Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-18
BRUSH AND PALETTE.

| MISS IDA NJ. SMITH, formerly pupil Of Mr.
John ]. Hammer. has q vigorously handled
tudy Of head at Gillespie's. The picture has
| ONE merit as regards color and execution, but
here is little that is artistic about the charac-
| er and poise of the head.
SOMETHING that is new and very attractive
| in art glassware is produced by making vessels
| Of two closely related and harmonious shades
OF color, and then by cutting the glass IN the
usual manner the color of the Underneath
layer appears in the design, producing an effect
OF great richness and beauty.
THE LOST BIRD" mezzo-tint by Thomas
8. Appleton, shown at Gillespie's, is a fine ex-
ample Of work in this beautiful art which is so
rapidly coming into favor again. Something
still finer, however, Is the etching by Leopold
Lowenstein after Alma-Tadema's picture "a
Favorite Author" 1t is unnecessary to COM
ment upon this picture further than to observe
that it Is beautiful composition in the artists
best style, and tho etching is cleverly exc
cuted and finely finished work in which every
detail of the original is brought out with the
most painstaking care.
A LANDscAPE bearing the name of Benz.
Jones is shown at Boyd's. If one may credit
the inscription on one of the rocks In the face
ground, the scene is located on Paint creek,
Scalp Level, and it is also set forth that the
labor of five days was expended in its produc-
tion. Persons possessed of old-time prejudices
will experience some little difficulty in recon-
Cling themselves to the new plan Of
ornamenting the Playground of q picture
with reading matter, however interesting
it may be from a literary standpoint. and with
out regard to the value of the information it
conveys. As regards the picture itself 1t is q
rather crude imitation of Hetzel, so much so.
indeed, as to suggest the probability of its be-
ject is quite q pleasing one, but the handling is
weak and the color raw and harsh. These
faults, however. are certainly largely due to in
experience as the picture bears evidence of
toned to the use of the brush, and they are
faults which the artist may reasonably hope to
correct in any work he may do in the future.
"PREoocUPAT1oN." the picture by Mrs.
Eurilda Loomis France, which hung in the
Paris Salon in 1887, and more recently in the
Hacke gallery, has been shown in Boyd's win
dow during the past week, and while there it
has been the cause OF a great diversity of opin-
ion among persons who had not previously seen
it. The fact of its having been admitted to the
Salon gives 1t sta ndng that in all probability
would not otherwise be accorded it
character of the work. The sub
ject consists of an elderly peasant woman, with
full expression upon her face, seated by table
above which the sunlight streams in through a
window. The handling of the work is broad,
very broad; indeed 1t Is about as broad as it is
possible to execute it, and it Is this character.
istic that calls forth the largest share of ad-
verse criticism. Judging the picture fairly, it
work of its class, but 1t is an example of what
most persons will consider an Objectionable
school of art, and there is at least a strong
probability that in this instance the opinion
of the majority will prove to be correct and
well founded. That the picture is painted
with considerable strength and with not lit
tie artistic feeling and expression, is not tc be
denied; but 1t is also true tnat much of il looks
like paint and like nothing but paint, and one
must torture his Imagination If he would per-
suade himself that it resembles anything else,
of q Qtrik inr ina ia Off lad hrr
the splash OF light color above the table in
which it is difficult to trace any resemblance to
panes OF glass lighted up by the sun, although
that is undoubtedly what 1t is intended for.
To.sAY that New York City will yet be the
greatest center of the world is not very rash
prophecy, and one need not look very far into
the future to expect its fulhllment. That such
will be the case is something that has already
passed from probability to a certainty, and
that, too within the last few years. Already
has the city become the home of many of the
gr6ndest works Of art and the number is every
year increasing, while there Is also manifest a
determination to borrow and exhibit, for time
at least. any such notable paintings as cannot
be purchased outright. That which tends more
than other single cause to the enlightenment and
growth of artistic feeling in q community is the
establishment Of societies, galleries and mu-
seums of art and in this respect New ork is
stepping forward with giant strides. Compared
with what existed only few years ago the
number and importance of the ex-
hitlons now held, both the periodical
exhibits and the museums which are sopsn all
or the greater portion of the time. are something
surprising. Already the tastes and require
ments of New York buyers have become an i'm
portant factor In the calculations of foreign art
dealers when any unusually large collection of
paintings is to be disposed of, and already are |
the transactions of dealers located in that city
being carried on upon scale which will prove |
to be the foundation Of an enormous business |
in the near future. It will be but |
short time until the population of the |
United States will number over one hun
dred million souls and tile advancements made |
in art and science are certain to more than |
keep pace with the increase of population.
Presumably none will question tho assertion !
that the United States is and will continue to |
be the greatest nation on the EARTH and but |
few will deny that New York with her favor |
able situation and the prestige already attained |
must, In the future as In the past maintain her |
position as the city of first importance wherein |
will center the greatest museams and schools |
of art.