St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-20

to-day. It's free to any one who chooses
to view these gems from the old world.
Wertheimer is stranger to all Amer
leans who have not been abroad. His
reputation Is strictly one of the CONT
nent-am0ng the people of his land and
adopted country. Albert Wolff, the
eminent critic OF Figaro, speaks of him
affectlOnately as
''My good brother of the modest mind,
but, strong brush"
Labouchere, meeting him in Paris in
1888, wrote:
.'Of the young artists of the impress
sionist school of Paris, none give
greater promise than Gustave Wer-
thetmer. He has not only conscientious
enthusiasm, but persistent endeavor
and fidelity of principles. We may dis
agree as to the merits Of his school OF
art, but as to his work, there can be
only one opinion-SucceSs."
Rochefort. who is as fierce an art
critic as he is swordsman. wrote after
the Salon of 1887:
aThs Lions Bride by Wertheimer,
is worthy of study. [ don't admire the
impressionists, for to my way of think
ing they are too audacious; but this
painting OF Wertheimer's is an improve
ment upon their methods. 1t is fearless
anu WOllueIlully SOOu.
1t is to be remembered that Wer-
thelmer is a young man (only thirty
eight, and that his first public work
''Ihe Lions Bride''-was hung in 1887
and received the medal of honor in 1888.
Life and art are practically before him.
In the two examples of his work now
hung at Mr.. Heinemann's-and the only
two ever brought to this country-there
is afforded an excellent opportunity for
studying, not only him and his methods,
but the impreSSioniSt school. Not only
that, but those who saw Munckaczy's
"Christ Before Plate" will be able to
institute close comparison between
the work of two artists of Austro-
Hungary. ''The Lions Bride" while
the most famous of the two, will yet not
attract the attention that the later
painting, THE Revenge of the Flowers"
will. In the last Wertheimer re-
yeals the benefits that four years
Of. additional study have been
to him. His daring has increased, and
flesh tintS has become more delicate and
the power of expression enlarged. A
similar progress in the next four years
Will make him no mean rival of Bou-
guerau, the premier of Partisan art
circles to-day.
The predominance of the pure in
Wertheimer'S paintings will be another
point of admiration for his critics. He
does not stoop to scenic effects nor SEN
sational details. His painting is from
the standard of nature seen through
the prism of an emotion. This, on the
authority of ArlO Bates, is the highest
standard.
The stories attached to the paintings
are matters of history and romance.
That of 1.-The Lions Bride" is founded
upon the old Neapolitan story of the
young bride wandering through the
grounds of her husbands chateau and
coming upon Gagged king of beasts.
The door to the cage was ajar, and in
youthful innocence she entered and
stood before the monarch. He watched
her until the approach of carriage
made him feel that some one was
coming to take her away. Instantly
aroused, he struck her down, and, laying
his gigantic fOre-paWS across her breast.
made her his bride, even as death seized
her.
"Fhe Revenge of the Flowers" is
taken from Freiligrath's poem of the
same title and in the German. A young
girl, having arranged an exquisite bOu-
quet by her bedside. falls asleep. The
flowers bend over her in mute reproach
at their sacrifice. Suddenly their pet
ais part and serpent comes forth and
stings her to the death.
To say more of these exquisite paint
ings in this space is impossible. Mr..
Helnemann, as an art connoisseur. has
prepared for the art lovers of st. Paul a
treat more lovely and rare than any
ever given them before. The paint
ings must be seen to be justly appre-
eiated.
The St. Paul German Accident Insur-
ance company yesterday placed their
first accident policy upon the paintings,
the amount being $4,000.