New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
ARNOLD BOCKLIN.
AN IMAGINATIVE PAINIER.

VIENNA. Feb. 5.-The Landscape aud figure painter,
Arnold Bockln, Is one Of the most original Of modern
European artists. He IS a master In color, drawing
and expression. but originality is his striking
characteristic. No matter how worn out the theme
may appear, In his hands It attans life.
most striking collection of his pictures has Just
boon exhibited IN Vienna; the Peta,7 tho Play Of
the Sea Waves the Fountain Nymph,' the Dragon
Slayer" and the Magic of Spring. Tho P.etaT was
exhibited by itself; 1t shown by electric light, as
all the pictures. In the advertisement II vas
described as a sensational plcture,' and certainly
tho effect startling on entering the room. Tho
dead Christ undraped, is stretched upon white mar
bic slab placed upon another Of gray stone On tho
further side the Virgin has thrown herself on tho
body, her dark blue mantle half conceaIing It. with
one hand she grasps c0nvusively the Saviours
shoulder, the other, entwincd in tho golden brown
hair, supports his head. Her face Is hidden by the
MANTLE a lock of hair, golden brown also, escapes
and falls on his breast The mothers agony l. shown
only IN the attitude and in tho expression OF tho
hands. On tho Saviour's features the calmEess OF
death has settled The expression IS sweet and noble,
undisored by pain. Behind. lurid clouds deepen tho
sombre effect The earth all is cold and dark. but In
Heaven IS light and warmth. From luminous clouds
bend a noble figure, an angel wrapped I'm a brilliant
red mantle, his face full OF roverent tenderness and
pity his right hand Is stretched out over tho Virgin
and Saviour as II to bring divine help and comfort
Child angels looked perplexed and pityngly sorrow
with which they SympdtnlZe WltnOuC compromising.
Loving hands have scattered flowers around this body
of the Saviour. This alone indicates the pre- OF
human sympathy.
AS soon as this picture withdrawn from eI-
hbition, four Others placed in the same room.
Entirely different in spirit, they show the versatility Of
Bockin's genius. Tho Play of the Sea waves rep
resents the after storm. Murky clouds still
the sky, the dark green waves. mountain high,
break into foam as they roll and tumble and toss
their white crests high into the air. Tho grand force
Of the stirred to Its very depths is magnihceny
rendered, and no less It's sparkling beauty Ms tho
sunlight CLEANS upon Its myriad crcsts or penetraes
its sombre depths. A seaccntaur plungcs through
tho bnlows full Of mad delight In tho stormy element
mermaid turns away from this burly, uniformed
creature lovely eyes full of vague terror looking
out Of tho picture. Red seaweed crowns her silver
hair. Tho light falls her beautiful body slightly
Drowned by and wtrd, and on the gold and silver
scales cleaning through the water. One hand rests
lightly the shoulder Of sturdy norman, whose
bronzed figure and good-naured. wrinkled face he
laughs heartily at her fright contrast strongly with
her grace and timid beauty. over his shoulder peers
an ugly sea-monster; behind, fair creatures rise on
tho pillows, toss their arms In wild excitement. or
plunge headforemos into tho very heart of tho waves,
their graceful forms half seen through tie semi.
translucent water We find hero the very spirit OF
tho ocean-its terrors and loveness-ts Wild delight
its boundless freedom.
Far different Is the Spirit Of the next picture, tho
Magic Of SPRING happy YOUTH melancholy old age
feels in its way the tender influences Of the
revving year On gentle slope covered with flowers
stands a country house half hidden I'm evergreens.
On the hillside children picking tho gay blossoms.
Birch raise their slender stems against the sky
and arc reflected In tho stream that winds through
the foreground and loses itself in the pool beyond.
Seated its banks, young girl listens to her
lovers lutte; by the pool stands old man looking
down into It's still waters, absorbed In memories OF
the past, they In antcIpations Of the future.
The Dragon Slayer" Is q mediaoval rendering OK
the Creek legend of Perseus and Andromeda Interest,"
ing chiefly for its splendid color and the fine con-
trast between the dazzling fairness Of the maiden
and tho knights cleaning black armor and scarlet
plumes. The " Fountain Nymph' Is the most bcautt-
ful in sentiment. Out of rocky cleft in tho hill
side trckles delicate thread Of water which thirsty
faun collects In his hand. On tho bank behind lies
enjoyment Graceful childish forms dance in tho
clouds above. In by the side Of the fountain
sits tho nymph, her figure being yelled with semi
trans parent, vioetgray drapery. Her face, full OF
melancholy sweetness Is turned to the bird pcrched
on her finger, but though she seems TO listen, her
dreamy eyes show that her thoughts arc far away.
Gifted with tho vision and the faculty diyne,'
genius boldly ventures into paths forbidden to nero
talent Bocklns world peopied witp the creatures
real 10 us for We sec them through his eyes.
Arnold Bocblin Is a native of Basle, Switzerland He
born In 1927. Tho restless artistic temperament
Paris, Rome, Munich, Welmar. To italy, that land
OF enchantment for the artist, he has returned again
and again. but he has at length gone back to his early
home, and 10 living again At Basic.