New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-20
THE PARIS SALON.
NOTES OF SOME LEADING WORKS IN THE
EXHIBITION OF 1883.


from THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or The rpIB1'NF
Paris, May s.
The vast number of the works of art, compris-
ing paintings drawings, pastels, engraVlngs ana
etchings. with SCULPTURE and modellings in all
kinds Of materials, which form the Salon OF 1855
makes it impossible to notice more than few of
the more prominent There is generally speaking
a deal Of excellent work which gives a vivid i'm
preston of reality, accurate in drawing, low in
tone and delicate in coloring: work distinctly
showing that the artists have been to nature both
for inspiration and for models While there are
few exhibits which go far ahead Of all the Others
there are numbers which will hold their own wher-
ever honest and faithful representations of nature
ore understood and appreciated. Bcnnat has two
capital portraits Of Cardinal de Lavigere and OF NJ
Jules Ferry the former Of life-sze seated at n
table with pen iu his hand The face beams
with expression and is full Of character; While the
long white beard gives the figure n most striking
and venerable appearance Books are lying on the
floor and the Cardinals hat is on table. NJ. Jules
Fcrry's portrait is little more than head but
solid and lifelilSe and moreover speaking like
ness. M. Ferrys policy has always been in con-
junction with Bourse and banking business. The
expedition to Tuns was made with q view TO BRING
up q mass of Tunis bonds from the very low figure
at which the big men himself and his brother
among them had bought them to more than par
by making them French securities. The Bone
guelma Railway stock was financed in the same
way and rose in a single day 375 francs. The first
mark NJ Ferry made in journalism and indeed the
only one, was in 1873, by overhauling Baron
Haussmanns city accounts in lie Temps Then
the financial action he eXerted in Turkish and
Egyptian affairs on behalf of the Franco-Egyptian
Bank, of which his brother is a manager, and then
they were both in the attempted conversion of the
Mexican loan-an attempt Unexpectedly thwarted
by an all but unknown Mexican lawyer. AS NJ
Ferry was reared Catholic, the Judaism of his
blood was lost sight of. But NJ. Bonnat shows his
insight in the way in which he proclaims NJ. Ferry
to be Hebrew Of the Hebrews, with any amount
of browbeating Of Brass cunning and business
capacity and much good nature. He might be a
money changer a gold-coin sweater or deal
er in old clothes
NJ Carolus Duran shows two portraits. One is
of his daughter and the other of NJ. Louis Fran
co.'s, the landscape painter. The young girl is cs-
pecially charming in suave grace, supple elegance
and case of figure and posture She is shown sit
ting and leaning sideways on table. The color
is lovely. Both have the high quality OF this dis
tinguished artists work.
NJ BENJAMIN Constant exhibits an immense
work, painted for the decoration of the Sor-
bonnie He calls it The Academy Of Paris: Lit
erature and Science; consisting of groups of ale
gorcal figures" The composition is fairly good
and the color brilliant but excepting for its vast
size il calls for no special remark Very different
is the Tryptique Of M. Humbert's Maternity"
which is remarkable for its fine feeling and scnti
ment The middle panel shows female figure
coming up a path borderel with apple trees, carry
ing two children in her arms, a boy and girl. On
the right panel the boy-a full-grown man, become
a soldier-has been shot and is shown fallen his
face the field of battle, while the left the girl
is seen working in the fields a tired and worn
out woman. The tone of the groundwork IS low
and quiet but powerfully realistic and charming
NJ Josef Is.aers Sick Nurse" is Rembrandtic and
has penetrating charm. An old woman is lying
i'll in an old cupboard sort of Dutch bed, while
little girl seated stool, is reading to her 1t is
intensely pathetic and wonderfully executed NJ.
Baudouin's woodman Telling Beech Tree
would doubtless gladden. Mr.. GladstOne's heart.
1t is true in drawing and color. But the men
work with crescent saw, which the g. o. NJ
would regard as "a heresy. he going in for the
hatchet. NJ. Rene Gilbert has fine picture of the
dyc-worlshop at the Gobelins mandatory.
Two men are watching the colors of woollen yarns
for the tapestry work The surroundings are well
arranged and the general effect good.
NJ. Bouguereau's picture Of " The First Mourn
ng7is beautifully treated, though rather academic
Remorse petrifes the strong mans face as he con-
templates the result of his passion. The dead
brother lies across his knees while his wife and
sister lin person. l<necls at his SIDE The small
picture Of nudity at a bath is in the artists best
style N. Gerome has two pictures, The Poet
and Priest NJ LHemittee has surpassed him
self in family group called Resting, which may
be called Holy Family done in modern and real
istic feeling. The group consists of a young
mother and child with the husband and father I'M
der stock of whcat-sbeaves in n harvest field
The w0ndrous drawing and technical skill in the
groundwork, the maternal sentiment OF the
healthy handsome, nursing mother, and the tender
fatherlness Of the young reapers expression as he
reclines on heap Of sheaves looking at wife
and wean, are lovely. This picture is intended rs
a set-on against ID. Zolas rustic mothers IN La
Terre"
In landscape as in figure, the French school is
exceedingly strong aud IL is easy to see that few
studio pictures ind their way into the Salon
There is an impress OF reality upon most Of the
work that shows how closely netu-e has been
copied and many OF the best pictMes breathe
of the country. NJ Pelouse has