Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-04


not nj Tanis. as we generally believed
Sir George Stokes. Bart, having con-
veved the thanks Of the Members 10 VI.
Nayille. n short discussion took place,
during which Captain Francis Petrie. the
Honorary Secretary. pointed ont that what
Professor Savces paper had done a. re-
cards Assyrian and BabylOnian history.
NJ. Nayille's had done az regards
Egyptian history. They were papeTs all
vancing the practical work of the lntltuteln
philosophical and sclentihc
questions, especially any questions used by
those who unhappily sought 10 attack the
Bible in the name OF science; ana bOth
would appcar in the Journal. which would
be presented at the Institutes rooms,
IA Adclphi Terrace, 20 all mem bers and
associates who were now on the list or v no
might apply 10 join after the 10Th OF July.
The president, members, and associates
then adjourned TO the Museum, where
were served.
Notes.
The New York Times INDUCES in the fol
lowing bit of sarcasm: "A quarter ot a
million is TO be asked from Congress for a
monument in Paramount Park, Phlladel-
phia, to commemorate he Constitution.
Ii is not vet decided what form the monu-
ment shall take, the main point being tho
quarter million. Local contributions are
10 swell this respectable sum. A. Phila-
delphians have q weakness for German
sculptors who produce pedanic and taste
less monuments the chances for good
thing are slight.
An exhibition Of the art and industries
Of Iceland has been opened IN the rooms Ok
the ROYAL Archaeological Institute. London,
under the direction of Mrs. Eirikr Nj rnus-
son. One Of the chief features of the eN-
hih;ti0n is q collection Of antique gold
and silver ornaments, including necklaces,
clasps, bracelets. and other trinkcts, msn-
toned. as is supposed, OUT of metal brought
to Iceland many centuries ago by the
Vikings Very quaint and primitiye-caryed
wooden caskcts. boxes, and porrldge pig
gins" many of which bear unmistakaDle
evidence of great antiquity, are shown.
Chicago already foresees the difficulty
there viii be to keep bad statues and
monuments tOinsigniiicant men out of her
public parks. The Chicago TriJ1He uses
New York as a warning, instancing tho
Dodge statue, the Burns, and other Alb
surd monuments. Luckily. the writer ap-
pears never to have seen still worse things /;
the Bolivar in North Central Park
and the Garibaldi in Washington Square
These were accepted for fear of hurting the
feelings Of certain South Americans and
Italians. Chicago has reason 10 fear when
gentlemen who have been put IN places Of
trust by their fcllow-citiZens lack the moral
courage TO decline mOnstrOsltios. hc kind
illness that saddles q community with such
monuments as the Bolivar and Car baldi IS
only form of seltishness. II - easier to
give way to pressure than defend the into
rests of the city.
The London papers are more pleased with
the manner in which Mr.. Theodore WOre5
sees and paints japan than the impressions
brought from the same islands 10y Mr..
Mortimer Mempes. who showed his Japa-
nese sketches the year before. Mr.. NOrC5
will be remembered for the exhibits he
made in New York. Boston, and CHI
cagO some time ago. " HIS color SAYS
the Echo. " Is rich and harmonious, his de-
tail sometimes "a little bit hard, and his
pictures might have been better tor little
more ubiquitous insistence and finish and
more concentration Of attention on central
objects" Society il rather hard on the
English artist. Mr.. Mempess pictures
had a certain samcncss and triclNncss about
them that the true lover Of art could not
stand. whereas Mr.. Wores's pictures ere
brilliantly painted, realistic, and above all
artistic"
The equestrian Jeanne dare, by the
sculptor Paul Dubois, shows "A slender
maiden on abrisk-stepping horse. She wears
a clOse-htting helmet, cuIrass, chain under
armor cuissard for the thighs, and iron
shoes and leg covers. She looks up as II
she saw a vision in the sky, and holds up q
large sword. her right elbow being bent as
she brandishes the sword TO right and
rear. The movement of the horse is
strongly expressed 10y its tail, which
floats almost straight, as if stiff
breeze were blowing. The uplifted arm
bearing the heavy, straight sword must
give in time q wcarisOme impression TO a
statue which is full of fine modelling and
good points, such as sobrietv Of treatment
and simplicity in expression. Much less
sober IN accessories but far more restful IS
the Jeanne dare 10y Fremiet. which he pro-
poses to substitute for that standing IN tho
Place DIES Pyramides. The standard she
holds with right hand high on the staff.
the crown of laureis that stands upright
from the back of her head. the floating ends
of her scarf, are ornamental traits that en-
liven this statue without being strictly
needed to express the character and career
of the Maid of Orleans. But there Is
no sense of being weariod in Fremiets
Jeanne. She il on high saddle and
holds her legs straight, while her lips and
the left hand. holding the bride, express
Great determination. The new Jeanne is
really the same az the old, the sculptor
merely desiring to substitute large copy
for the well-knOwn statue. But at the
same time he has made certain changes in
the direction of the picturesque. The face
is a little older and sterner, and has lost
the look of a child going 10 battle without
fear of consequences, which is one Of tho
charms Of the old statue. 1t may be per-
mitted 10 question whether Fremelt has
been wise 10 make such alterations. The
Jeanne dare by Dubois is to stand at
DOmremy.
When it YVES decided to cleanse the
" Ronde de Mutt" of Rembrandt ut Am
sterdam the methods pursued have been
described as follows by NJ. Hopmann. the
restOrer at the museum; For years this
has been covered by thick
coat of varnish, in which time has set up
various molecular changes. Tie yarnish
has become soiled and cracked, rough and
opaque in every part. This rOughness
and lack of transparency had grown
so great in late years that 1t was impossible
10 see even the great beauty OF the pie
ture, so much SO that many persons
thought that it was necessary to have
IL stripped OF llb NdEHl5li. Dul tlltJ WAS
not absolutely necessary. IL was enough
10 make the varnish transparent down to
the layer Of pigments. That operation
performed in this way: At the toughest
places where the varnish had been turned
almost to powder by time made it little
more even by rubbing it with my fingers.
Then l rubbed with my fnger-ends the
whole Of the picture until it became lit
tie soft, when | covered the surface with
q little copal varnish. Placing the picture
on the ground face upward, l inVert-
ed over it box made exactly to fit. The
bottom of the box contained a double
fold of absorbent cloth. which completely
with pure alcohol in such way
that not single drop fell on the picture.
It remained exposed TO the yapo's Of
alcohol for twenty minutes. At the instant
| raised the box the painting showed up
more beautiful than anybody of the pres
emit generation has ever been permitted TO
see II. The yarnish has become transparent
down TO the layer OF colors. Every thing
San be seen distinctly now; lot of
line oreyices in the varnish have
entirely disappeared all parts Of
the picture are clearer, and the gem
sral appearance is SO imposing that no.