New-York tribune., 1890-05-29
PAINTINGS AT THE MUSEUM.
THE ADDITIONS TO THE MARQUAND COL
LECTION.


he effect If these pictures had appeared ten years
aco. Those who remember the comparative poverty
Of the museums galleries then will appreciate
the Importance which these pictures would have
assumed in the public estimation, but at this time
they have hardly received the attention which they de-
serve Mr. Marquand has added Rubens Rem.
brandt Leonardo Iogarth. Gainsborough and Van
Eycl 10 the superb gallery with which he has nobly
endowed our public, and IN another room we ma the
Iavemeyer collection which for evenly high quality
i, hardly TO be equaled by the pictures Of any
American collector.
The thrce central picures of Mr.. Marquand's add.
tions are examples of Italian, Dutch and Flemish art
The refinement and grace Of LconaTdos school, the
sumptuous color and vigorous execution of The femlsh
master and Rcmbrandts sympathy with humanity, are
,-n,o,od sdo hv side The Rembrandt's "POr.
trait of a Man. would have been no more
'1scinang If the picture had been carried lnr'
icr 1t was painted In the aEVsts last
,iod when the shadows gathering closely ABOUT
H. and we can imagine the melancholy OF MS life
,ccted in this picture. The execution Is Tree :"
compared with carly pictures Ike the van beresyh
portraits and yet there IS subtlety which Tue ea'icr
pictures lack The colOrns is less forcloe IMAM 10
some other of the paintings, but Will be fe'
bv some observers that this portrait appeals to the
Imagination more strongly than portrait by Rem-
brandt which have We are told that TINS SAD iacs
l. probably that of Hebrew physician but the Identity
Of the subject must remain matter OF specuiduon.
! ! Is
it, "A melancholy face vced in shadows, painting oi
wonderful subtety and beauty, possessing an under
wing fascination which is not TO be exhausted The
Rubcns on the other hand, is the frank expression OF
the doughty Flemish masters enjoyment OF color ana
voluptuous form. II Illustrates the materlaIsm 0
his art, but this illustration is an example OF slhgu
larry pure and beautiful color. The hackneyed sub
cc >usannah and the Elders was simply an excuse
fas the artists display Of his cOnsummate knowledge
# execution and his splendid command Of color
In the lowly part the picture is thlnly painted, Win
Il tran parent wash over warm ground, ana aDo'e
Tie nigh color, have been applied more freely and
oade,. There i, only one place the thlgh oi Gu
aIosh7 where there has evidently been repamtng ny
another hand. With this exception the picture shows
all the intrinsic evidences Of authenticltl, ana us
magnificent quality IS certainly better testimony In Us
behalf than documentary evidence This picture,
Ike the Rembrandt, Will be appreciated ana studied
by artist, and amateurs will appreciate the Valde OK
such addition, 10 the museum.
Ii is hardly necessary to say that no American
opinion concerning the authenticity of the Leonardo
can be- as weglty the Opinion Of Sir Charles Robin
SON. the Keeper OF Her Majesty, Pictures. There are
continental eAper,s whose opinion, may be preferred
to his, but the long experience and exhaustive study
of sir Charlie Robinson cntitlc his decision to tho
greatest weight. Il on hi decision and that OF
Mr. Humphrey Wart. We learn from Mr. Marquand,
that tie Leonardo was bought. The history Of the
pctur. appears 10 be imperfect. we may Judge from
/ the catalogue. and We learn that Il was bought
through an intermediary. ant that the last owner.
| nobleman was unwilling I, reveal himself as
/ the seller, Tor personal and perfectly com
! prehen,iblc reasons. But We understand tla'
tie picture was already known 20 -r Charles, WHO mas
empha,.cay declared il % be- An example OF Leonardo
II will bc found 10 be most interesting example Of
dignity. grace. and refinement Of treatment usually
/ o,hbitcd in works OF tie school The pftlre Pc
,onts "A half length full face portrait of yonnS aiY
in 4 fifteenth century f.Orentne dress, with loa5
ripping golden hair, wearing wreath about h,r
head and bearing silvcr Of fruit. Inc execution IS
learned and finished 20 tie last degree. Tie fish
colornss show slight c.ay,h blue underionc' ldt
tie c1lor.ug OF the adroiily rendered hair and tie
red sleeve, Is remarkably pure. Nothing las 3",l
left - change. but every detail i elaborated aAd
although Tie manner seem, cola aul A.e.,s 10 oJA'
parsou with the accompanying paintnss. 1t viii Dc
I found that this suavc and polished work VIII re-
pay careful examination. AS t. is althenticit' th'S
i, no one in this country who Is competent To az a.
