New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
A VISIT TO THE SALON.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES PEOPLE
AND GOWNS.

Marvellous Is the productive power Of French
painters sculptors and other artists. When We
reflect that France Is splenddly represented AZ
the Munich and Moscow exhibitions. and that
there will soon be another Salon at the Champs
de Mars we marvel at the excellence of the one
that opened to-day at the Palais de PIndustrie. In
the Champs Elysees The wonder seems all the
greater when we reflect how death has mown
down eminent artists since influenza visited France
in 1889. / think the present Salon shows not
only as good. bat a better average than that of
anv former years. and there are paintings which
are true masterpieces Critics all agreed In
thus classifying Renouf's painting Of the Brook
lyn Suspension Bridge in Sunset The Youth OF
Samson, by Bonnat; Evening" by Harpignies;
Bonnats fulllength portrait OF LADY In whi'e
satin dress KowalslIy's Spring, ana hocne-
crosses Close of Belshazzar's Feast, bretons
Pardon at Kergoat" jacques Farm Horses In
the Yard Of a Rural Homestead and Croche-
pierre's "Old Woman Knitting in which the
minutiae Of the old Dutch painters and theu
close observation are equalled.
The breath Of innovation has passed Within
the last ten years over the artistic world ios
influence first shown when the artists formed
kind Of trade union or company, taking the man
agement Of the Salon out Of the hands OF the
Government Last year there was further great
III.
az the Champs de Mars This rival has put
the Champs Elyses on its mettle and made it
get out of an old and deep rut. There has been
more severe discrimination shown by the jury OF
| admission.
drawing room has been added. where visitors
can rest talk see friends as at the Opera House.
write letters take tea and so This apartment
is vast square room lined with Havanabrowr
rugs, on which are applied eighteenth century Ia
pestries, designed by Boucher There are luxurious
carpets easychairs sofas handsome tables, rare
flowers and plants and priceless vases lent by the
Government. The wide window, which is heavily
curtained and has draped blinds OF tnssore SILK
has a southern lookout and commands view
of the Jardin de Paris and the Cours de Ia Reine,
with their continuity Of soft green foliage This
room promises TO be the resort Of the fashionable
world on the five-franc days. and is so spacious
as 70 he we'll adapted for the display Of elegant
toilettes I had there yesterday glance at the
newest fashions and noticed that skirts remain
! fat and long, and that corsages also are remark
! able for their own length and Tor That OF the
plain or crenelated basques attached to them
GRAY skirts and corsages with black jackets, beige
and sailors blue costumes were the grand mode
The beige gowns had, in many instances, yellowlsn
blouse corsage fronts plastrons, and the sailors
| blue sky-blue or white fronts. Small sailor hats
! were much worn by those young enough for sucn
headQear The material was straw, and the trim
ming sometimes tufts of daring bows over the
face. or wings at both sides, with Grape or soft
muslin bow in the centre Immensely wide strings
tied in a loose, large bow under the chin con-
| trasted in size with the smallness OF the toque
| bonnets to which they were attached
| Instead of a number Of small square rooms In
a. double row, the upper floor of the Palais de
pIndustrie is arranged with a row Of long gal
leries and a row of small rooms. This variety
is grateful The room where the black and
| white exhibition is held is between the galleries
| devoted 70 oil paintings water colors and pastes
| Formerly il was at the back Of the building, and
one had to make a real journey to see them
Although all who choose to pay five francs
are admitted now TO the private views one
still sees there all the celebrities of the day
Yesterday saw there Zola. Clemenceau, Prince
de Sagan the Princess CzartOryska (nee Princess
de Nemours). Alphonse Daudet his wife. son.
daughter -in-law, and daughters: Nile. Bartet,
Lord Lytton. who has been in at
tendance on the Queen, and seemed to
know every one; Jules Simon Lockroy,
General Menabrea, Alexandra Dumas, who looked
of patriarchal age though still called Dumas the
younger; the actress Rejane, who has learned
the cancan 10 perfection, and Is TO ne palneo
dancing it in long and elaboraely hounced skirts,
by Saintin; Mile. Louise Abbema, boyish-looklng
person of about forty, and all the famous painters
Of the day, including Breton and his daughter.
Nine. Demont Breton.
Two suntoward incidents disturbed the private
view. NJ vauquein did not like the place 40
| corded to one of his paintings and so cut 1t Gus
of the frame and, rolling it up, carried 1t away.
great void appeared where his picture was.
sculptor named Dubois also demolished his monu-
mental work in plaster, THE Future Centuries" /"
| But these i-advised acts caused little more than
ripple The private view began at o'clock In
the morning. Between l and l every one tried
to secure a lunch at either Tedoyen's restaurant
| or the Cafe des Ambassadors, both Of which are
in the garden part of the Champs Elysees
NJ and Nine. Carnot. the Cabinet and other
distinguished persons belonging 10 the Legislature
| had their private view" on April 30. They
| lunched in the great drawing-room, of which
have given you a sketch, when they had gone
over the picture galleries, and after the repast
| had descended to the garden-court TO see the
| sculptures. This court is under glass. In the
| court is a charming statue by the late NJ Chapa
| of the Princess of Wales. The likeness of face,
figure and attitude of the statue 10 her are strik-
ing. She is seated In an armchair resting on
four small British lions. Her feet ere crossed on
cushion She is in a ball-dress Of heavy silk, the
texture of which appears in the marble IL Is
plain, and falls in ample folds. But at the edge
and on an underskirt there are small founces with
| box-pleats. | never the drapery of a fashion
| able dress so well managed in sculpture. Chapa
| would not have any Of those eweled or other
contrivances which the Princess resorts TO 70 hide
neck scars. Her neck is quite uncovered, out
| the skin is represented though unscarred.
| However he has not done away with three de-
| fects The neck Of the Princess does not seem 70
| be made for her body, nor her head for her neck.
| and one of her hips is too prominent. Chapa was
| too great an artist to Show utter disregard Tor
truth and 30 initiated in his statue the blemishes
l of outline of the subject The Princess looks her
age, but wondrously pretty for her years diadem
gives the head royal AIR. The vel falling from
n over the back of the throne-le chair is grace
full. Chapa went TO Denmark to take drawings
OF the Princess and her sister, the Czarna, during
tUo consecutive summers He also went TO
Sandrinqham He never did anything more charm