New-York tribune., 1886-06-06
ART IN LONDON.
SOME PICTURES AT THE GROSVENOR-AR.
SARGENT AT THE ACADEMY.

|
mediocrity Sir Frederick Leighton in his speech
at the Academy dinner, dwet the hard times
and bad weather as excuses for the i'll success
of so many of his colleagues Yet at the Grosvenor
none of these influences have been potent to pre-
vent the painting of good pictures in abundance
Mr. Burne Jones' long the light Of the Grosvenor, Is
at his best IN the Flamma Vestalis, womaniy
figure soberly magnificent in color and Of beautl-
| fnl grave dignity. picture called the Unpan'eu
Masterpiece, by his son, Mr.. Philip Burne Jones' Is
doubly interesting for its own merits and promise
and for its proof OF the spirit of independence In
which the son of so great an artist has wrought
There is little nothing in this tO recall the man
ner Of the author of the Chant d Amour OF OF the
Golden Staircase, or Of the King Cophetua. or OF
the Mermaid now at the Royal Academy The son
of another famous father. Mr. r. Barrett Browning,
is the contributor of singular picture, with still
more singular name; nude study set In
% green landscape by pool. and christened
Joan of Arc. There is ability in this
painting, and more eccentricity in the naming.
There is indeed a good number Of canvases capable
Of hOrrifying the British matron and her champion
Of the clothed in art Mr. Horscy. K. A. one OF
Mr.. Horsev's fellow X. AS. Mr.. Calderon. has an
Gnone to whose languishing figure all devoid OF
drapery he appends the legend "Forlorn of Paris.
! Miss Dorothy Tenants Echo" is another nude
nymph. painted with Henner-like dellcacy which
the matron would perhaps. if as delicate as she
wishes to be thought. admire. And there are others
Portraits are numerous and good. Mr.. Alma
Tadema's nameess portrait of a lady IN
gorgeous green gown IS at the head of
the list. and if he chose to devote
himself to the painting Of portraits would point to
him as the artlst-now daily in request and seldom
found-who could and would paint women rs
women like to be painted. Mr. Holl, whose strength
lies in the painting of men, has two good portraits,
bat nothing to compare with his Mr.. Chamberlain.
| in the Royal Academy, n penetrating study ana
unlmpeachabe record of character. or with the
Lord CarrIngtOn. n work, perhaps, still finer, and
full of that character which, in a portrait, we are
wont to describe as historical. 1t is Lord Caring
| ton, not as the popular and accomplished
young man about town. long liked and ad-
mired IN London but Lord Carrlngton as
he is to-day, ruling with tact and capacity and
success one of the greatest and most nourshing of
Her Majesty's colonies. Mr.. W. b. Richmond Is
numerically at the head Of the portrait painters
with his dozen different canvases and not far from
the head in merit if you choose his best to Judge
him by He is unequal, aud it were invidious to
say where he is least good The Lady Davev
is perhaps best liked of all and shows him equally
| successful with the face which full of 1ndi-
viduallty, and with the brocade gown, which
seems almost a remnisccnce OF MIllalss
Mrs. Bischofshem, long famous as one of the
marvels of stuff painting. 60 Miss Margaret Burne-
Jones " by Richmond. a graceful. but quite mad
equate. rendering of one of the most graceful and
beautiful girls of the day. Mr.. John Collier on
the other hand, gives us an ldeallzed portrait OF
his sister-in-law. Miss Huxley an undeniable like
ness and clever piece Of work. The puzzle Of the
Grosvenor is the extraordinary work to which Mr..
! 80 bos tha
Another very different picture proves. for differ
ent reason puzz'e to the critic. Miss Anna Alma
Tadema's brilliant little water color. "The Draw
ing Room" an admirably faithful and skilful
representation of a once the delight Of
many charming persons-the drawlng-room or
Townshend House, which exists no longer. This
hangs by the side of the wonderful " Foregone Con-
clus1ou" by Mr.. Alma Tadema. The wise critic
has therefore spoken Of the daughters wate-coor
as an oil-paInting, manlfestly done under the
fathers inspiration. 1t is remote from the
methods of the father oil is from water.
1t is not merely tho work of the acknowledged
masters that makes the IGrosvenor sO.interesting.
Now as heretofore, this far more than the Academy
is where the young men come to the front; where
regulations are begun and made as well
as confirmed Mr. Shannon's Is perhaps
the latest-the name is new at any
rate 10 most picture lovers. and he has made his
mark with portraii-if the catalogue may be be-
lleved-of Miss A. NJ Beebe. Nothing moro daring
is to be seen on recent canvas-pOse, costume. ex-
pression in fine the ensemble Of this most cleverly
painted figure and dress suggest anything but
maiden portraiture.
Mr. G. d. Leslies The Garland" is the highest
EXPRESSION of that form Of sentiment which Mr..
Leslie has long since made his Own the sentiment
of pure prettiness-pretty girls pretty setting of
pretty color with a pretty quotation from Mrs.
Hemans enhance their imporancein in the catalogue
Its gittering smOothness of surface IS not 10 be
surpassed in its way. But turn at once TO land
scape the opposite side OF the room by Mr..
Alfred Parsons a picture in which the worship OF
the pretty is replaced by love of truth and ylgor
a true feeling for nature as she is aud not as she
would be after an interview with BOnd-st. Dar-
ber You will not find IN the Grosvenor much art
that is better more beautiful. There are, how
ever scores of pictures which deserve and receive
careful study aud genuine admiration. And you
come away from these pleasantly hung galleries
with the conviction that here rather than elsewhere
in the world of art young England OF the England
of the future has found most encouragement. and
works with the best inspiration and the best prom
ise.
The caprices OF the cable are too numerous to
correct for corrections sake. But they are some-
times cu1lOu-, anu S't OiO " e''~'D--1 -0'
ticular error occurred. 1 find at the end
of a recent dispatch a statement that
in the Royal Academy America Is brilliantly
represented by Mr.. Sargent, whose por-
traits are among the most original aad effective OF
the Prince of Wales ever exhibited" The words
"of the Prince of Wales ever are simply an over
dose Of electricity. Mr.. Sargent has never painted
the Prince of Wales, and most certainly
meyer said he had. Mr. Sargent
has three pictures IN the present exhibition
all portraits, and none of them portraits OF any
ROYALTY whomsoever. Two Of them enjoy tha'
proof of popularity which is supplied by car1catures
Of them in Punch. All Of them are discussed IN inc
tone of surprise which IS the usual English greet