New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-15
THE CHRONICLE OF ARTS
EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER TOPICS

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living patrons through the executors Of some
deceased collector Is not unprecedented oc-
currence But the action OF the trustees in re-
gard to the Renwick pictures is Of more signifi-
canoe than any other in the records Of the Mu-
scum The late James Renwlck was a devoted
lover Of the old masters Years ago he accumu-
later Oh various continental tours a gathering
OF paintings attributed to many Of the greatest
painters OF Italy Spain and the Low Countries.
His gallery in this city was filed with them.
They practically unknown TO the pubic.
Friends of Mr. Renwick knew Of his possessions.
but little was ever said ABOUT them. and when
ne died. some seven Or eight months ago De-
queathing a considerable proportion Of his col
lection 20 the Metropolitan Museum, good
dea! Of curiosity was awakened among amateurs
and artists Would the paintings prove genu-
inc and highly valuable? There was no way
OF finding out. save by waiting for the APP
pearance Of the collection in the Museum IL
has been awaited with some eagerness among
those who have remembered the bequest. Dut III
the mean time the committee having the matter
in charge have been carefully investigating every
thing connected with it, and FOR some reason
or other have decided to decline the gift The
reason may never be made public. 1t is limited
that the provisions Of the testator's plan were
not acceptable Mr. Renwck wanted his pictures
t. be put permanently in room or alcove by
themselves his name being set up among his
treasures Then again. II is suggested that me
treasures may not be trea sures at all, not I'M
proba bic circumstance when the rarity or me
old masters during the century has been con-
sdered. II has been a long time since names
such - those which figure in the Renwlck cata-
Iogue could be verified on the drlftW9ou Oh .me
casual auction sale. when good old masters
have been sold the whole world has gathered 10
compete and II Mr. Renwick had brought 80
many masterpieces together. the utmost privacy
could not have kept his gallery from achleVlng
a worldwide fame Yet this does not. after all,
affect the point at issue. when Is that' goou Oh
Dad a large collection of pictures mas nreh ue
clined by the Metropolitan Museum mat i
A fact IF immense significance. II shows more
than any magnihcence OF quarters thaI tn III
scum is standing on firm foundation. When
II can afford 10 reject considerable GIT II
means that it IL really ranking with the great
museums abroad. and If that gift mas been de-
clincd. as ms likely. because 1t was unworthy,
il means that the Museum Is falhng mo line
with the most admirable institutions Of its kind
anywhere in the world. IL has often oeeh salu
NJ the Museum that it accepted unworthy De-
quests and gifts numbering UP its space because
il feared 10 antagonZe friends. This latest de-
csiOn shows tina the trustees nave the couidsv
Of their convictions Antag onistn OF not ny w.
do what is best for the Museum UNDER lHelI'
care. The step 10 which re allude SHOWS ~ ~"
enthusiasm on the part of the tuseeeS ,he
have always rendered sterling service 10 tilS
Museum but il is a piece 1f judgment so 5oou
that il calls for especial comment. IL VIII no.
discourage prospective givers OF glfts II WI
only make therl more iastdOus in what they
give and more generous, we think INTO the Oar
gain.
Tn. popular interest in the history Of Napoleon
ought 10 MAKE d certain picture in the Schaus
gallery an object Of busy pilgrimage Just now
The picture is 10y Mr. eaton Woodville. is entitled
"ls15" and represents the Battle OF Waterloo
as seen by Napoleon al the moment wheh 'he
Imperial Guard is moving IF 70 make the SUI
preme effort Of the day. Napoleon occupies
c,psnicuous uosttion or the middle plane Of the
design The field ia spread out before NM ul-
folding on . panoramic scale across the Id 90
canvas His back il turned 70 the spectator anu
In every other detail Of the design MI Wood
vile has sought 10 further increase the eHrCt a.
~ = scene viewed from above and as ! Whoie,
Napoleon il prominent but II Is the ba'tle 81
Waterloo thar this English artist has endeaVoreu
10 depict He has acquitted himSen cIeNetlS'
COMPARISONS with Mess0niei are OI course III
evitabe. and they are not altogether pledsan1
for Mr. Woodvile 10 bear. But leaving thehl
aside he inspires some admiration. lie mas
knowledge Of a battle painters material. ms
horses are well painted 10 action. and IN the
rninu+iae of uniforms and harness the picture
will bear close scrutiny. What II lacks l. HIe' 81
* not spontaneous. and it falls. therefore. 10
give the sense of terrific tension Whlth o'Iois9
10 the scene Yet II Is an interesting picture IN
teresrtng in its typographical realism IN It's
tactful grouping. in its persuasive delhorsOrd-
ZION that tn field might have looked Just as
Mr. WOodVle has seen II; big marked pN Gull
oue lines Of soldiery and not the boiling mass Oh
indistinguishahle fighters which In many cases
ie assumed 10 have spread from one Limit OF the
plain 70 the other IL Is an ingenious rather
than a strong piece of painting but It's ingenuity
leaves a favorable impression
The art galleries uptown are all so pervaded
~. tba spirit Of the holidays that there is not
much chance for special exhibitions, but here and
There the walls make a special appeal 70 the eye.
Al the Durand-Ruel gallery there are hanging
a number of interesting old masters. chiefly Eng
hsh and among them one portrait particularly. a
euu length Of Angelica Kaufman. by Richard
Wilson which Will prove delightful surprise 10
those who know the painter as a landscapes anu
classicist alone. Their are also IN this gallery
twenty-one paintings by Victor Huguet. french
man whose work has mostly been done III lne
Orient and who. in so far as ne Is known al all
is known as a follower in the footsteps of De-
camps. Fromentln and Marilhat. He has their
tastes their enthusiasms. and some or their ami
ity His drawing Is accomplished ms design j.
free but very artistic. very effective His model
ling Of landscape and the sky IL good. ana ne
shows the horse In action with much skill Most
Of his scenes studies OF Arabs watering theIl
horses and they nearly always have an Oriental
brancy and plcturesqueness. a charm as OF the
Theatre and remarkably fine scene painting.
When II comes TO atmosphere Huguet is thin ana
commonplace And his color lacks quality. Is TOO
brittle anl sweet Sometimes he cOnquers MS
shortcomings In this latter direction and gives
YOU az in No 90. lie Ravn. a landscape study
OF vigorous and sympathetic character Yet in
the main he does not touch the delicacy or the
single early piece which IL here displayed the
"Remise on Algerie." That is beautiful little
study The other paintings shown are scarcely
beautiful on the other hand. they are gay.
picturesque and. in spite Of their ancestry orig
lnal At the Blakeslee gallery there may be seen
for a little while tall canvas by Van Dyck.
full-ength portrait OF the Baron Arnold de Roy.
IL 10 not among he major performances or the
painter but IL is a good bit OF old portrature
and worth seeing The Oehme gallery, new
Mace opened i'm upper Fifth-ave.. where all the
art dealers are now gathered together. has no
special exhibition at present. but commands at
tention a. a reinforcement 70 that group OF gal
leries In the city which may he depended upon
fnr thnr.ughlX artistic COLLECTIONS 81 mIsceaneous