Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-27
SOME FINE PICTURES
To be Exhibited at Carnegie Library
Ball, in Very Short Time.
THE VERESTCHAGIN COLLECTION
Being Brought to Pittsburg by Number
of Local Art Lovers.
NEWS CLEANED IN SOCIETY CIRCLES

Through the united efforts of d, 7. Wat
son, Herbert Du Puy, a. Herbert Hostetter,
Charles Lockhart, Charles Dounelly, A. NJ.
Byers, H. c. Friek, J. B. Scott, w. n.
Frew, John ". Beatty, and other art lovers,
and the city of Allegheny, as represented
by the Library Committee, the people of
Pittsburg and Allegheny are assured the
pleasure of seeing, within a week or ten
days, one of the most famous collections of
paintings in the world, the works of Vassili
Verestchagin, painter. soldier and traveller.
The exhibition of this famous collection
of paintings in the Carnegie Gallery, in
Allegheny, will, without doubt, be the
greatest artistic event in the history of Pitts
burg. That the collection is coming is now
beyond doubt although much uncertainty
was felt by those who have been making an
effort to induce the American Art Associa-
tion, of New York, to exhibit here before
offering these pictures at public sale in
March next PIttsburg art lovers are
naturally on the tip-toe of expectation.
Never before has so celebrated a collection
of art works been either promised or
furnished eonnoisseurs of these cities for in
spection and study. The pictures come to
Pittsburg direct from Boston, where they
have been exhibited during the past two
months In that city the interest mani iested
seemed TO be unbounded, and for weeks after
the time announced to close the exhibition
it continued In unabated public favor.
INTEREST IN IT EVERYWHERE.
The Verestchagin collection was first e1-
hibited in the American Art Galleries in
New York, and the painter, who is also
great soldier and traveller, was at that time
the lion of New York society, receiving at
tentions and honors on every hand. Subse-
Quently it was seen in Philadelphia, Chi
cago, and, as has been indicated, last in
Boston, where the interest manifested was
unprecedented.
The collection is composed of three classes
of pictures. Many of the most important
works represent the most familiar and
historically interesting places in the Holy
Land. Probably no painter of Verest-
chagin's eminence and great power has ever
visited the Holy Land, as did he, with the
purpose OF faithfully portraying the scenes
so interesting to ali people, and especially
10 every Christian. The pictures of this
class are the result of his own researches in
the land of the Bible, and in his selection
Oi subjects he was not only governed by the
gospels, but also by well-founded tradition
preserved among the people of the East, and
the most ancient works which would throw
light upon the subjects he desired to paint.
Some OF the Palestine pictures are un-
finished, owing to the suspicion of the Turks
that he was drawing plans of the Prom
lsed Land" with some military object in
view. This impression would naturally
arise out OF the fact that Verestchagin was a
celebrated soldier and a member OF General
Skobeleff's staff in the Turkish War,
and In the passage of the Balkans.
SOME OF THE PICTURES TITLES.
Ii would be impossible to enumerate all
the Palestine pictures, but the titles of
few will give an idea OF the general charac-
ter OF this class of subjects. One of these is
THE TOMB OF Abraham" Beside Sarah
and Abraham himself, Isaac. his wife Re-
becca, and many other patriarchs are buried
here. Hither, too, was brought from
Egypt the embalmed body of Jacob. and it
Is probable that the mummy is still in q
state of good preservation. Others are:
jacobs Well, " "Gilgal, ." That Part of
Jordou Where Christ Was Baptized"
"Caperuaum," "BethsaiGa," the home
of the apostles Peter, Andrew,
Philip, James and John; "Mt. Tabor"
''The Mount of Temptation by Night"
"A Court of a House in Jerusalem;"
Jesus With John the Baptist on the Jor-
dan, and the Sea at Liberals" One of the
most impressive pictures is that representing
''Solomon's Wall" This part o the great
wall which surrounds the temple is called
The Wailing Place" because for long
time past Hebrews have been in the habit of
coming hither 20 bewaIl their past greatness
ana present depression. Seldom can any,
thing more touching be seen. Hebrews of
both sexes and all ages arrive from all parts
of the world to pray and meet with loud
cries, and literally TO wash with their tears
the sacred stones.
Another class of pictures is from India,
and represents different prominent events of
Indian history. One of the important can
vases Of this class portrays the English EN-
hassadors in the presence OF the Great
Mogul in his celebrated audience hall at
Agra. Another represents the triumphant
entry Of the Prince of Wales into Delhi
WAR AND KINDRED TOPICS.
Another class of pictures is that of war
and execution subjects. and it is said, that
these works once seen are never forgotten.
OF this class of subjects the artist himself
siys: These subjects have treated in fash-
ion far from sentimental, for baving myself
killed many poor fellow creature, in dif-
ferent wars, have not the right to be senti-
mental. But the sight OF heaps of human
beings slaughtered, shot, beheaded. hanged
under my eyes, in all that region extending
from the frontier Of China to Bulgaria, has
not failed to impress itself vividly on the
imaginative side of my art. And although
the wars of the present time have changed
their former character OF Gods judg-
ments upon man, nevertheless, by
the enormous energy and excitement
they create, by the great mental and ma
terlal exertion they call forth, thev are a
phenomenon interesting to all students of
human civilization. My intention was to
examine war in its different aspects and
transmit these faithfully. Facts laid upon
the canvas without establishment must
speak eloquently for themselves'
In addition to the pictures are mapy
sketches and euriosities collected by the
artist in his various journeys. The collec-
ton is very large, and will tax every availa-
bic foot of space placed at its disposal in the
Carnegie Library building. Some of the
canvases are of enormous size, and an idea
OF the extent of canvas to be DISPLAYED upon
the walls may be gathered from the fact that
four freight cars are required to transport
the collection to this city.