The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-10

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crowded with sightseers, but there arc few
among them whose knowledge Of art is moro
than of tho most elementary sort. As for the
well TO do. who buy pictures sometimes them |
selves. they do not generally appreciate the fact
that tho collections In our museum compare
very favornbly with those In some Of the most
celebrated galleries In Europe. They go abroad
to soc things that are no better than those we
have hore, and those they see abroad they re-
mcmbor and talk about 1t would be good for
our progress In all art matters II not only q
select fow. but all our people, understood how
excellent are the things that may DO seen any
day at tho museum. Tho autumn reopening
this year shows some very valuable acquisitions
made since last spring. Ono OF the bronZes pro-
sentcd by Henry g. MnrQuand may DO safely set
down as one OF the finest things OF its kind
In the world. 1t 10 q four-wheeled chariot
drawn by two lions. bearing the god
dess Cybele onthroned. 1t is shown in
gallery 20 along with the interesting bronze
statue Of the Emperor Publius Septimus Geta
and the statuettes and other art objects In
bronze presented by tho Same generous donor.
Tho chariot was found in tho neighborhood Of
Rome. The whole group is about three feet long
and is in a good state Of preservation. The color
taken on by the bronze in the lapse of centuries
Is beautiful in the extreme. Tho figure of the
goddess Cybele mhy be criticised. for 1t is rather
squat and clumsy. without distinction of bear.
ing. But it 10 well proportional In Its relation
to the rest of the group and fills well its impor-
tant part as an element In the composition. Tho
chair on the chariot and the wheels are admir-
able. They arc conceived and executed with
an art feeling that shows individuality
and the genuine stamp Of q period az
we'll. But the chief beauty in the group
lies in the lions. These are magnificent. Their
splendid heads and names, conventionalized af-
ter the manner Of the period to which they be-
long. their strong and stately bodies and their
long tails give an impression Of power and no.
bility that is only received from great works Of
art. 1t must be borne in mind that the group 10
decorative, not naturalistic, and 1t is in this
sense that tho comparative weakness of tho
figure Of the goddess counts for less then 1t
would were tho figure the sole motive in the
composition. All things considered, here is q
bronze group that Is as fine as anything else In
its class to DO seen anywhere and one that by it's
own merit ranks as one Of the most interesting
possessions Of the museum.
1t is a good thing for us that the Boston Public
Library people werc 80 blind to the claims of art
pure and simple that they decided that they
could not with propriety place Tho Bacchante,"
by Frederick Macmounies, in their courtyard.
Mr.. McKim has presented 1t TO the museum,
and there 1t stands on its handsome pedestal to
please and educate the visitor. 1t may be very
we'll seen in its present position, and there is no
fault to find on that score. 1t Is pertinent to re-
mark, however. that this particular figure was
modelled by the sculptor with a decorative en-
placement in view. II 1t could be set up in a
pretty courtyard or at the end Of q formal alley
its beauties would appeal more directly to the
spectator than they do in tho cold hall Of sculp'
ture where 1t now stands. The first Bacchante
- - At 4 II $3.50.
ago. and was promptly gobbled up by the French
Government with the purchase money that IL
annually voted for the acquisition of works OF
art. They know what is good, do the buyers for
the State in France. The Bacchante now stands
in a niche in the west facade Of the Luxembourg
and as you walk through the garden you may
see it there. The replica, or the second BAG
chante. was modelled by the sculptor exactly
like the first one, except that the treatment Is O
little less concise, as BELTS ito decorative pur
pose, and there is the same charm in the 1.-THE
figure. the same merry. healthfully gay exprcs
sion in tho head. The figure 10 not at al
strongly sexual. and with its graceful limos and
delicately modelled contours produces an i'm
precision Of refined simplicity. 1t is delightful
art and good art. Let US hope that the commo
ton raised about 1t In Boston will not long bt
remembered, and that 1t may DO seen ant
judged here by unprejudiced eyes. No one whc
cares for what Is spirited and beautiful can fai
to be charmed with 1t.
Most notable among the new gifts of pictures
is the portrait of Mr.. Marquand by John 8. Sar
gent. 1t is hung in Gallery 10 to the right o
the large picture by Lerolle. The Organ Re
hearsal." and forms O pendant to Bonnat's por
trait Of the former President Of the museum
John Taylor Johnston. Comparison between
the two portraits is invited by these positions
and N copnporiaon 10 not anfira1y to tho advnn
tage of tho French master. But 1t must be re
membered that when the representative OF tn,
trustees of the museum asked NJ. Bonnat Il
paint Mr.. Johnston's portrait he refused on thu
ground that he was too busy ard was at tn
time compelled to have sittings beginning at
in the morning in order to keep up with hi
promised work. The Due d'Aumale wa
one OF his sitters then and had t
take his turn at the matutinal hour
But when NJ. Bonnat heard that thu
portrait was for our museum he said he woul'
find time to paint 1t anyhow. and he did. Blu
1t is not one of his best works nor even a repre-
sentative one. The Sargent. on the other hand
Is one of the cleverest canvases he has eve
painted. 1t is a remarkable likeness and it 1
painted with astonishing freedom. The site
Is dressed in black and is seated on q chair wit
the left arm resting on q table. the head restin
on the hand. The right arm ID thrown over tn
back OF the chair. Back of the figure there Is
grayish- green curtain. These are sober notes
but what has this wonderfully gifted painte
done to give a distinctive note to his colo
schemef He has done something that n
official" painter OF Presidents or othe- dig
nltaries would ever have thought of doinl
He has seated his figure on q whit
chair! II 1t sounds queer in the descriI
ton it does not look so in the pictur,
We are convinced as we look at 1t that no othe
kind of q chair would have served the purpos
Though it has a back of striped silk. 1t is as 81
Der as tho quiet coat of gray'black. To poir
out the skilful painting OF the head and hand
to mention the characteristic expression of til
Dyes and mouth. to extol the art that has mad
everything in tho picture keep lite relation
every other part, is but to say that in certain pa
ticulars the portrait is worthy of the highe
praise. But after all, the best praise is that 1t
the portrait OF tho man rs his friends see hin
and that 1t could not be better. Over and aboy
, this, as a piece of painting it is q very remarl
able Sargent.
. The friends OF the late Homer Martin. an Il
diyidual and sympathetic painter of landscap