New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-18

denim such a collection as that which CLOSED Oh
Monday as having no merit or very little ANY
one who took the trouble to go patiently round
the rooms and to Judge ntelligenty and without
preiudice would be rewarded by finding great
deal OF admirable work. though. as Is always the
case I'm a modern English exhibition. the clash
Of different methods. the war OF opposing Ideals.
was painfully apparent. The return OF Sir John
Millais to active work was this year snguariy
welcome and though the subject OF his principal
picture was perhaps unfortunate. he did not. In
The execution fall short OF his best achievements.
Sir Frederick Leighton. Mr.. Alma Tadema, and
many others among the seniors. were very
strongly represented, so was Mr.. Sargent. so
were many less known men OF the younger gen
Grafton, especially the Scotch artist Mr.. Lavery.
and the Irish artist. Mr.. Osborne, each OF whom
made distinct mark with lady's portrait. To
do this Is 10 accomplish something that Is at once
welcome and to the artist himself, dangerous.
for II generally means many commissions, the
patronage of countesses. and very soon trckiness'
shallownesss. self-repettion and artistic collapse
l think however that each OF the two men whom
l have named is strong enough to hold his own
and TO pursue his ideal unspoed by popularity. II
indeed that most uncertain destiny happens TO
come to either. In the scripture galleries
there some beautiful work especially per-
haps. the silver statuette OF Mr.. j. Nj. swan,
painter and sculptor of animals and figures.
whose reputation has long since found Its way
across the Atlantic; and the small Boy win
Top of Mr. Roscoe Mullins. a graceful and IN
teresting sculptor who has followed the Greek
lesson OF moderation almost too successfully for
his fame. He has never yielded to that tempta-
ton TO self advertisement to which almost every
contributor to modern exhibition sooner or
later falls victim
RAVEN HILLS HUMOROUS DRAWINGS.
mentioned some time ago black and white
exhibition: may now name another, one OF the
few which remain open into the holidays. This
is the collection of humorous drawings by Mr..
Mall
an artist who divides with Mr.. Phi, May nearly
ali the admiration which readers or the comic
periodicals have 10 spare from TennleI ana Du
Maurier. Mr.. Raven Hill follows little too
closely in the steps Of the late Charles Keene.
though MS a drauEhtsman he does not approach
that inimitable master: but he has very vivid
sense Of humor. and as an observer Of the COM
edy of low life he has among our artists OF to-
day few equals. / hear that an American pub
Usher has engaged him to illustrate book, so
that before long you will be able TO judge OF his
talent for yourselves.
II would be Interesting to know whether the
new edition of Pepyss Diary is having any sue
cess IN America. | almost doubt It, for Mr.. II. b.
Wheatleys almost unexpurgated version Of the
manuscript preserved In Magdalene College.
Cambridge is almost too strong meat for a
country where. / am told THE nude In art Is
not greatly In favor. The sixth volume, which
appears this week, carries the diary down to the
year following the great fire. when England was
altogether in bad way. what with the evil ex-
ample set by the King. the ruin OF half the citi
zens Of London foreign compiled tons and an
empty exchequer. The historical interest OF this
volume. which contains a great deal OF pre-
vi0usy unpublished matter is very considerable
especially as showing the public decentralization
which had rapidly made way during the six
years Of Charles's rule. When Cromwell died. no
public official thought of making profits beyond
his salary. but in 1866 the thing was universal.
and Pepys once so careful and virtuous.
bad as anybody else But. besides the public in
terest Of the volume. 1t has private interest OF
a scandalous kind in the exceedingly frank de-
scription given by the d:arist Of his swift
cesson Of love affairs revealing him 10 that part
OF the world which for these revelations
almost in the light of Casanova 7 am in
clined to think that Mr. Wheatley would have
done better If he had used the pruning knife
with more severity. HUMPHREY WARD.