Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-26
ABSOLUTELY PURE

group and was once the most popular painter in Europe, and an exquisite pie ture of his is Raphael at the Vatican" showing the young painter at work, painting from life a young peasant Wo- man and baby. Vernet possessed a re- markable knowledge of military maneu- vers and devoted his skill to the Ma poleonic era. He reached the zenith Of his reputation in 1S30-40. Another very striking picture is by Paul Delaroche, which made the artists reputation when first exhibited, in 1929. This IS ms Death of Queen Elizabeth" The figures are life-sized the coloring of the drapery, maids in waiting and the queen recum- bent on the floor, supported by rich cushions, makes a very striking picture. Historical works are mainly indebted to this artist for their popularity in ffance. His Sons of Edward" is an ideal picture, though possibly his best scenes are Lady Jane" and his Assassination of the Due de Guise" Coeval with these great painters there flourished large number of other able masters.
 Decamps, a colorist of oriental scenes; very effective historical work by Robert Fleury-Leopold. Robert, an early pupil of David's, dedicated his art to humple life Coutures Romans Of the Declne
 was exhibited in 1S47 and was one or the first modern works which manifested q tendency to depict classical themes in 
 picture it Is. The second empire inaugu- rated a new era in the history or ffench art, and the French school IS becoming more strongly individualiZed than ever. Each painter strives to solve ms 1aVor- ite problem in his own way. Even our own Birmingham artist has caught tniS spell since in Paris and has announced 10 me that he will follow this principle In our Art league. Jean Francals Miliet' SO widely known as the artist or the -1I,, hoe d6 delineation of peasant life, and hlS par tiality is for depicting the peasant at work rather than in moments or ftidA- ation His works are diSt1ngulsheo py their admirable union Of bneiy-toned landscapes with fresh and characteflStlc figures His Church of Greville' ana
 "The Cleaners" are noteworthy and our home people may have the pleasure of seeing a copy of the latter, as MT. Parlsh is at work upon it now; also one by Belly, Pilgrims to Mecca, one ol tue HotSu modern artists.
 Troyon Is another who idealiZes animal life and suffuses his landscapes with a mellow, peaceful, atmospheric eHect Ills 'tBullocks Going to Their Work and 'l!e Retour a Ia Ferme" are especially good. The Music du Luxembourg contains many gems of modern French art. Pic- lures are placed here for ten years after the artists death and then removed to the Louvre. There is a splendid picture here by Constant, "The Last Rebels, scene just outside Morocco. Several noteworthy pictures by this artist have been exhibited in New York. Then there is one especially good by Rosa Bonhews, "Husbandry in Nivernais,' with master ly animals and the most charming ue tails. The ploughed ground looks as II standing out from the canvas. Norks are here, too, by Louis Ernest Nelson fer, the most distinguished Of the new school His pictures are often very small sized and in many respects recall the Dutch masters of the seventeenth cen .tury. His every figure possesses won drous amount of distinctness and detail, while the whole is remarkable for It's clearness and the delicacy of its sllvery gray tones. There are little sketches and studies here by Meissonier that 'eVlnee his wonderful care and knowledge. Ills Napoleon III at Solferino" is a good ex- ample of this master, while l think ms work in the museum in Central park a still better one. There are two pictures here, too, by Marie Bashkirtsef. The Meeting' is one-five boys, little rag-a- muffins-which shows artistic merlt Many painters have turned their atten-' tiun to portrait painting with marked success, bringing to it more penetrat- ing conception of character than usu- ally found Among these the works of Florentine Bonnat are noticeable, his portrait of "Job' being one of the most striking things ever SAW, tHe oile ol
 Leon Gognet," the painter, is espec- ially good, too. One of the most noted of eminent battle painters of today is Ed ward Detaille. His picture entitled The Dream" moonlight scene of soldiers asleep in the field, while their dream of marching on to victory is exquisitely painted in clouds just above; the per spective is fine. Another by him, March Out of the Garrison of Hunin- gen." is brilliantly painted while the very fine perspective is again pro- nounced In this gallery is a painting by our own Sargent-"La Carmencta"- a fine drawing as we'll as brilliant col oring And here I have seen two splen- did pictures of the impressionist school, one by Alfred de Piedmont that is very fine and shows that when not carried to absurd extremes these pictures are faith full delineations of nature, and of the hu- man figure more especially. There are splendid pictures here too, showing the style of portrait painting by Carolus Duran There are more numerous prl- vate picture galleries here in Paris than in any other city on the continent but if the transient traveller sees all in the Louvre and the Luxembourg as afford ing a good survey of the history and de- velopment of French painting he may we'll rest satisfied, not to speak of the work of the "old masters" in the Louvre. PAUL PRY. If you are worn out from pressing busi- you renewed yigor.