! Judge Nevertheless. With al appreciation OF the
! donors noble generosity We must point oit tAt
his picture, claim, az necessarily open T. question
The catalogue tells Us that here can ne A't" eou
/ that t-., most admirable AMI uH-iu pHN4c '".'1'
/ uc referred to LcpIalGo's caru'r p,Iol, {. -
il wa, executed at Florence bc.o.c h. IeAl'a! -
/ Milan, consequently anterior Z" IL 90 ic. ~.
Noymnauu disposed 1, deay tie existence o. % ~
Lcouarto, carrier paintings win Tie exc puon oi tle
! Ne,l known Au-el IN NeTocchlo' Iiapt4Nn, S'Ioi
Tine under painting f tn Adordtl n a tie ChLH ae
u,unr lltuc 3D. jerome the vatican. lie aou-
tat the absorption oi >oie rvpn.e" - o,y 4. oS,,,
Gated carly painting. T. Leonard3 nm1t II, .,ISen, s,
every case be denied. and AGAIN TINS eminent ] sW@gn,
states familiar !d,e wien nc sH? -, t''. 'rslr
genuine works tnat remain TO Us Is eA.tpIoH'i t ~.
creased" In regard t. LeonaTd2s carry PERU P.r-,aI. %
| other ,pccla. student writes; " Ihe onY Ele!nOraS
now existing OF LcoHardos Industry during th' Per
consist OF number of scattered draw ms dAu
ms, Of them p!y,io-nomca IN CHALK, pen aAu sI.NI.
point, beside, two painted panel the Petss S d, yery eS
little i, In. The same critic writes III pa,A'%.s %
there have come down 10 Us 10 mo nVe ] ,Il. t1a len
ar included the picture by hs master NeFfocehIo, y
winch LeonaHio on lad 'nf the Ro9a RS.I HcAls%y
and the diminished panel, at us ne s,n,ihS 1H sans
Ter, of Her0dias allegorcal Foras ana the IKE %,
| sde, some admirable religious pictures, WHICH ~e
currently aireH.eG M P"In' 10 ,he 1t Various pupils oS
imitaors OF lis schooI-the greatest hIhoer % De''
"' ~ Nr Marauand other ss the Van %5 EyS g & nay IL
called most interesting IN execution anu G' Cssani
ana charWing portrait OF Little Miss Rcf' demae:
bbrishetcd te maiden, alive 70 tie importance OF
i.uce of uncon,clousne,,. The Deposition ir1m a.
In wnIc IS cataloSued belonging TO The earle,
r,i ~ Nan Eycks life. has not been traced
h,rther than the Marlborough collection IN as t.s
i,lc OF Wight which was formed cssSy.. soys.
$50 We may may not accept sir CaaTle, ,ss
robinson, positive a,cf!plIon oi @ ,a' exbt6its
li method hi, conscientious. veraeiou> execution in'
PECULIAR care for detail, and his direct REALISTIC ma
'sr IF rendering his figures. lhls stmpe, va1n
",,tlelle9 character was shared by The members oi
IN, school and know that modern crl5iciSm E Eas
r,iuced the number Of genuine Van Eyck' IN ~
roaran galleries and increased me nmDcr ol pWs,
y eoilowcrs Of the master who worked win @ stnnlaa
/ Simplicity and con,centlousness. IN thls PNlu',S
the figures are dcaNLed but he races arc teS, s
Fycry feature has been uoushthiy studied, 80 S
/ pat " the landscape up to the very norlAo' 70, 10"
been wrought ont with loving care The workman
shp /, bolutely sincere and sound. ana the oolorlS
/ 4, clear and unchanged. The picture Il a most ad'
r,i,4hr example Of an art which IN n> absolute SIN
.ri', and i'm certain executive qualities has never
t.cn cxccled The large landscape by GalnsboTousA
nav be he'd to represent some traces OF Dutch IN
rucncr uuon an artist who delighted IN decided Color
and tho picture is one of much force, although nv
,,l,riuc seems hot and Ovcrione. The smoAer,, pl
llt an example ot the artists broad. fun manner -
In. last of the recent additions To the Marpuah,
..,llerv which has given 10 our public a means oii
'Incoion of "A value not 10 be readily estinated ".
Vr ilavcmcver's superb group Of paintings We may
speak at another time