New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-06
ART NOTES.

ETCHED PORTRAITS BY LEOPOLD FLAMENG.
An exhibition of etched portraits by Leopold
Flameng-who called illustrious by Charles Blanc
was opened by the Grolier Club al its monthly meet
ing last night II offers an opportunity TO lovers OF
prints which they should not fail to seize. In the
revival of etching in France Flameng Is conspicu
Gus figure He stands at the head Of that great trio
of reproductive etchers and engravers whose other
members Ferdinand Gaillard and Charles Waltner
The universally Of his genius makes him the most
interesting Of the three. While Waltner is painter
like and Gaard is scuptursque, Flameng is both /;
he is equally at home in producing the soft ransparns
tones which peculiar TO the one school, and the
firm linear work which is the special province Of the
other Even in the present exhibition, which is con-
fined to one branch Of his art alone, Fameng displays
the widest range IL technical methods. In series OF
portraits some reproductive anu some original, OF
literary artistic and political celebrities, he illustrates
every phase of modern etching lie is rgldy academic
in the plate after Ingress portrait Of himself, ond
as romantic as Whistler in the original portrait
Of Delatre. He possesses absolute freedom, along
with self-ccntrol only 70 be matched in the best
works Of Galard. another source of his fleXibiity
is his familiarity with both BURN and needle his
skill with instrument is continually seconding him
in his use of the other lie served his apprenticeship
studying the masterpieces Of Nanteul and Edelinck
and was destined for engraver but the greater
rapdly possible in etching fascinated him, and he be-
came devoted practitioner of the latter art.
II is brilliant procession which Flameng unfolds in
the collection of plates at the Groer Club Here is
Lamartlne as Baudry painted him; near by is Mile.
Mayer, she appears in the loveliest Of Pr1dhons
portraits: following Professor Huxley, painted by
John Collier Nile Girardin, Basten Lepage, Seymour
Iaden, Boileau Captain Burton, painted by Leighton
Govarni, after sketch by himself; Marie Antonette,
Jean Paul Laurens, Nine Adam, score Of interesting
faces from all places and periods. In such plato
as the Lamartine. for example, Flameng Is extremely
severe reducing the lines 10 the smallest possible num-
ber and making each richly suggestive; but for all
hs bold precision he is never hard never brittle One
thing that helps 10 give quality 70 his work faces
is his use of eXquisteiy fine stpple process. The
tiny little dots give full surface to the flesh Of which
pure line is incapable, except in bold free etching
In pcturng young feminine faces like those OF Marie
AntOnette Nine. Bege-Colard and Mile. Girardin
Flameng has apparently preferred TO use the dots
In the plate after bust Of NJ Claye he pure line
again. In the portrait of Count Duohatel he sketches
in the body freely and stppes the head The portrait
Of Nine Gaucherel done from life, is tour de force
Of facile sketchin2. The Seymour iaden Is done in
the same vein Of dashinS spontaneity. Whether he
poughs the copper In the seymour Haden, or Skins
as In the Nine. Gaucherel the etcher Is sure Of him
self He gives Che impression Of perfect polse. one
two Of FIameng's reproductions of Rubens, DrOnais
and Greuze are shown, and there Is fine Rembrandt
esque portrait Of the either himself after the paint
Ing by Francois Flsmeng.