New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-01
ROCHEFORT As IN ART CRITIC.
AN EXCELLENT JUDGE OF PICTURES AND AN
ADHERENT or TIE ENGLISH SCHOOL.

AN EXCELLENT JUDGE OF PICTURES AND AN
ADHERENT or TIE ENGLISH SCHOOL.
Paris June q.
Few persons esteem Henri Rochefort but the
artists of Paris regard him OF the best
judges going Of a picture. He has no canon of
taste and never drew line in his life His judg-
ments are entirely the fruit Of instinct and I'm
preston They are nearly always sincerely ex-
pressed. The late Albert Wolff went the princ-
pie of making artists pay handsomely for being
noticed by him. If they did give him the best
products Of their pencil he contrved to make them
regret It, One OF his practical maxlms that
the newspaper salary OF art critic should be the
smallest part of his earnings. Rochefort, perhaps
used TO be given paintings that he fanced at the
Salon eaper than If he did not write critques
under the name OF Edmond Jacques. But
Satisfied that he never said anything OF painting
that he did not feel lie is enthusiastic about
the old English painters and the rst-rate modern
Turner he reckons the greatest impressionist
and the most original and captivating of landscape
painters He congratulates the Parisans on being
al last In possession OF the which hung
this week in the Louvre. British art. says Roche
fort Is compounded of distinction, charm and
strength. Vatican perhaps. is the only French
painter who can rival the great English painters
In grace and transparency Greuze. Boucher and
Fragonard are dwarfs compared to Reynolds. Gains
borough. Lawrence. Hogarth or Hoppner. who are
quite unknown in France What Frenchman ever
heard of Morland. who a painter Of rustic scenes
and objects had his equal? In dealing with
the exhibition of British paintings Of the last hun
dred years which is open at the Grafton Gal
leYy Rochefort recommends the French Govern
ment send the prize-winners at the Ecole des
Beaux Arts to London instead OF TO Italy. week
In the Grafton Gallery would. he says be full of
enchantment. not 10 the young merely but TO
those old Frenchmen who petrifed in the belief
that the only fine pictures in the world are painted
In Paris. Scales would fall from the eyes OF the
latter on seing what Constable. Hook. Wilke.
Maclise, Mulready. Landseer. Egg. Etty. Millais.
David Roberts. Coke and dozens OF other British
artists produced since this Queen came TO the
throne The British manner and methods
adapted 10 modern requirements, whereas those OF
Bellini Ghirandato. Lippi and others whom young
French artists sent to study In Rome. are not.
There is 10 be learned by young painter
OF our time from nogarth than from Michael
Angelo Rochefort has formed a valuable gallery
OF paintings in England But he buys mostly
italian works OF art. The English in the last cen
fury and early In the present SKINNED the cream
OF old Italian easel pictures. They are now sold
cheap at Christy's. taste running IN modern
direction.
Rochefort denies the primacy which the French
claim In matters OF taste for Paris. Paris Kissed
at the opera and comic opera such masterpieces as
"Guillaume Tell" &C men" Faust Tam
hauser," la Traviatn.' Corot sixty before he
won a name. Rousseau was fourteen years trying
TO get his landscapes hung In the Salon. Mct
grew old in poverty and was never recognized as a
great artist until he had foot In the grave. The
French are better Judges. their witty country
men. of ceverness than OF genius. Indeed. they 30
not take in genius easily Art applied t. Industry
a decorator Of the salons OF the wealthy during
the eighteenth century. Baudry IS also dccora-