The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-04-16

at his collection of pictures, 1 received an
elegantly engraved card of admission to his pri-
waite gallery; the costliest and most snowy though
not the best, private collection in the world.
THE GALLERY.
The gallery comprises 10 pictures valued at
total of 81 10000 The highest priced is one of
Meissonier's, costing $4,000. There are three or
four at $4,000 EACH the rest averaging from 5000
to $1,000. French artists lead of whom Nelson
Ter is the first. There are seven productions of
this artist the largest of which is about l4x24
inches, stands on easel covered with glass, and
IS daintily framed in gilt. The title is THE Arri
val at the Chateau" A coach has driven up TO
the door of chateau the chateau to be imagined).
Ladies in gorgeous costumes of past century are
being assisted from the top by gentlemen in eI-
quisite habits The detail in execution is micro
scopic, and the coach and horses are perfect. In
the foreground is dainty little lackey in bright
new suit one might almost hang him on a watch
chain. There is no hidden motif, nor does the
picture answer to any soullonging or striving after
the indefinite; it is, rather very definite and you
are expected to be satisfied with the technique in
detail and color, for ifty-thousand dollars is here
represented.
MORE MEIssoNIERs.
There are six other pictures, representations Of
this artists fine workmanship and mechanical
skill. 1t is impossible to look long at his works
without being overwhelmed by the labor, painstak-
ing and patience displayed; the same amazement
which you feel in examining fine mosaic or intri-
cately carved ivory. If Mr.. .Vanderbilts portrait
>
line it is easy to imagine why Mrs. Mackey de-
sroyed the artists painting of herself for though
Mr.. Vanderbilt's portrait may be prosaical like
ness the successful artist would have stirred up
more feeling and lent an expression, even if the
face was naturally devoid of it itself. As it is it
furnishes an almost bestial physique, enhanced
only by vacuity of countenanoe. Cabanel and
Duran have been more successful, but they do not
come so high!
OTHER ARTISTS.
Amongst the French artists are Rousseau, Caba-
mel, Bonnat and Jerome. The latter's "Sword
Dancer is fine result of his special ability. The
figures are grouped around, and the Oriental dec
Grafton which forms n rich background to the
duslxy, voluptuous dancer;-the flesh tints seen
through gauze are perfect; over the face is thrown
green veil of shirest fabric, which floats away
from the shoulders by the motion of the dance.
The work is very fine and seems to have been un-
duly criticised by dyspeptic artists. There are
several Willets, the finest being "The Lover" well
known through etchlngs and enSravings. His
paintings are conspicuous amongst so many strong
colorists or rather brght-for part of his strength
lies in the peculiar tone of color. He is an artist
who influences you at once. One strangely likes
or dislikes him; he permits of no indifference.
ENGLISH ARTISTS.
Mr.. Yanderbilt's gallery has quite representa-
tive school of English art. There are works from
Twiuer Tadema, Iandseer, Millais, LEIGHTON.
John Linnell Sir John Gilbert,-enough to give
one a good idea of that school of art. The pop
ular Millais in his one picture in the collection is
a disappointment 1t IS entitled 1.-The Bride of
Lammermoor" 1t in no way comes up to ones
expectations after studying the representations of
this artists work in many engravings and etchiLgs.
Alma Tadema does not seem English, in his clean
cut, classic figures, and especially in his fine
sense of color.
A SUMMING UP.
Mr.. Vanderbilts pictures, whole appeal
more to the emotions than TO the intellect. They
nearly all tell stories Such as Yibert's Commit
tee on Immoral Books which represents two jolly
old monks reading, intently, the Ito be- forbidden
fruit The expressions their faces signify any
thing but disapproval. Other examples are Nun
kacey's 1.-Two Families" and Madraso's "Fete
During the Carnival. The last is picture of
many beautiful girls in gorgeous colors. Cham
payne is flowing freely and some Gre dancing with
gay cavaliers, while others are coquetting in the
true French manner On the 18th inst. the gallery
was opened for the last time. Mr. V. says that
10000 persons have availed themselves of the OPP
portunity to visit the gallery this year against 10,
900 in the preceding winter. The number present
on the Thursdays varied from 1000 to 5000.
A.C.S