New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03
THE CHRONICLE OF ARTS.
EXHIBITIONS AND CIHER TOPICS.

Observation-Disclosures AND ART.
With two important exhibitions to visit, besides tres
or four minor collections Of works OF art, New-York
amateurs are not likely to be idle this week The
Spring Academy, like many CT It's predecessors. has .
greet deal OF inferior stuff mixed With Its good pictures
but on the whole II Is most encouraging display, con-
tains q number of ambitious and wcllexecutei paint
ings and should not be overlooked BY any one In
terested in American art. The exhibition at the Amefi-
can Art Galleries Is one which can be as cordially
recommended. The public Aes not often have the Op-
pOrtuny to so fine q collection OF Barge bronzcs
and wntercolors II contains. as good examples Of
Milet as the "paysage dAuvergne" and the Killing
the Hog as representative works by such different
painters as Rousseau and Raffaei, Dupre and Michetu
Daz and Meissonier have been brought together by
this association The list OF small exhibitions will DO
increased on Wednesday by one at the Avery Gallery
of eleven or twelve landscapes BY Mr.. J. Francis
Murphy, who has before sought an audience In
this special way
While the American Art Association Is selling OF its
possessions in order to arrive at settlement with the
heirs Of the late r. Austin Robertson the private col
lection Of that gentleman TO be disposed Of at the Fifth
Avenue Art Galleries. 1t consists Of porceains. ivory
carvings lacquers. metal work. rugs and embroIderes.
and with these there some similar objects OF OH.
entail art from a Mr.. Tadamas IIayashi, OF Paris.
There very little in the asscmbage OF curos that
calls for express comment. We have noted two or
three fair pieces Of porcelain No. 30. "Cead'n Vase:
No. 81, oliver Color vase' No. 405,
"Od Kioto Vase, and No. 400 white
IIirato Vase" we'll some nicely cut worries like
No. 101, "Skull"; series OF japanese books running
from No. l3l to No 1870, and two large grotes1ues
bronze, No. 800. In the smaller OF the two galleries
there are some seventy or eighty pieces Of modern
furniture, few OF the chairs substantial ana artistic
the rest OF the articles frall and commonplace "a
modern furniture is apt TO be- The sale OF these coz
ections will be begun at O'Clock on Wednesday after.
no)n April 9, aud the last session will be begun at the
hour on the following Friday. The exhibition OF
the DInsmore pictures will be opened saturday, April o.
The Fifth Avenue Auction Rooms, at No. 23s
Fifh-ave., hung with seventy seven pictures
principally, TO quote from the catalogue OF the Bar
biyon school, and the property Of Senior salvador de
Mendonca, representative at Washington OF The Bra
lillian Government. The emphasis placed upon the
source Of most Of the pictures in the collection is ILL.,
advised There is nothing in the collection which, IL
1t emanated from the Barblzon school at all, has any
qualities Of which its author might have been proud
and the few works which really worth a moments
consideration are by men whose sympathcs are
widely separated from those of Corot or Dccamps
These men are hime MOrot whose lifesize md,
study No. -, Dryade,7 is, for all Its vulgarity.
strong bit Of realism, and whose Eastern military
scene. No. So Episode OF the War in Egypt is
dashing In color and style; Juan Gonzales, whose
artificial Interior No. ~, "Conva'escence a. un
Prince has sparkling charm which Is not altogether
crushed by the artIfciaty; Ramon Madrazo. whose
large decorative figure piece No. 49, Morning Re-
fections,7 is at least very pretty and two Ita
ians. VIVA and DE Fraucr.schI. OF the FOrtiny,
little sketch attributed to the period Of his studies for
his hg picture, " The Battle OF Tetuan,' We have
strong doubts, as we have also Of the two sleek
nudes ascribed 10 Henner. These pictures are 10 10
sold at Chickering Hall next Wednesday evening
Why does not Mr. Walter Crane hasten to give New.
York, as he has given Chicago and Boston, view OF
the many designs lie brought with him from Englsntf
Some time ago friends Of his were making inquiries as
galleries In this city, but nothing has come Of their
efforts yet beyond talk OF an exhibition In the
gallery Of the Groler Club. This would be pleasant
place for Mr.. Crane 10 choose. but IL Is small, and
because OF this reason alone 10 Is still matter OF doubt
to whether 10 will be the scene Of his professional
introduction To New York not Mr.. Crane Will APP
rear in capacity OF lecturer before the Architectural
League Of NewYo at the regular monthly meeting d
that organization TO morrow night.
Another question that occurs TO us concerns the
Catherine Wolfe collection in the Metropolitan Museum
OF Art. When Miss Wolfe bequeathed il to the
Museum in 1857 she bequeathed also sum I'd
800 OOO Of which the interest TO be applied 10 IT'S
preservation and ncease. The collection has been
well preserved. but has II been augmented The
gentlemen who administer the furd have OF course
eccd with the best possible Judgment and we prefer our
question In critical spirit, bnt simply out Of de.
sire 10 get at all the details Of a matter which IS
naturally Of public interest At the lowest rate Of in.
terest the Wolfe fund must have yielded in the last
four years twenty-five or thirty Thousand dollars.
large proportion OF this money has probably been
saved after all expenses for repairs have been paid.
and wonder If II has been devoted Is 10 be de.
voted TO the purchase Of new works Of art.
To stnl another question, one that Mr.. p. NJ.
IIordcr touches upon in "Thc Magazine OF ArIs for
April, whether architecture Is profession or an art,
do not believe our readers will have any hesitation
In returning answer or that they will disagree
to what that answer should be. There Is nothing
foolish than the contention OF wseacres
that architecture Is not strictly speaking art.
unless II the readiness OF architects 10 deny
the allegation. II would be Just about as brilliant
for number OF painters and sculptors 10 get TO-
gether and gravey discuss their own standing. put
ting IL to the vote tn whether they were artists
not To be under some circumstances. they
might not deserve the affirmative notes they
would eive themselves. but that would
be their fault. Because certain painters
and "sculptors' 90 on blithefnlly working with Tie
brush and the chisel is no sign that either painting
sculpture has ceased to be art. and that Blank is
architect whose designs are conspicuous for theit
lack Of architecture Is real reason why architecture
should be set aside as a thing lacking In art. Mr.
IIorer troubled because men with no artistic quail.
hcaons designing houses. THIS is sad. every ono
will admit. and every will greet with pleasure the
announcement made by THE American Architect and
Building News TO the effect that the architects Of
the District OF Columbia have prepared BILL to be
submitted to Congress. providing that after a certain
date person shall practise the profession Of arcM
lecture IN the District without being furnished with
diploma, which shall be issued without examination &c
all architects actually practising in the District at the
time Of the passage of the act but shall be issued
oilers only on condition that they shall psss a salts
factory examination before Board Of Examiners,
sisting OF three members at least two OF whom shall be
Fellows of the American Institute OF Architects Bat
there does not seem TO be occasion for the
question. Is architecture profession or an art
We have received copy Of the catalogue Of Mr..
whisler's exhibition In London. As was conjeeturei
he has made the little book much OF thing OF beauty
the art OF printing would permit, and assuredly
Joy forever far his yivacty could make II.
ON the fyleaf appears the onnous legend The
voice OF the people and Immediately after this ws
come TO quotation from the Attorney Generals pcech