New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-20
LONDON NOTES.
rRAGONARDS FROM a FRENCH VILLAGE
Mr. CHARLES WYNDHAM IN RO-
MANTIC DRAMA-MORALS OF
STOCK PROMOTING.
London. November IL.


London November L.
Although the Wallace collection has not yet
osen opened for public inspection exhilarat-
ing glimpse Of French decorative art is TO be
had in Ola Bond-st.. off Piccady. This Is
series Of great works. painted by Jean Honore
rraconard about one hundred and twenty-five
years ago for Mime. Du Barry 1t was under
taken when she was in the final stage of her
ascendency at The luxurious Court Of Louis Nv
ard was Intended for the decoration of her own
residence The pictures were completed In the
highest style of the decorative art OF that
,e~l0d hut we're never delivered to Mime. Du
parrv whose ono redeenlng virtue was her lib-
eraltv to painters and men Of letters Either
ere designs were too chastc 20 suit the pron-
eate adventures and series of works by
rival PAINTER was accepted in their place. or else
J-ragonard vas unable to finish them before the
death q Louis Ky and the dismissal Of the
<svo~ito from Court. The pictures were never
sent 10 her house in Lucicnnes where she was
allowed 10 I've until she was guilotned IN l'9"
They remained in the possession Of the painter
o,d after hts death in 1906 we're the chief treas
ures Of his descendants.
These paintings. which are soon to he eX-
bi5ited i'm public Cor the first time. nave
heer hidden away for century IN an
old stone house in the quaint French VII
lsre Of Grasse the ;rtists birthplace
Their high artistic value has been known
FOR art connoissours have visited the village ana
errraVinss have been made of a f"w OF thch'
rhev have been hequeathed from father to son
es valuable family legacy, and the painters
descendants have nor been willing 10 allow Wis
ttors to see them. There were fourteen Of these
works and most Of them were 81 large size; but
int
p crumblinG stone house, and there was insult
N,ient light 20 enable any one TO see them TO
ADVANTAGE. Fragonard's statue was in the VII
lace but these masterpieces Of his art Vere
hurled IN cramped dingy apartments Of r for
lorn house The owner an old man. VINO
dsliked 10 receive strangers. even when they
presented letters Of Introduction from famous
people He was moro likely to be good 'natured
when his friend. the innkeeper, sen: them 10
his house with request that they might have
q glimpse Of the precious Fragonards.
In this way these paintings have remained in
,Na dark rooms Of the farm cottage Of Grasss
decade after decade. with the hens clucking In
front Of the door and the pigs gruntng in the sly
OF the harnyard. The owner has at last decided
20 part with his treasures. and 10 this end has
allowed them to he exhibited in London. where
they will be sold whenever a purchaser willing
10 offer half million dollars for them is found.
They will be placed on exhibition in the course
Of ten days at Messrs. Agnew's galleries for the
benefit Of the Artists General Benevolen. Fund
a charity which ought to profit heavily from a
unique and beautiful display Of French decora-
tive art Through the courtesy Of Messrs. Ag-
new have been allowed an early view Of these
remarkable works.
The series includes five large paintings repre-
eenting the Romance of Love and Beauty. four
narrow upright panels. with flowers and foliage,
and a supplementary set 81 five Cupids the
largest one being the "Apotheosis Of Love" and
the remaining four smaller pictures TO be hung
over doors. The Romance opens with a large
canvass La Poursuite." i'm which the lover.
with a flower IN his hand. springs out from a
leafy screen Of roses and palms. while the
maiden in the centre with arms outstretched.
Is the embodiment Of startled yet pleasure BILE
surprise. The background has the fresh tones
II sprinstime verdure in sympat thy with youth
and beauty The second scene is "Rendez-
vous" The maiden in yellow. with averted
look is embowered IN roses and tho lover in
sed has mounted the ladder and is at the edge
- The balcony. While the statue Of Venus looks
on with approving smile The landscape has
the warm tones Of midsummer and there are
roses everywhere This IS the picture In which
Louis XIV and Nine. Du Barry translated 10
early Youth are believed 10 have been deber-
stelv portrayed The third scene is les Sou
yenirs with the lovers in the centre in dream
tf ecstatic reverie and happiness. In compost
zion delicacy Of color and refinement Of feeling
Il is the masterpiece Of the series The fourth
picture "L'Amant Couronne.' presents the
maiden IN yellow In the act Of croVning her
lover with a rose garland. while Cupid surveys
the scene with mischievous smile. The NTH
scene < tinged with early autumnal tnts. for Il
is "I,Abandon." with the maiden in pink and
white forlornly sitting at the base Of column
over the top % which peers a sorrowful Cupd
TIE series as whole Is singularly chsste and
refined and reveals signs OF the sensuous
Southern blood OF the FragOnard who was pow
erfully Influenced 10y the art of Rubens ana the
Venetian school, and also ny the laXltN or NOR
as IN he reign of Louis Ky. II Is dlh>rent IN
spi-it from the "Bacchante Endorm'e OF Inc
1orvra ami represents tho bes' qualities OF his
GENE work when he dropped his acaden'ic man
.er and was IN sympathy with what was hu-
man and real in the life Of his DAY The tech
rlors reveals a rapid but sure touch in mastery
Of details: the Landscapes have an exquisite
finish. although painted freely almost loosely;
the flower painting s. of extraordinary beauty
and deiicacy Of shading; the statuary IN each
picture is jngeniously designed so AS 10 ne IN
scco,e With tho scene: and The colorinG is softly
shaded refined and harmonious. rather thaH
brilliant ard opulent II IS the highest ana
pure, manner of French decorative art. with
nature I'm tender sympathy with the freshness
and nathos Of the romance Of human life. The
fower ranels with their eafy backgrounds
offer a Characteristic environment or ceHcacF
and loneliness for the Romance 81 Love ana
Beauty
The Cupid series seems 80 have been an AFTER
though roouired for filing vacant spaces In the
walls and completing the decoration 81 MINI
Du Barrys salon. These works are NOR
academic in form and reveal the influence VI
Tlan.Ln I'D 1hn la.ar Nenetian palnters. Ihls