New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-26
THE DE GABALDA COLLECTION.
ALARGE AND CURIOUS EXHIBITION.

Francisco Guiu de Gabada merchant Of BARGE
Iona has been accumulator rather than collector
il we may judge his tastes b. the miscellaneous eA
libit.on at the American Art Galleries. There are
over 200 numbers in the catalogue. and the objects
enumerated range from the usual Raphael OF the
sales galleries t. a handkerchief. Tie sale OF these
paintings fans laces tapestries worries, miniatures
aid examples OF pottery and furniture Will begin Oh
Monday next and during this week the curious
will have an opportunity to study senior dc Gabaldas
exhibition are informed that the catalogue includes
his private collection we'll large number Of
painting, other objects procured in the course OF
lusines5 relations with artists merchants collectors
and old families throughout spain and IN France ana
Italy" Regarding the drcary array OF d" old masters
we are told that These pictures presented TO the
public upon the schedule furnished by the owner and
while there is no doubt to the authenticity Of many
Of them the attlibutions of Others must be left TO
the judgment of the purchaser, as the managers OF
the sale are in no position TO furnish guarantee
The managers are certainly to be congratulated upon
their frank and sensible announcements
There are few inducements TO lnger among the
old masters in the first gallery. To the right o.
the entrance hangs portrait OF Dona Mariana as
signed to yclazqucz. which exhibits life ana some
excellent color The picture has evidently been 70
touched, 1t shows qualities which might be termed
in sou.e degree characteristic. The portrait Of the
Princess Marguerite near by is obviously forced in
color and there seems 10 have been much repantinS
The "Vrgin and Child" assigned to Van Dyck VIII
be readily recognized on some accounts the strongest
painting in the room. There is lack OF sentiment
but the design color and textures show some ad
Inirable execution on the other hand we suspect
that the visitor feel regarding the Infant savior
assigned to Van Dyc that Van Dyck painted IT, he
Should have been ashamed. We have noted sketch
assigned to lie sueur. study attributed to Rubens'
and painting by CanO, among the most interest
ing pictures As matter OF course there - group
Of paintings which are described Is by Murlo, and
q into and
Two Of them are "vouchcd for By the Barcelona
A, aAemy Of Fine ATT. They worth Consideration,
but think that amateurs will prefer MuI1o's art
to certificates and viii fail to ind Muillos best
art" in these paintings. This IS d hackneyed sub
ject. every year the sales galleries offer rs dc
messing 4" old masters supported by various kinds
Of evidence Every kno", that Murilo, Ike
other old masters. painted bad pictures, and some OF
his carly potboilcrs still preserved in south
America Mexico, and probably in this country. We
have no experts, have often said, who can give
d hual opinion upon the authenticity Of old masters
but there is nothing in mere age which renders "a
painting superior 10 all pictorial standards. The
quality OF picture, Old modern, speaks for ITSELF
and for this reason, without regard to names, even
though they are the much-ab names Of Raphael
and Leonardo. the Old masters Of this collection
will be found to be of very limited interest.
80 far quality concerned one Of the most attract
i've features Of the exhibition is the collection Of His
PIANO Mauresque plaque In the upper gallery Bnt TINS
Is preceded by the collection II modern paintings wc
worth consideration, because few Of tc'c pctufc
have true painter Ike quality aud because others III
troduce us 10 Spanish painters Of the day who nave
been unknown to our public. These painters can
be dismissed in a few words. If they represent
modern spanish art then our acquaintance necd not
20 further With the exception u work zone D>
artists whom already know, there is very little
in this collection which deserves serious attention.
Juan soer Barcelona artist, is the most conspicuous
of the newcomers. There less than twenty
four Of his paintings, which show an attempt TO realize
The bright atmosphere OF Spain pictures which are
usually devoid of refinement and subtety In cXecu
ton and coarse and garish in effect. In these a.
in paintings by and other Of the men, there
is always certain cIcvcrness and spirit, but the art
which is represented is tawdry and superficial. There
are pictures by several Spanish and lialospanisi
artists who arc familiar 10 our public. There is an
unfinished but spirited watcr-color sketch by the
lamented Fortuny, and there five sketches by
Domingo which in varying degrees exhibit the spirit
and force Of painter Of much talent zamacois,
CO.,. ~ the most brilliant painters Of this group
and certainly most punscnt satrst, IS represented
by sketch Of game of chess between court !e'tc
g a~ Villeeas. HoIdni and ramaroIi but the
examples Of these wcknOwn aftsts are Oh IIhOI
cnnsc1uence These pictures accompanied by a
little group OF studies by the French painters OF
Foptainebleau, Vile d'Avray ana inc oisc. one %
these pictures f mellow vcr oT a. poriyait Of
paubicny painted by himself. TINS charming stuu,y
has for It's companions sigt sketch ~ oo c""
and Jacque. But there are no examples "hioh arr
either important or particularly instructive. 49,.
The collections Of fans, laces, stuIs' apcs,ios
furniture miniatures carvings ana an "ai net ir
i',i,N i'cIudc mar things which possess certain
vaine bmt there are few which arc pre- eninen, Ds
reason of their artistic worth Yet 1t should nc uuV
80 mat fhe fans and laccs deserve spccla consul
erafion and there several single 0Dlec,s VI P
cui.ar interest like the finely caiVch No,S Jc~v
caskct which IS described as gu, 10 latter,
Terdinand and Isabella. The collection 81 po,.u'ii
NAV be termed with justice e%t'c OF .ie eH ,ri
.ry There are some pieces which are merely cni1V
thcrs which the amateur will regard win comslaeran
1cmbt inasmuch as early Italian na)onca IKE o.io
ovep., mnes NJ ceramic art Is initiated with cXtrsDr
Snary skill The Hspano Maniesgme panareS Tp p'
~ most attractive group In the upper gahcrS. ~
INC LIZ anetac pazes showing a copper ana a.,
tESSsscent Sheen, are reminders Of the debt wicl