Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-03
Scraps From the Studios.

SATURDAY afternoon saw the close of what
must be regarded as a very successful exhibit
ton of the Reichard collection of paintings.
Additions were constantly being made to its
numbers, even up to the latter days of its stay,
and a great many of the pictures will remain
in this city, having been purchased by we'll
known citizens. Up to Friday last works as-
gregating in value the sum of $4,000 had been
sold.
THE School of Design examination took place
last Thursday. and the annual reception will be
held on next Monday evening, when the friends
of the students will be given an opportunity of
inspecting the work of the past season. Dur
the remainder of the week the school will be
opsn to the public between the hours Of 10 A.
NJ. and 5 P. NJ. The usual amount of good work
is shown in oil and water colors, and also in
china decoration. Many of the charcoal studies
by the life class are excellently done, and indi-
cate that the institution is making good pro-
.gress in this most difficult branch of art.
THE opportunities for obtaining a glimpse Of
various classes of pictures have been greater
in this city during the past few months than
ever before. First the Hacke gallery was
opened, then the Non water color paintings
were shown at Gillespie's, next came the ex-
cellent little collection of paintings belonging
to Mr.. Kurtz at Boyd's, and immediately fol
lowing came the fine lot of works from
Reichard, of New York, one of the best collec-
lions of its kind ever shown here and lastly a
great variety of water colors and etchings by
different English, French and Italian artists,
which arrived at Boyd's early in last week.
IT is often said that the United States does
not afford as good a market for fine pictures as
some of the Countries of Europe, and, on the
other hand, it has been repeatedly claimed that
our people are particularly credulous. as to the
merits and liberal as to their ideas of the value
of paintings offered for sale as "old masters"
Be this as 1t may. it is now rumored that the
American Art Association will receive over
C1 NM mn vunrfh nf niRfnraa balancing I'm tho
Duke of Durcal, which are to be sold early in
the spring. The collection numbers, among
others, works by Murillo, Van Eyck, Rem
brandt and V~elasquez.
Mr.. BRYAN WALL is keeping up with the
times and painting frosty morning landscapes.
The enc which he has lately shown at Giles
pies embodies some very good qualities. and ct
the same time some that are not SO good, as an
instance, the manner in which frost is indi-
Gated in certain. portions of the foreground.
The scene depicted is rather bare and d~esolate,
but it has been handled SO as to preserve 4 fair
degree of interest. Upon a road which leads
from the foreground into the distance Mr.. Wall
has INDUCED in his favorite method of giving
life to a picture by the Introduction of a flock
of sheep, and these, together with the shepherd
and his dog, really form the leading feature of
the work.
THERE is, perhaps, no more striking exam
pie of the value of art as applied to industries
IQdu Tie oidDOTdL6 ueCOTdIlOus WHICH lOTm Lue
leading feature of nearly all recently con-
structed railroad cars. The general public
will more freely patronlze and will pay higher
prices to a line which bears evidence of the ex.
ercise of artistic taste and judgment In all its
appointments than to one where these features
do not exist, and managers understand this re-
gard for the beautiful and profit by it. Many
persons feel that to try and make articles for
ordinary service and utility beautiful as well
as useful is rather a waste of labor, but wher-
ever art has entered largely into manufactures
it has been found profitable from a commercial
no less than from an esthetic standpoint. The
fact that an article is of tasteful design often
renders it immeasurably more valuable with
out adding to its actual cost.
Mr.. c. BBRsCH may fairly be credited with
having introduced a new departure in portrait
ure, or at least to have adopted a style of exc
cution that is new to this vicinity. He has on
exhibition at Mayors a portrait of a Baltimore
lady which is handled in a manner that makes
it interesting as a picture, aside from its value
as a likeness. This work is painted with an
unusually light background. which greatly en-
hances the beauty and delicacy of the tints of
the flesh. A few simple folds of light, gauzy
drapery are indicated, falling low over the
shoulders and adorned in front with some
flowers, which serve to heighten the color effect
of the whole. The hair of this subject being
very dark. contrasts strongly with the bright,
clear tones of the balance of the picture, and
this, along with the light, fanciful manner in
which the whole work is handled, gives it the
effect of an ideal study rather than a portrait.
Painting fine flesh tints against a light back
ground Is not particularly easy to do. but when
successfully accomplished 1t makes q very
pleasing effect, as is evidenced by the work. e.
fa rred tn