New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
BITS OF CHAT ON RUSSIAN ART.
stray COMMENTS ON THE vEREsToHAG1N
PICTURES.

STRAY COMMENTS ON THE vEREsTCHAG1N
PICTURES
In recent discourse on Art Vassih Verestchagtn
complained that there was discriminating criticism
of his paintings in the United states, that the critics
siuply cried Bad-bad-bad.o 1t might be sug-
gested to the distinguished Russian that he disguise
himself and minge among the crowds that go 10 see
his pictures at the American Art Galleries In that
way he would pick up more interesting little Dls OF
discriminating criticism than even the German news
papers favored him with For example, on sunday
night his ears would have tinged with these observa
tions which heard by scores OF men ana women;
First discriminating critic before My Fire IN tho
HimaIayas- )-Thunder m blazes. DICK, who ever
seed sparks Ay over mounting Ike that thout goin'
outl
second discriminating crltic-Them amt sparks,
Abe That ole chap IS jess flung armfu O. chestnut
logs on Their fire N them's Their Goals a-poppin' over
Their hills
Third discriminating critic (Defore The Forgotten
soldierp)-Ah, Mary, there's splendid canvas. What
genusi save whore. amid the rocks alone, Is feebly
heard dying groan-"
Mary third critics better hah-But where's the
forgotten soldier Edgar? don't see anything but
q bird 1t looks for all the world like Poes raven,
Third discriminating critc-Nonsense, my dear II
the soldier were in sight nothing would be left TO the
Imagination. The mark of true genius IS suggestive
ness The mere sight of that bird. which, Of course
is vulture, satisfies that forgotten soldier lies
buried somewhere in the snow that NANTES those
dreary hills.
Mary-Oh, yes indeed how grand ! never
thought of that desr. And when the snow mclis the
vuture find the poor, dead body, doesn't it How
very, very sad.
Fourth discriminating critic Cbefore The Con-
quered"-HeIo. there's cotton patch full OF stones
what's that fellow DOM with lantern out there N
broad daylight! Looks like a priest No Pm mis-
taken; they amt stones They're soldiers heads
If YOU look close you can make out the nose and
chin and mustache of the down in the right hand
corner Why, the whole fields full Of 'em. Must
have been a fight somewhere. But who ever saw a
battlefield like thai}
Fifth discriminating critic (before "a Resting
Mace of Prisoners Can you tell what that IS stick
ing out of the snow, that small dark object near the
bottom?
sixth discriminating critc-Certainy that's a
horses leg. Horse buried in the snow, you know
Cannon rolled over his leg and made it flop up Ike
that.
Fifth discriminating critlc-I've seen good many
horses legs, but / one shaped like that
Sixth discriminating crtc-Ot course not Ihats
/ a Russian horses leg
| One of the curious effects of Verestchagn's eX-
hbton is the atmosphere of subdued melancholy that
pervades the entire gallery and causes visitors TO
converse IN Whispers TO his pictures Is as
solemn an undertaking going to church The large
paintings are at great disadvantage owing 10 the small!
size of the rooms In which they are shown. To got
proper degree Of satisfaction out of CrucihXon by
the Romans,s Hanging In Russia and Blowing
from Guns I'm british India= wants to stand in
the adjoining gallery and take a telescope view OF
the canvases Though narrow doorway Inc eHectt
must be TO be appreciated ~ Is UNDERSTOOD mat
Verestchagin transports these big pictures bg TAX
ing hem nom the frames and rolling them up