Pictures.


The collection of pictures on exhibition at the
new Society of Art building is as choice as any
ever displayed in this city. Larger collections
have been seen, embracing valuable works,
but none displaying better taste in selection.
The light afforded in the exhibition room is
capital, and the shape Of the apartment enables
it to be thrown upon the pictures In such
manner as TO reveal all their beauties, while
the color OF the background ia of shade to
soften and refine them. Among those which
especially attract attention are the following
Kimball's View at Brunswick, although it
has been commented on by us on former &C.
casicn will bear words of praise at the present
time. 1t is q remarkably breezy picture, full
OF life. The foliage IL wavy and fine, the
long grasses in the foreground seem to nod and
bend gracefully IN the wind, the odd old
houses and sheds, stretching out into the per-
spective, are quaint enough TO please the anti
quariaD, and the river laps the whsryes with
quiet ebb aud flow. FiS-a-vis to Mr.. Kim
balls picture is landscape by j. Appleton
Brown. In this painting there is an excellent
atmosphere. The clouds are soft and heecy,
the reeds In the river are real marsh reeds,
and the broad, quies river gives strength ard
breadth to the landscape. Between the two
above mentioned pictures hangs Vinton's
portrait of Mr.. j. P. Baxter. The likeness
will not strike the visitor, at first, as prom
inently as the work of soma other artists, bet
this is partially owing to the pose OF the head
and figure, and the likeness grows upon the
spectator the longer he gazes upon Ii. For
solidity OF color and careful finish the portrait
will take rank with the other familiar portraits
by this celebrated artist.
On the wall, next to the Appleton Brown
picture. are two magnificent works. Weeks
"Castle Of Roubat," and M. v. Heriyegen's
"Scene at the Confessional" The former is
marvel Of careful ami delicate execution in
bringing out the arabeeques OF the old gate
way, and the sumptuous cooring displayed in
the costumes of the Arab riders; the latter
shows wonderful power Ia the poses of the
figures before the chancel, especially those OF
the woman with the babe in her arms, and
the woman who is BALI reclining. The color
ing is perfect, and the light reflected from
the great oriel window, Is admirable. The
other paintings we can do little more than
enumerate with the space at our command.
There are II. B. Browns great barn, with its
mows of hay, tbe chickens feeding on the
floor, and delightful view of the trees and
fields beyond seen through the open door.
Burgundy Peasants" By Lippincott, with
the quaint, sturdy children playing with the
kittens; Meilsier's boy and Sheep" with Its
life and spirit, picture in which the boy runs,
the sheep are woody and natural, and the
landscape fine; Pinchsrt's lovers sitting on a
rustic settee, displaying charming face on
the part of the lady whose half scornful ex-
preston Is somewhat intensified by the rsfiec-
ton OF the deep pink lining of her great scoop
bonnet, and the sheen of whose satin dress is
perfectly expressed; Blashfeld's "Fisher-
Girl" almost too pretty and refined a face ana
figure for her occupation; Sonrtag's great
painting I'm the Susquehanpa Valley" with
it's delicious mountain effects, its delicate hszs
aud other features which make il model OF
its school; "Gifford's "Birches," perfect
tree study; delightful quiet, dreamy land
scape by G. 81. Smile, and some sheep by
Zuget. In the hall Ernest Longfellow dis
plays "Csnal Scene," and Norton marine
In the ladies' room Mrs Elizabeth Murray's
white Rose" one of the leading water-color
paintings in existence. a beautiful water.color
hy A. F. Bellows, and 81. G.. Hewes' "Pride's
Bridge" attract attention. In the gentlemen's
room are some superb engravings, enc the
Centurion Cornelius" from Rembrandt's
painting, and magnificent fower-piece from
Won Hagen's painting. There are ALSO In the
ladies' room, a superb Corinthian bronze of
"Antinous," and another of the Venus of
Milo