New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-19
ART NOTES.


Mr. whistler has disappointed continent by de-
cIning deliver his " Ten O'Clock talk himself In
this country, but the Disappointment Will be porho
with equanimty after perisal Of this " talk which
Is published in a small pamphlet by Mcssrs Houehton'
Mfiin & Co. So far as any connected ideas can NC
gathered from Mr. whstlers spasmodic uteranccs' nc
appears to object strenuously TO any attempts AT
education in art, the popuarzaon of art, ana 10
the existence Of amateurs or critics, or any wri'eS
upon art. He assumes that there never was an
artistic period, nor an art-lovng nation AZ" 'n"'
"naturc Is very rarely right" SO far As CONSTRUCTIVE
u;teranccs go, his theory is that art happens
He attempts the brilliantly paradoxcai style, III
order to present in striking dress theory by no
means novel that art is purely the creature of Impulse
the production OF chance 1t is hardly worth While
10 take Mr. Whistler seriously, to search out the
grains of truth hidden in his spasmodc utterances.
1t unfortunate that he should have descended to the
vulcarity Of personal abuse evidently intended Tor
Mr. Ruskin The " talk" must have gained much from
the delivery Of the artist and 1t sustans but poorly
tn. test of cold type. Mr. Whistler would have done
better TO have confined himself TO brush and etching
needle and TO have refraned from gratifying his enc
mics with this book
In little pamphlet called /" Art; Commodity
which IS published by Messs. Houghton. Mil,in Co..
Mr. Sheridan Ford furnishes some printed comments
upon the art business in New-York He declares,
as The Tribune has often pointed out, that the
pictures of the Fontaincbcau and Barbzon painters
have boon Systematically "boomed" by dealers and
others interested, until they are held at wholly OK
agcerated prices. This Illustrated In the ex-
perence of the late Mrs. Morgan who paid such high
prices that the dealers, IS commonly understood,
felt Obliged to support the pictures at the sale,
in order to avert disastrous collapse in values which
must be regarded as fictitious. Mr. Ford's structures
arc sometimes too sweeping. but he is evidently
close observer, and his comments are frank ana icar
less and we'll worth the attention OF those VINO mare
prctence and humbug and believe that common sense
should prevail in the consideration OF pictures as
elsewhere We fear that there will always be many
who will be Influenced by booms" and claptrap.
bat careful consideration Of Mr. Fords little brochure
should help to lessen the number
Carel vosmaer, whose death at Montrucux was
recently reported has been best known to Americans
as thorough student Of the work of Rembrandt AS
a historian says the Courier de L'Art.' ." he has
done more for the immortal memory Of Kemofahd'
than all who preceded him, than all who have ioI
lowed HIM" Whether this estimate be accepted or
net is certain that the work Of Nosmacr cannot be
neglected by any student OF art and it is certain that
his work upon Rembrandt Will always be regarded as
an authority OF his writings in other fields, com
rarativcly little has been known in this country
The Courier" SAYS: " As journalist he was con-
slant contributor TO the 'NedeIlandSche Spectator
AS poet he has gloIi0usy continued the TRADITIONS
Of Cats and of Vondcl. As rOmancer he has LETT
some delicate works, whose was so great that
they have been translated into several languages As
an cit critic he has never allowed himself TO be In
fucnccd by camaraderic, and merit alone has die
tatcd his opinions. As artist. 1t Is sufficient 10
recall the velve of the designs, with which he Illus
tratcd his humorous LOndinias, published on his
return from England As an cssayfst, he was literally
the soul of the 'Ncderandschc Spectator and very
wise Latinst he was in constant communication with
tho most nlustrious classical scholars. The works Of
vosmaer will remain one of the brightest gories OF
Holland literature, and all who have known this
choice spirit Will cherish his memory