New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
THE SPENCER COLLECTION
prcu,wrs OF Uou QUALITY.


Az Tuk TRIBUNE announced three wse@ ago, INC
paintings collecyed by Mr. Albert Spencer are TO %
scattered by the hammer Of mo aaciioneer. wnen
this news was frs, made public II n once arrested tne
attention OF amateurs. Those who arc NOT is'"'"~'
with tho Spencer collection win do well to improve
the opportunity which Is afforded BY 700 or'e, on
hibition at the FIFTH Avenue Art Galleries. ms Is
not one OF the prctenous collections OF p'o'"'o' W
the buedrcd GOOD bad and indifferent, chosen on IN
terested advice or TO crafty fancy soon repen'eo u"
but Il has been formed with an intelligence sno gov"
taste which are too rare TO psss uh""''oo" ~
symmesry and harmony Of this COLLECTION ~ u s'a"'
cause regret that II cannot ne preserved IN us en-
rctv Int mn there no prospect OF po
chase en- bioc and another splendid gift to the mc'ro
pol'ia Museum.
Tho valuo of this collection lies in It's evenly high
Quality and In tts Intelligent illustration OF tho ART oil
the men Of 1880" Those who judge pictures os
their spread Of may he disposed to underrato
collection composed OF paintings which IN most cases
are Of small cabinet si,e. Rut II pictures arc 70 90
Judged by quality the Spencer collection Will ar ont
rank many a moro prctcntious company OF hugo can
vases. These pictures appea, to the understanding
Is we'll to the eye That H, they illustrate sue
cessvc and varying phases OF the art OF men VINO a.
their best were great painters There are more I'M
portant' examples Of the Fontaneblcau and Barbzon
painters in other collections, and some single artists
are represented elscwherc with completeness which
has not been possible here. But the Spencer cohoo-
ton forth the and tho power OF the panfers
Of 1870 with extraordinary hness and excellence Of
selection. These pictures represent an Intelligent
plan of selection we'll as nne appreciation OF the
qualities which constitute good art. Deiscro'x whom
Wolf has called "the standard bearer OF the phaanA
OF 1880" is represented by tiger Drinking ana an
@Entombment," which illustrate two characterize
phases OF bis art Among the SIX pictures py M"io'
are some Of his beautiful studfes OF the nude 80
Thoroughly like that other answer Is heeoeu
to the charge that Mlllet only draughfsman not
q colorlst There seven paintings by Theodore
Rousseau beginning with time when the 'nn"ence vi
Constable stu plainly shown Varied expressions
of Diaz's OF color be noted In no less IMAM
sixteen pictures Another but soberer colorst.
Troyon Is to he studied in two earlier paintings and
one superb example OF his best time There are four
pictures by Dupre by COrot, two noble landscapes
BY Daubigny and the Orientalsts Fromcntin and Dc
camps are represented, the former by hve examples
the latter by one painting Of admirable quality. IL
Is with this group that Barge belongs by whom thero
are two water-coloTs. For the rest there are four
paintings by the clever German Knans, two by the
amas,er OF the infinitely ttle,' Meissonier. strong
example of Brcton's best class Of work. Gerome,
and good Schreyer, example OF the brilliant
Franco panlsh painter, Domingo, two paintings oy
Boldniat his best of tho cleveeSt OF the tortnny
school-,u ,xmple Of still another colorsf lsaoey'
and pictures by Hamon and Plassan.
