The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-01

only life-like. but is remarkable for the ex-
quisite effect Of the Oriental embroidery and
silk drapery. Jules Lefebvre. who painted the
Famous Mile. Croizette as Truth for the
Luxembourg, has put clothes on his models
this year and carried off the medal
resemblance to his subjects 6isa but following
the style which made the old masters immortal.
/ surrounds them with an atmosphere which
| places them at once in rapport with living, SEN
sent beings In this regard the portral., OF M.
Pasteur in his Laboratory by Fdelfeldt, has
/ something which one misses even In that OF the
master Bonnat Carolus Duran has fine por.
/ trait, said to be that of beautiful American
Sne is posed with more grace than IS usual IN
his subjects. Comerse exhibits Madame Thoo
| IN very scant skirts, with her most seductive
] smile. Rondel shows M. Blowitz seated in q
| chair. pen IN hand, and evidently thinking OF
the Times. The rage for Oriental effects is best
! seen IN the pictures of Benjamin Constant, not
ably in his 'Justinian,' where the jewels and
embroidery are portrayed with fidelity and
magnlncence rarely excelled. There IS
Madness of ACKNOWLEDGMENT" in the
same style. The author is young artist, in
| Rochgrosse, who obtained the prize few years
| ago, but now he has tried to express more than
his art can render. The king wallowing in the
| mire, and eating like beast, might form sub
Ject for poem, but it is extremely dlsagreeanle,
/ not to say disgusting, in a picture. The aveng-
| ing angel with his sword is pure phantasma-
gorie The artist evidently intended to make
| picture, but he made only an illustration that
needs explanation. and which is not worthy to be
considered beyond the proportions OF ylgnette'
| 1t is quito otherwise with Benjamin Constant
| He never goes beyond the proportions he has
laid out. and thus presents richness and gran
1 deur that his imitators cannot equal NJ Puvis
| de Chavannes has some DECORATE work that is
admirable bat some that is not at all worthy
or one of the decorators of the Pantheon.
His inspiration Chritienne" is good work.
Under the arches of Byzantine convent an
artist OF the fifteenth century is painting the
walls in design full of harmony and religion.
For a moment the artist and his pupils stop to
contemplate the result of his genius. 1.-THE
Vision Antique" by the same artist, has not the
| force of the Inspiration An alegory, lie
| Rhone ct La Saone" symbolizing force and gen.
ius, has more character and is full of sentiment.
4 NJ Bouguereau, as usual, shows grace end
delicacy that no one who has seen his Mals
sance de Venus" can ever forget. His Love DIS
armed" is an elegant piece of work-full OF life,
| rich in color. with an insinuating grace that
charms disarming criticism Noyes and Blakes-
| lee. of Boston, have purchased 1T, and you will
probably lave the pleasure OF seeing
| it in America. Magnau's Awakening
of Juliette" is disgusting. It CON
| veys no sentiment which could hold
| the sense Moreau de Lours has strong though
rather ihelodramatic picture of the Death of
| Pichegrun The world knows that he was found
strangled In prison, and the artist has rendered
| the scene very striking and effective Bereaud
has genre" painted with fidelity and power-a
room at 1t. Lazare, where are detained the
women arrested for petty crimes Not
Bereaud has given an Individuality and
poultry merchant of NJ. Williams is
| bit of charming color and life, but the subject
has fallen into desuetude among painters, and
NJ. Williams is considered to be in his second
| childhood.
Jean Paul Laurens has chosen sub
ject from the history of the Spanish In
QUESTION" Torquemada in his official robes,
stands with uplifted crucifx before the King and
| Queen. He charges them with the crime of
again selling their Lord. and threatens the ven
geance of heaven should they complete the pro
| posed treaty with the Jews. The King sits with
bowed head. but the frightened Queen. haf-ris-
ing, stretches out imploringly, her hands, as if
| to ward off the terrible punishment 1t is
strong and well-eXecuted canvas. Dagnan-
| Bouveret has scene in the corner of church,
at the moment when is passed lie Pain BENT"
1t is full of sentiment and feeling, at the same
time rendered with force and sim licity. The
strong faces of the peasants are full of individ-
uality
Battle-pieces have always had a fascination
for the French, whose love for the glitter and
panoply of war is shown in such profuson in
their galleries and museums. Some of the pic
lures sent on this subject are extremely dra-
matte and realistic yet throwing halo of poetry
over the melancholy of the battlefield. A scene
from Tonkin is horrible in conception and weak
in execution, reminding one of the thrilling pic
lures of country panorama.
NJ Jules Breton has two striking and satisfy
ing works. One half-length figure of Breton
peasant woman; she holds candle, and her sad,
earnest, devout face shows the pilgrims at
church fete. The second, called lie
Coulter" shows group of reapers resting for
| a lunch and gossip. The subject is simple, but
penetrated by the poetry and grace of sum-
mer's day la campagne and the artist recites
with a melancholy eloquence the careless, yet
robust resignation which he has read in the
faces of Brittany.
Next to the mania for painting Oriental eff
fects, John the Baptists and Salome's, is that
for the misery of life. M. Pelez has two can
vases which are totally repugnant suffering
and death in their most repulsive
forms, and with much unnecessary
wretched old woman contemplating with hungry
| eyes the display in butchers shop, n group of
| famished creatures bending over scavengers
| tub; melancholy rag-picker; drunken work
Der of beegars and fearful individuals as if one
| did not see enough of them in the streets of
| Paris. work of considerable merit is Mad
! anne Roland in the Prison of st. Pelagie." That
! unfortunate woman is surrounded by the vile
women gathered from the slums of the great
c ty and they find their pleasure in haunting and
| insulting her. She leans against q pillar that
affords fine relief for her proud stately head.
/ Among the historical pieces is the ''Serment
! des Compromis 6es Communes,' by H. E. Della
| croix. 1t portrays a scene from the Chamber of
| Deputies in Belgium, Aug o. 1884 A burgo-
master appeals TO the House to defend the public
| schools and the members rise in body with
| lifted hands. shouting: Nous lie jurons," 1--WE
| swear) The animation and expression in the
| faces is admirably done. NJ Moreau represents
| an event in the wars of the Fronde at the mo
ment when the famous and seductive Duchesse
de Longueville used all her eioqnence and beauty
to induce the people of Dieppe to rise against
/ the royal power. The coquettish and pugnacious
| Duchesse is leaning on her. cane, dressed in a
| pquant costume of blue and white with black
velvet cloak, and has evidently fascinated all
gathered about her. gentlemen, burgers
| in Greek Convent is full of humous The
work is good. and the faces of the
monks are an interesting study. They seem to
! care more for the contents OF their plates than
| for the pious lecture of their leader. The walls
toa 2zz.a,,