Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09


sisn artist, Verestchagin, for exhibition some
time during the present winter in the Car
negie Library was suggested in these col
umns. The suggestion has met with much
favor among local artists and art-loving peo-
pie. The collection, as is we'll known, is
one of the most important, in point Of inter
est, ever exhibited in this country, and has
been shown in a number of Eastern and
Western cities. 1t is now on exhibition in
Boston, where it is attracting much atten-
tion. The works in the collection depicting
Scriptural events are the more popular, mainly
because Of their remarkable realism. The Bos-
ton Herald, speaking of The Holy Family"
and other paintings representing scenes in the
life of Christ says: These works, by
their departure from the traditional
methods of painting and of characterize
tion, have aroused not only the fercest
controversy, but have been bitterly
denounced by ecclesiasts and devotees whom
habit has Taught to regard the conventional
types and arrangements, sanctioned BY time, as
the very truth. But here we have new reves-
eose. In place of the yeneratlon OF ignorance
for sslf-enthrOned and legendary authority, we
encounter the calm reverence of the instru cted
and tolerant mind FOR the truth. as it presents
itself TO the artist Verestchagin goes to the
spou for his material; the landscape has nos es-
sertially changed since the ancient days. and
an oriental people changes little, as vet Read
ing the words oil Scripture Dy the inner llgnt OF
soul expressed in reason shows the artist how
those things mast have been. The result is
that with the artist, we seem to be looking
upon the events themselves. In spirit we
with the ecstauc Nazarene cOmmuning with his
soul in the deserts solitude; we are present
as he listens to the teachings OF John
the Baptist that unven to him the
the multitude as the Savior breaches from the
boat on Lake Tiberius; we look in upon the
humble dOmestcity of the holy family. How
a.. hnxr inf rfFn11T 70 tn ne
here! How they are brought into our under
standing and related TO us! We feel that truly
at-er that manner It is that they must have
heen. How wonderful these pictures are as
landscapes. with their truth to earth and atmos-
o erel The vastness Of the wilderness look
/ OF over the valley; the solemn silence of
The sunlight; he infinite play of light on the
far hillsides in the bright pure air Of the arid
expanse; the freedom of space brought into
that small canvas; the ripping of the water on
the lake shore and all around the exuberance
Of color that has no need to pass into the realm
of fantasy TO find Interpretation; the eXDectant
multitude as it listens-surely these things
must have happened then very much as great
and epoch-m2king events happen now, with
few, if any, of the participators conscious of
their real significance till long after"
OF his PIC ures o. sacred subjects Verest-
chagin says: y have travelled all over the Holy
Land with the book of the gospels in my hand;
have visited all the places sanctited centuries
ago by the presence OF Savior in them.
Consequently 1 must have, and do have, my
own ideas and conceptions as to the reDresen-
tatiOn of many events and facts recorded in the
gospels. My ideas necessarily dlner from the
conceptions of artists who have yer seen the
scenery OF the Holy Land, have not personally
observed its population and their customs"
The collection is to be sold in March Chicago
made effort TO buy the entire collection,
but the artist refused to put price upon it as
a whole. He is now in his native land, and is,
ittls understood. very Ill BlJtsburg is ripe, az
tisucany, for an art exhibition such as these
pictures would afford, and the influence ex-
erted by their presence, even for short time.
Ia FT1arul ul1r1 and
remains to be ascertained whether or not the |
collection can be secured.
4ss
The HaseItine collection ot paintings, re-
ferred to at length last week, has been on ex-
hibition throughout the week just closed. Un-
fortunately for our growing collection of good
pictures in Pittsburg none Of these collections
remain.
The New York Metropolitan Museum Of Ar
was opened for the season last NJ Monday with the
customary opening reception. The press view
was held on the previous Saturday evening.
A new picture by Franz Won Uhde. lent by Mr..
Schour, is one of the important additions In the
modern gallery. 1t is large interior study
with group Of seamstresses sitting at their
york. Cotpier & Co. lend the most welcome
picture on the walls, Courbets After the
Hunt This picture, which was painted
mate TO the Courbet hunting scene in the Bos-
ton Museum, is in the artists most attractive
mar prominent among l0e newly ACQUIRED
paintings j. the large Fontainebleau picture by
Auguste Ronheur, which figured in the Stewart
collection. There are many additions to the
various departments which it would be futile
TO enumeraJe. Suffice ii 10 say that the museum
has been considerably enriched since it last
opened lis doors 10 a specially invited public.
Owing to the increased attendance at the
Pit sburg Art School this year, it became neces-
sary 20 replenish the stock of standard plaster
casts and many new pieces were received dur
ing the week.
The New York art circle is terribly exercised
owing TO the exhibition of two pictures at the
Schaus gallery, one by Rembrandt aud the
other by Franz Halls. Franz Halls, as everyone
knows, was one of the greatest, if not the great
est. masters Of uechu1c that ever lived, and his
heads are simply mastery in treatment. Much
Of their charm lies in his audacious brush
work and wonderful freedom in handling color.
The Rembrandt is spoken of as a good exa mple
OF this painters work. The New York Evening
Post says they are better worth seeing than
anything of the sort that is likely to be offered
% New Workers this season. and expresses the
hope thar these two pictures may not be
DO ghJ by some wealthy amateur and shut up
in a private gallery, but that the metropolitan
Museum may secure them.
J. Carroll Beckwith, of New York. has re-
turned rom'Outeora, where he has a cottage
aud painted s portrait of Mark Twain this
summer
-
The Chicago exhibition, recently closed, has
a good record of sales, amounting to SIS, lis,
with negotiations pending for other pictures
that promise to carry the total over 500
The Piltsburg Exposition Society might have
sold pictures amounting to this value if rea-
scnable number of good ones had been exhib-
tied. As il WAS the collection being probably
the worst ever exhibited in Pittsburg sales
were few. A notable fact in connection with
the Chicago sales is that all pictures sold, ex-
cepsiug CaZns ''Moonligbt by the Sea" !" were
Of American works. The increased demand
Tor CORD American pictures everywhere is a
gratifying sign of the times.
s*s
AiT King has sold his picture entitled "Straw-
berries" which was exhibited at the Exposi-
ti0n.
The New York World says: The committee
sent by the Philadelphia Art Club to select pic
lures for its coming exhibition completed its
work Saturds, November 70 and returned
home. Our New York artists are expected to
make good showing. Artists as a rule do not
care 10 send to the exhibitions of this ass ocia-
tion. The 1SCt that those who manage the club
are body OF rich men instead of a number of
competent artists has brought the society into
in-fayOr. The art clubs exhibition opened
with reception last Monday evening.
"a
Mrs. Goldman exhibits this week portrait
and figure piece entitled, Fourth of July"
s's
Munkaczy, who is now at Buda Pesth. has
r,romised to paint picture of colossal dimep-
SONS for the new Parliament House in the
Hungarian capital Tho subject is to be "The