New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-09

| an episode over which your hardened Partisan
would linger with material raptures. And yet
could tn subject be- rem tered with more dramatic
| fire than the painter we illustrate has employed
| Could the scene be lowered with more con-
vi.cing realism? Could the dancer be- more gra-
| clOuS an image, the SW.rdSmtn a more st1lWart,
or the Saint a more impressive figure II quiet and
| slnctiiiod dignity? In all the wide range Of his
| work. Puvis &c Chavanrcs has done few things 10
surpass this ttle masterpiece. nay. IL Is doubt
ful II any Of his great decorations x, beyond it in
perfection ~ design. In balance. In symmetry and
| In the beauty which those elements Of perfection
subservc. II Is not possible to weigh this produc-
| ton In minute comparison with his mural paint
ngs AMI easel pictures. for his life has been a
long one and It has been hueily spent. The mere
enumeration Of his works would carry us further
than II IS here cxpcGient to go But before leav-
ing them must alludc briefly - one or TWO
phase Of art which they represent
In his subjects. AZ We have already suggested
ruvIs DE- Chavanncs gives his audience material
for thought He has symbolized the seasons IN
works Of great dimensions and elaborate de-
sign bu, always. as IN the beautiful summer
for the Hotel de VILE ~ Paris with a directness
II Illustration which brings You close 10 the
simple JOYS 4 nature. lIe has painted large
llmbol. matcrnal-look!ng women. waiting stat
uesquoy by some sylvan spring or pacing pen
sively through tn" forest He has Apr )ached
legend AMI history. A. In the ste. Gencvieve" OF
ihc Pantheon. h. has dealt with abstract IDEAS
as In the huge decoration ~ the Sorbonne. with
It's figures representative Of Science. Literature
Art. and ~ on: AMI lately IN the picture Of
"Nicior Hugo onrant sa l.yre n Ia VILE de
Paris FOR III" staircase ~ the Hotel de Nic. ne
has shown his power In the celebration OF a ma
ucnal h 70. The staircase panel destined for
the Boston Library. and now on exhibition at
the Salon Of the Champ de Mars. repre-
s@nis The Muses. Acclaiming Genius the
Messenger - Light" OF such Is the substance
Il that art which has placed Puvis de Cha
vanne, at IN. head Of his nation. serious. i'm
aglrativc trimming oyer with stimulus for those
VII, are beginning - sicIen Of the Grass materi-
alisfn every whore struggling 70 maintain its SUI
premacy. II stands for refinement. for ilealism.
for noble aims and an atmosphere Of exquisite
purity pul!s d. ChaNanncs stands for these
things in All the relations Of his art. but IN
non, moro stoldfasily than In his color. He has
invented what his followers cal. with s. me az
fectatiln the lilac chord. a chord OF sobriety OF
delicacy. II silvery and serene color which makes
him. IN the mural decorations which have
chiefly occupied him. one ~ the most r"Situi ana
permanently satisfying painters OF any tine.
y thing can be- said If his work for l. ston. as
vet Criticisms thus far received have been
contradictory. w" have seen II lauded with "m-
phasis and condemned with equal decision.
: .,e say II is the best some say ii is the worst
work produced 10y the artist While It's ARRIVAL
I'm this country j. awaited there need be small
concern for these differing judgments. for
whether Enthusiastically strong or not In one
direction or another We can feel certain in adj
vance that Puvis De Chayannes will send us a
nobl. work II art. finely imagined and worthily
uaiufaI He has never yet disappointed those
VIII, have learned t. expect such work from
him.
Tho n.c,iire ~ Tho Precipitation OF -. John
Haptisi" l. the property az VI. Duranl-Euci 10
who's. courtesy Vs.. ar. ind .htci for the Photograph
from which our drawing has been made I is de-
sired - note in this place also hat the portrait OF
Whistler riycn IN The Tribune Of last sunday was
,rnr,iuc.I rom an etching by himself kindly
ioansi by Mrssrs u Wurdrriich & co.