New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-16

has disputed Mr.. de Rays zeal and the ruit'
of his wide reading impart much interest 10 ii'
discussions. but his method of treatment Is un
inst 20 his subject. The strongest impression
left by this book is of Barge as scientist ano
" evolutiouist. In similar way the strongest I'M
pression left by much of the criticism oil Miiie.
a generation ago is that Alet wis a leveler OF
classes a socialist. and that his pictures were
nainted as attacks upon arstocracy. Fortunately
Mjllet himself WAS able to answer these compute
t,ons parves Inns are closed. IL Is possiolo
10 think all sorts Of meaning into any sr'aso
worl, and there can be no possible obIection' ~
long as the results remain personal 10 the OAi"'
ers But when subjective interpretations orc
promulga gated as objective facts. as In ene o'1,'
German criticism we can only ask Tor acVo''
cbiectiye proofs and corroborating facts, ano no'
finding them, take our leave oil the suoleoe '''
with assurances of personal esteem But wouiu ~
80, ho,,o hoen more discreet for Mr.. De KAY 10
have initiated Theophlle Silvestrcs poeucai ~eAV
ment of Barye's relation 10 SCIENCE ihe 'N,
elaborated in the present volume was charmihsy
exnressed by Silvestre as follows ihat "h'o'
in nv eyes renders Bsrye particularly proiouhu
is his knowledge Of man as well as shinaiS
bac no confined himself so strictly 10 exhaus''ng
bv ANALYSIS and 70 rc9ompoSng oy Sn'"'''s
the accidents and laws Of the human ioIin Ho",
one extremity to the other OF the chain oi c'e"v'
beings only 10 produce from tnem lnuSouidi
TRICKS and statuesque feats Of strength Carryins
his ca ger researches 20 the regions oeyonu altman
limits TO the infinite of the spiritual world he n''s
come upon and questioned, as phliosopher an"
na,ura1;st both in tho attitudes and expressions
Of beasts. that nameleSs spirit when ahlma'es
and directs them in the eternity of silence TO
%1aua
compared the sad flaws in mans reason with the
infallible instinct of his inferior brothers
The effort TO present Barye a scientist is the
oonsnicuous feature Of the book, and this is
seconded by the authors zeal for pathological and
NEUROLOGICAL disquisitions. There are chapters
wherefn Barye comes to the surface only at rare
Intervals. The discussions of natural history
are pertinent and helpful, but a curious example
of labored inference is to be found in the ten
pages devoted TO bears. The bear was regarded
as unworthy of conventional sculpture, and in
deed all animals other than lions or horses were
scorned. lust as the magots" of the old Dutch
genre painters were scorned by Louis XIV and
his court, or as the intense life and passion oil
Gericault and Delacroix were held to be outside
the pale of true art, which meant the Academy
Barye began modelling bears in 1881, and our
author finds in this an unconscious proclamation
of democracy reason for quoting several long
passages from the Finnish Kalevala, and an
occasion for tracing Baryes lineage, by means OF
his name TO some ancient oonqueror OF bears
All this Eliminates Mr.. de Kays erudition and
ingenuity, but it is possible TO doubt the press
ing need of this long depression, and of the dis
cursive pages devoted to the history of the mino-
taur and centaur myths All this, we may re-
peat is Interesting, even if the authors ofhand
differences and generalizations are NOT taken as
final authority but the fault we find is that
the central figure in the picture has suffered
from neglect OF values, and Of true perspective,
and from the constant over-elaboration OF details
Mr.. de Kay has greatly expanded his Century"
article, and his volume is easily the most CON-
prehensive biography in English. The author
has prepared o work which will he of interest TO
every Barge amateur, and there is
certainly some reason for pride IN
the fact that Americans have prepared and pub
lished so important a study of foreign master OF
contemporary art. Moreover, Mr.. de Kay shows
judicial spirit in his comments upon Bafyes
work. and, although he praises greatly where
great praise is due, he does not hesitate to dis
criminate. The author must pardon us for say
ing that in the closing chapters he seems to have
been uncertain where to STOP and some Of the
mattef ADMITTED is ndrdy worthy Dut our iH0lh
regret is that we fail 10 obtain clear, weldefned
picture of Barge as artist and man. Even his
immediate surroundings, personal friendships and
associations and the exact conditions of the times
in several cases, have been sacrificed to the ex
ploitaton of Barge, the SCIENTIST and the discus
sion of myths and derivatons and other themes
which might have been considered briefly. Notwith-
standing this, Mr.. de Nays book has value
which sh u1 be fully recognized, and it will add
much to the knowledge which our amateurs have
regarding the life of great master. The author
deserves the utmost credit for an industry which
has not been discouraged eN en- by the preparation
of the valuable list of dates relating to Barge
published at the end.
The ded cation is most appropriate The volume
is dedicated o Mr.. w T. Walters, first to honor
the genius of Antoine Louis Barye with bronzes
erected in America. foremost OF those who would
raise his monument on the Seine"