Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-04
EROS AND PSYCHE.


NJ. Paul Baudry, member ~ me 1nsti-
tuie. the painter OF the celebrated decora-
tiops OF the Grand Operl. bcing unable 10 |
finish his picture In time for the snior, says |
a correepondent OF the Art Amateur, cx-
bibits II under exceptionally favorable con-
ditions In the beautiful rooms OF VI. |
Georges Petit IN the Rue Godot dc Man. |
roi. The picture, about nine by six feet. |
represents Eros and Psyche, or. as old |
fashioned people would say, Cupid and |
Psyche. On a platform oil pale gray
green marble Is Grccian bench OF |
brown wood. crnamcnted with marquetry |
and inlay Of mother.oi-pearl, running from
side 10 side OK the picture In perspective;
nj the further end OF the bench "a tor
chere al the near end Greek tripod table
with kinds feet, legs, and heads d sltyrs.
In the lcit-hand corner ltstle winged
cherub, sitting on cushion, heats an
arrow in the flame OF n lamp. In the mid
die Of the picture. or rather 81 the pedt
ment OF marble, is glass vase, within IL
branch Of apple blossom. 4 dove peTched
on the edge drinks; another dove Is diving
10 join his companion behind the vase lies
ouiyer full OF arrows. Eros. tie princ pal
figure, sits nude, with white wings, on
the bench, while Psyche, clad in white
dapbanolls wells Of muslin, clasps him
cbasteIy in her arms, leaning upon him
with her bead thrown back. and seen only
three-quarter face, but with an enchanting
EXPRESSION OF purity. The two heads are
surrounded by a silyory aureole. and the
figures stand ont with all their splendor OF
line and drawing against n background OF
luminous azure. The totality Of the whole
picture is given by the rose-pink OF the
| aprle-blOssom. and, 70 borrow term
which the naturalsts employ 10 de-
scribe the soft and delicate piumage OF
| certain oriental birds, and to bor-
row also Mr.. Whs,Ier's formula, one
might say that NJ. Baudry's Eros and
/ Pvsche" is a harmony IN rosalbin and
| azure. The tones Of rose, white. and sky
| blue are the elements Of the irridesccnt re-
! fectlons Of mothcr-ol- pearl-the elements
81 the coloration which the French call
nacre and which would be the most appro-
pirate term by which 70 chaIacieriZ" the
| celebration OF the delicious AMI exquisite
| congestion Of ". Baudry. The originality
! OF the Arrangement OF The gr, up. the iinc-
/ mess OF the drawing. the expression Of the
figures. their pose, their purity-in short,
| the Interest Of the subject, the decorative
! science Of tho grouping. and the delcacy
| az the color. render Eros and Psyche
one Of the finest panels in VI. BaHdry's
whole work.
! The heroic bronze standing statute OF
! Professor Benjamin Siijm1n, Of Yale Col
| lere. by Professor John f. Weir, OF the
! same institution, will be forwarded this
1 week 10 New Haven and be unveiled on
| the oath Instant on the campus 81 the coli
! Iecc. Pro- ssor Weir has had somewhat
/ difficult suljcct--the standing figure O' q
/ rather port'y man in modern costum"-
! hut il is AZ painter that Professor
| Weir has been heretofore known,
/ but he now will take rank among our
/ leading sculDtors, says the New York
| Herald. Experience will bring greater eX-
| cellence. no doubt, but any man may well
/ be proud Of the good points of the present
| statue. II is naturally little prosalc in
! statement from its subject, and greater at
/ tempt at picturesqueness would probably
| have produced something less satisfactory
| 10 the family, friends, and admirers OF one
who may be called one OF the fathers OF
chemistry in America.
He stands in natural and excellent pose,
! looking straight out, with thoughtful,
| earnest expression, which eTrs perhaps
| little when seen in full face, in being slight
" troubled. In his right hand, the arm
/ Leing bent, is held large crystal. The left
] lHlS III iilt Sluts ih' lNib lpbt - ah'"A'eN'
| Over dress-coat, and almost entirely con-
cealing the unschlpturesque tails OF that
garment. hangs with excellent effect
/ an overcoat Of the Lord Ragland type, the
| right-Land cape Of which is turned over on
the shoulder. The upper OF the two but
tons below the drcss-coat collar is butt0ncd
with difficulty over the pOrtiy figure. On
the right hangs a fob. A broad standing
collar, q large tie, and a ruiIled shirt are
worn. For The pOrtraitlre, which is said
to be excellent, the sculptor used death
mask and photographs.
The modelling OF the head Is very good.
| the expression Of the clean-Shsvfn face
being life-like. The right hand is also well
modelled. Seen from tue back and sides,
! the cloak presented good effect, and the
trousers are notably well MANAGE. The
body IS strongly felt under the clothes and
stands very erect, with the shoulders well
thrown back. The pedestal, which is OF
granite, IS simple in design and six feet in
height. 1t bears the inscription: BEN
jamin Siliman, professor Ofpatural science
/ in Yale College from 1862 10 1864. Born
/ 1919. Died 1861 The cost OF the work
is, we believe, some $4,000.