New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-29
THE ROYAL ACADEMY.
NOTES ON THE PRINCIPAL. CONTRIBUTIONS

ures 70 the Royal Academy or Grosvenor Gallery. This
year there Is said to have been falling on In the
number OF Studio Sunday" visitors to the academi
clans and associates, which must have been enet
to sone. for Studio Sundays has obvious drawbacks
There is the element Of personal embarrassment alc
Ing the misunderstood srtishost tho one s'de OF
tho conscientious visitor on the other. who seeks 10
reconcile courtesy and the mpesstblity OK honest
praise. There Is the mere physical fatigue attchuhg
the crowding studio after anothor. ana thefc Is
another practical drawback which Sir FREDERICK Leigh
ton discovered last year. when some wandering Al
tolycus among the visitors pockctcd hundred dol
lars' worth OF fuc idcnta bouterie, and yet semi
humorous complaints of hosts and guests have never
amounted to q serious demand for tho adjustment
Of studio Sunday" and TO US Studio Sunday" is a
distinct advantage, since II enables US to be present
at the opening Of the Royal Academy exhibition.
The chief pictures of the exhibition have been
fully described in London journals which have reached
u.s. and therefore able to discuss the exhibition
for our readers. Our is taken from various
London newspapers, and 1t is not put forth as IA
special cable Dispatch
Tho president Of tho Royal Academy, Sir Frederick
Leighton, sends nothing equal in importance to his
last years Andromachcn but he is at least adequately
represented by five pictures. Among them Greek
scene, "A Game of Ball. is first in consequence.
Two Greek girls playing on housetop or terrace
One on the right who stands with outssretched arm
and flying robes, has just thrown the ball. and her
companion, WIFI both arms raised seeks to catch IT,
Tho formers drapcrics are OF reddish tone and tho
latters Of greenish amber tint. Below, the roofs
descend in tiers the port OF the town. and beyond
Is the dark blue OF the sea, studded With ise's'
Tho air is clear, and the white buildings seem 10
GLOW In the sunlight. IAN Invocatress" IS the tltlo
of picture showing young priestess standing before
q statue which is supported upon an Ionic coiu""'
Her oferlng clusters of grapes, lies upon tho sa'af
and her beautiful face, bathed in the light Is faso'
to tho goddess with expression OF ecstl"c uc'"',
Sir Fredcrcks third contribution represents sibyi
seated in a gloomy grotto, and he also senus pol
trait Of Mrs. Lucas and two minor works
Sir John Millais will he represented py pof'r",
OF lady, and by two landscapes. one OF wh'cn VII
lie much talked about. 1t IS Wow OF at wv ",,a
with formal rows Of boxhedge close cnppeu anu
r,,nc ahovc them higher hedges Of ycw. the garden
that lies between guessed rather than seeh cNoep'
tba. , few rose.bushes have struggled up ana slo"
fbrir blooms over the lower ianso Vi NV
Cvp;rsses ard yew trees I'LL the pachsrouuu Va we
garden. but beyond there Is peep VI '''0
pircam hills An old fountain III the '"esiou
winged Cupid riding on a dolphin -'eN """, nv
,,.,n The house IS seen 10 the left the sn'he r's
securcly into a cloudlcss winter SKY i"o ~
,,ne..rs scotch also gives the broah stresch OIL a
,or stream a boat drawn ur on The oahk' wv"
anglers seated on the grass. oonfen'ed' Io' NV ~
~ .,e two fne fish they have lanaeu' i"o p'
q, t,u Of light the brackcn growing III p"
,,o mossy grass shows almost red whefo n"s w,
tros,burned as do the few whered leaves YET vi INV
boughs Of the trees - l., o,t,ed The
Vr Alma Tadcma's chief picture Is e""'"u ,,.o,s
=, vcnusp This represents tho suhP'uou'
.""a..o. ~ balrirssers shop In ancient ho"ic w
,a,os clad IN beautiful drapcries. are rec"h"s 49,,
cus,sons a a marble seat within The coon sna. ~
. shop' their hair apparently III inc mia o ,,e
dressinc Beyond young girl Is io"''''e o,,s
cunter-adcn with all sorts OF perfumes anu ,.o
d.scantna 10 the ladies who pass to ana ITO ~ 49,,
.e. an the virtues Of some new cosnc'e
go s,A rresscs upon them. A small SHRINE VI
venus an common in the land, appears III 'lIo wa
dor bsthcd in the flowers that have pecn o
tributes by the dcvout customers anu ~ We -,
lady who is entering adds another TRIBUTE " Va" ..
