New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28
NOTES ON CURRENT ART.
PICTURES FOR THE PARIS EXPOSrTION-NEW
PAINTINGS IN THE GALLERIES

PICTURES FOR THE PARKS EAFOSIIlON-NLW
PAINTINGS IN THE GALLERIES
7, Will depend largely upon the artists Of New
York whether American art IL to be anequafeU
represented at the international Exhibition which VII,
BE- opened in Paris next May. The American artists
residing in Paris have already effected an organzAon'
but IL rests with the artists Of NewYork to give me
exhibition of American art the character which ~
should have Several artists arc alive 10 the I'M
porance Of this matter, and there have areahy oeon
various informal discussions But there has been no
effort to arouse general and secure concerted
action. This is probably duo IN part TO Inc lack OK
official organizer. As is well known, Cenersi W.
d Franklin is tho United States Commissioner IN
general charge Of the American exhibits ana Mr.
Tuck is the deputy commissioner, but there mas ooon
a delay, probably unavoidable in selecting commls-
soner Of fnc arts There has been an obvious DIM
Guilty In securing the services OF gentleman OF ahe
quate knowledge and discrimination, who could 40
vote the necessary time and effort 30 the task OF
forming worthy American collection. But COM
missioner viii shortly be appointed, and IL Is hoped
that the artists Will be prompt IN aiding him 70
make the exhibition success. 1t would be in,u-
dic'ous many accounts to attempt TO give the
exhibition historical character. The question then
arises whether there should DO stcmpt 10 represent
all phases Of American art to mako general colleos
ton, to form collection with quality the only
test Of admission The artists may or may not settle
tho question without serious differences OF opinion
but It is to b. hoped that quality be the only test
Ton years have passed since the last international Ex
position In Paris and It is possible now for American
artists to obtain and higher rating before the
world. II there is sent to Paris q collection OF tho
best and only the best work done by artists within
the last fifteen years. American artists will not
only gain credit for themselves abroad. but they Will
also feel tho influence Of such q showing upon tho
public at home The importance OF this exhibition Is
not to be readily overestimated There were various
plausible for the failure OF Americans to make
adequate contributions TO the Munich exhibition But
similar failure at Paris would be little short Of
disaster
A group Of paintings by Jules Breton will be placed
upon exhibition in the Knoedler Gallery about tho
middle Of November. The collection will include 10
Coulter, The Lunch recent Salon picture.
known in this country by the etchngs. The painting
presents three peasant women lying on the ground
eating their MONDAY lunch around a little fire The
is plain, stretching away to the horizon It's
surface broken by few small trees and distant figures
Another Of the larger pictures, entitled Across the
Fields shows three peasant women returning from
work, the figures seen against a brilliant sunset
There are also two companion pictures, called Morn
ing and Evening" which studies Of single
figures and two minor works, one, study Of head.
called "A Woman Of Artois." This exhibition viii
doubtless prove of much interest to those who
have been unable to share the enthusiasm OF somo
collectors over examples Of Breton's later work
Messrs. Knoedler g. Co. will also place upon ex-
hibition Delacrox's Abduction Of Rebecca' which.
as noted in The Tribune last spring was purchased
for % 900 francs at the Godschmidt sale, In Paris,
for Mr.. d. C. Lyall, Of Brooklyn. The catalogue do
scrpon Of this picture is follows Rebecca taken
away by the order Of the Templar, Bots ubert, In
the midst of the sacking Of the castle Of Front Dc
Boeuf is already in the hands Of two African slaves
charged with conducting her far from the scene OF
combat The captors are preparing to ny, while on
the right cavalier at full speed dashes toward them
In the background the high walls Of the castle appear
amid flame and smoke This picture which is about
four inches long and two feet eight inches
high was painted by Delacroix 1s46, and exhibited
in the Salon Of that year. At the Collot sale In 1859
Il brought only 1900 francs, or less than 5000 A.
sale IN Brussels, in 1856, the price paid was 200
francs. There is record Of any other sale until
1870 when the price Of the pctgree rose ,S e Soo
brought 81 600 francs According to Robaut 1t after
ward belonged to the Secretan collection, but y ms
Godscbmdt The price paid at the Yaters SALE
less than $4,000, Will DO considered uncommohiy
moderate
Messrs Reichard & Co. have received painting BY
Uhde, perhaps the strongest Of the realistic re-
HgIous painters of the day in Germany. Those Who
follow the Salon exhibitions will recall Uhdes Last
supper" which caused some discussion at the time
of the exhibition Several of his pictures were shown
Among Uhde's paintings are The supper at Emmaus'
and Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me- and
The painting shown by Messrs. Reichard Co: is
reduced replica Of large picture called The ser,
mon on the Mount" In none OF these pictures IS
there the least attempt at historical accuracy or
consists of the locazing. as II were OF New Iesta
ment scenes in the Germany OF to-day HIS LAST
supper presents a company OF North German sailors
and peasants az the table In another picture ne
savior is received by German peasant ana MS
family in cottage which might be the scene OF
Of Knauss genres. In the sermon on ms
Mount elsewhere the Savior IS an asceuc hguro,
with a lace not devoid OF tender pity, but there IS
not the slightest likeness TO any Oriental or Hebrew
type The Savior is represented as sitting upon .
bench, one hand raised as he speaks, while
before him kneel and stand peasant men and women,
facing the level rays OF the setting sun:
These the peasants of to-day and the landscape
is the landscape of Germany. not Of the Orient 80
expression of individual character and power OK
mands respectful appreciation and his pictures were
presented merely studies of German peasant lie,
their sentiment and execution as well would entte
them TO cordial praise. There can be little doubt OF
painter and those who can remain blind to his dog-
matte insistance upon anachronism a. creed may
we'll be moved by the spirit Of his work But his
treatment OF his theme suggests an actuai ieatuN
where the image at the Christ Child was painted .
copper color, and many OF the worshppefs hrp1ly
believed that the Savior was Mic Mac indian Ike
themselves When all exceptions are taken, how
ever II will be found that Chde's results By
means devoid Of impressiveness.
stu another name IS to be added to the long LIST
OF foreign portrait painters who have come TO this
country to seek 10 execute commissions. The Bel
ian artist Joseph COoman. best known as painter
OF Pompeian subjects, Is latest visitor. his errand
being the painting OF the portraits OF Philadelphia
family Benjamin Constant, who Is expected within
short time is exhibit here the picture which he has
painted International Exposition In Paris Tho
title is " The Shcik Is Dead