Delacroix's Tiger Drinking" Is thoroughly ad-
mirable study OF the color and natural action OF
beautiful animal, painted truthfuly as shrinking IN
stinctlvely from the water toward which 1t Is I'M
PEELED by thirst The Entombment' is also a study'
Intense In action with color scheme OF reds green's
and blues relieved against gray tones. which Dcia
croix often assimated from the Venetians- AS
ALWAYS the painter is dramatic. Those who look Tor
pure beauty In art have to regret the chance
contemptuOus auSOn which, as the story goes,
caused Mlllct to forswear the nude. Such examples
OF his painting OF flesh as arc to be seen here are
all rare. There is tho Sleeping Woman" pct
ure of a model whose physique might have delighted
Rubens. a superb pIeco Of warm flesh painting, with
the blood glowing beneath tho skin There Is beau
tliul Diana REFUSING" charming picture With
more restraint in color than In action and there IS
small AFTER Bathing" the body half In shadow
stll difficult study ia foreshorening, which eX-
hbits science never mastered by Dlaz Comparison
is unavoidable IN the case Of the Peasant woman
and Chld,7 where the coloring has much of Daz's
sensuousncss, Tut the form and action are truthful
and admirable. 1t was a little before ho went to
Barbizon In 1919 that Miet ceased to paint the
nude and began the work Of Interpreting peasant
life by which he has como to be best known. Wolf
tells that "a little masterpiece. the first thought
OF Tho Cleaners sold by Millet for twelve
pieces Of one bundled SOUS pice, for It
represented bread for twelve days. We are correct
In thinking that there only two small paintings
Of this subjct I'm addition to the large work which
was exhibited in the Salon Of 1857, this study may
be The very ono mentioned by Wolf II Is AN adj
able work. rich and sunny. and remarkable for The
truth OF action and strength Of drawing This
notable little picture, and tho delightful painting OF
The Shephsrdess,' a iavorite subject, represent
Mllet's painting Of peasant life at Barbizon.
The Inspiration which Daz drew from Paolo vcroncse
for the artist lle has made beautiful picture OF his
rich blue drapere and the warm tones Of the flesh and
perhaps most OF Us Will DO content to accept 1t for It's
beauty without asking what Diaz never had TO give.
This rare example of his art and there Is another
In fha Hutra Led AlaNa "a his -
told, of Dlaz's favorte studies. and we'll II
might be- for II embodIes not only char color but
rarely shows In the Cupids lesson" for example
the slshod drawing OF the easy going painter is dS
In the paintings of this colorst. 1t is better simply
to enjoy the mellow rich torres Of his DecameIon,'
the ptuous cOloring OF his "Venus and Cupid the
melting tones Of HIS Page and Hounds" the dantncss
Of his Child and DOG" and the splendor OF his flowers
scene from he Faure collection which was painted in
and oy s Sna h
firmly painted. exhibiting form and depth as well as
color. Another beautiful landscape I" In the Woods
and for the sustained Transparency of the shadows.
with these are smaller paintings Of the F9n,aneoeau
Daz than to Rousseau The latter's work begins with
broadly painted study of hillside with foliage sharply
defined against a luminous sky. This fcrc;be little
stable influence was stil fresh Near this is another
Picture apparently Of carly date The Pavines Of
Fntremont' distinguished by breadth and simpli,
thy the co imposition Tho cottage at Bcri' Is
remarkatde exhibition OF much In little. Every
thing is firmly painted even to tiny figures removed
the trees. aud all the rcceding planes OF the
composition clearly indicated Then there are two
sunsets. the artists favOne bit OF glowing color
fran ii n between dark oaks. and tho other, No So
picture of moro detail than usual and more aggressive
In cOloIing
In similar but moro limited way the development
woodland scene con'nsed In composition but showing
strong sense Of form prrcedes in point OF time the
Cloud Burst" In which feeling for color is becoming
apparent. and after this comes tbs seattle and
Sheep dated 1851, beautiful example OF rroyon's
best coicring II IS pity that superb a picture
represents brutal act. Then come Decamps and
Frouientln. fae Oriental colo r>ts. Tho former -
represented by tho Turkish Butcher Shop" picture
soft and melting In color. and with refinement, depth
and form as we'll There IS one noble Fromentin, the
Arab women. No IS. picture upon which the artist
expended the science OF which he master without
allowing solcnea TO lessen the scnsmous charm Of trre