,,or.b,pned goddess There is an eFgahce aou"
This wor,-a depth and luminosity OF coior-u'' 49,
Tadcma has, we believe. mover before eq"aheu %
Ccr,es are more NfelSe than he has Hitherto Pd'cu
The harmony rich and subtle and the hSht anu si''
admirably balanced. Besides this. inc pa'h""s u. ~
.cc.ssores reaches TO the standard which Mr. Taoema
has set up for himself
Tbis ts the only picture which Mr. Alma 1auShd
will send to the Academy. He has recently hhisheu
vo,4raits Of Mrs f. ID. Nillet, De Soria the singer
and two sisters together with study OF TWO Gieeh
girls reading and listening TO Favorite Poct upo"
a marble terrace, wh5ch will go TO the New 'ailcfy'
A ,arre and very Important painting. which has
engaged the attention Of the artist for some time Is
10 be privately exhibited by the dealer Mr. Cambart
Mr. Hcrkomcr has painted the chapel OF tho Char-
terlbusc and the Sunday muster of the back-gowned
old pensioners. The picture suggests, even by us
contrast IT, his earlier triumph OF the muster OF 'he
red coated vet ,rans Of Chelsea The picture has its
charm at for the artist and for that larger pup
lie who feel tie effect of art without understanding
the methods by which 10 is achieved. Service has not
yet begun In the chapel and the old reverend btach
trooO in
aisle from the distant doorway. Othfrs gather
about the pew doors take their accustomed places
One very decrcplt old makes his way, totterng
along with the help of his stick. almost subdued by
the weight Of that heavy cloak which Is the only uni
form of this needy regiment graybeard seated
on a side bench has his prayer book open, ready for
the service 10 begin In the front strong, sturdy
figure crosses from the side aisle, something Of COM
mand In his bearing, the head square and massive the
expression Of the face rather masterfu and naughty
and yet the indications OF failure not missed on a
closer study. In the front pew leans over the wood
work abstYacedy, with folded hands, veteran with
grizzly mustsche and furrowed brow, but still with
tie erect c,rriaec Of military service. The Order o;
the Bath is indeed seen upon his breast, but
one who looks at tho picture VIII fail TO be reminded
of tho tnivalric colonel in Thackeray's novel All
the faces-and they number more than score-re.
peat in different ways the suggestion of retreat
after ne battle Of life fought and lost Of former
struggle and Of present tranquility.
Mr. Orchardson has abandoned the artistic difficulty
of tho evening dress OF the gentle
man, and in his Academy picture Of " A Health TO
His Grace he takes back to the period of flowing
wigs and picturesque costumes The scene is the
aining.hau Of young French noble, and the period
those years the second decade of the last century
when wo may suppose tho luxury Of French living
had attained Its greatest height The table, which Is
arranged in a kind of hollow square emitting the
base, hs tho lower part Of the picture. The young
Duke has his place in the centre Of the cross-tabo,
but his guests, boon companions, friends courtlcrs
and parasites have all nsen from their seats, and, lift
ing high their glasses toast bis health with admirable
unan,mity. The amber-colored wine-champagne 10
those years had not yet been taught TO foamflls the
long, delcately shaped Venetian glasses. The young
man, leaning back in his armchair, looks ianguld and
scarcely much moved by the surrounding enthusiasm