New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
ART EXHIBITIONS.
THE NATIONAL SCULPTURE soc1Erx.

this afternoon at the Fine Arts Building Is mors
interesting a whole than in detail. The society
has really brought this judgment upon itself ,
through Its own excellent management, preferrne
to concentrate public attention upon a few broad
ideas rather than upon one particular statue or an.
other There is another way Of looking at IT, The
transformation OF the huge Vanderbilt Gallery into
kind Of italian garden is for the purpose OF show.
ing of the sculpture to the best advantage and
each work gains. rather than loses, through being
placed against a background Of evergreens. But
we believe the main Of this exhibition will be-
to instruct the public In Of the first principles
OF the enjoyment of plastic art which is the dec.
orative arrangement OF statuary. BY decorative
we do not mean the combination OF sculpture with
architecture alone. though such combination
offers rare opportunities but the disposition OF
marbles or bronzes according to those ideas which
take the play OF light and shade into consideration
the strengthening Of white surfaces by green back
grounds. and such a treatment OF plastic art gen.
orally as will make 1t more elastic. more vtal!zed
in significance.
The galleries at the Fine Arts Building are IN.
fortunately crowded. and hence do not enforce the
teaching OF the society well as might be desired
but the whole the lesson Is skilfully set FORTH
In the first the statues are arranged as in the
gallery of a large private mansion. the three small
beyond are filed as the owner OF such
house might fill them. with miscellaneous objects OF
plastic art and the Vanderbilt Gallery has
been said, repeats the main outlines OF an Italian
garden. On one side in this latter room kind Of
temple has been erected with cascade starting at
the foot of a statue by Mr.. J. q. A. Ward. and
flowing down steps which terminate in pool on
the floor level. inches in the lower stage OF this
structure filled with statues. also by Mr. Ward
In the centre Of the bronze fountain Is
placed, surrounded by fowerbeds. classical col.
onnade is flung three sides Of this, the fourth
side being filled by the temple and cascade afore-
said and the cool lines OF the pillars met BY
hpdQe IA
wall narrow aisle Is laid the walls also being
massed with evergreen. Statues are placed at reg.
ular intervals in the colonnade. and they are dis.
closed In orderly succession along the aisle against
the wall Of green. The impression one receives 10
OF a villa. which only needs Increased space 10 30
stately. The room tells on a small scale the story
told along more imposing lines by the villa AlbanL
say. half dozen other noble Italian places. II
would be hard say from what source the chief
pleasure OF the observer comes Is he enchanted
by the mass OF color. relieved here and there by
cleaning marble or sombre bronze? Is II aesthetic
beauty mingling with the freshness OF nature and
the open air that touches the senses OF delight
Or il 1t that some work OF art appears doubly IN.
terestng when It is revealed suddenly by turn Ia
the graveled path? At all events. the conclusion
is certain TO be that in this manner and In other
should sculpture chiefly be displayed. To arrange
II In gallery. In wing OF this exhibition, 10
effective BIT 10 show 1t In the open air is better
II an object lesson like this hears fruit at all II will
be on the estates OF our connoisseurs. where
plastic art will begin 10 figure with much in.
portance as the triumphs OF the~andscape gar.
dener. To those who cannot boast broad acres the
lesson should still be potent. The statues can hs
placed In the conservatory. and there be grouped
with the palms vines that admirably set on
their charms Between the two small rooms which
separate the two large the Fine Arts
Building there is NTH space. decorated as a con-
servatory: and here. too. the OF tapestries Is
commended for the sculpture gallery. pure and
simple. where the breadth and richness OF woven
cloth does n great deal TO mitigate the severity Of
marble and bronze
Turning 10 the intrinsic merits OF the many
works brought within the limits OF this show. ne
find a greater variety than usual the collection
ranging from colossal figures by our own men 10
cabinets OF Oriental worries and cases OF ancient
coins To Mr.. Ward have said. the place Of
horror has been given. and his Student" from tho
Garfield monument at Washington. fills the emf
hence in the Vanderbilt Gallery with sense q
dignity and repose Beneath four figures per.
sonifying respectively Law Science Agriculture
and Music executed for the State House at Hart
ford. figures OF grace and refinement The Indian
Hunter opposite illustrates the vigorous
phase OF Mr.. Wards serious art. The large group
designed by Mr. French for the John Boyle
OReilly memorial In Boston Is placed in this room.
a composition Of interesting lines. and OF consider.
able imaginative power. the characterization IN the
ngures counting heavily when has go. the
massive work into the right perspective. Mr..
French sends another work. the statue Of Rufus
Choate. which he has recently completed Il has
force and animation. the head Is veil studied. but
somehow the work leaves us cold. fact which
might be attributed 10 the awful handicap which
every sculptor has 10 bear when he attacks Q
model IN the costume Of the century II Il were not
that Mr.. French has resources which We feel have
not been called upon In the modelling OF this work
Fully called into play. as similar resources were
called into play by Mr.. St Gaudens wher he ex'
ecuted the Lincoln statue at ChcagJ. this statue
would have been finer.
Mr.. 81. Gaudens himself Is not represented IN this
exhibition but his brother Louis sends small
bronze In slight relief. the portrait OF Commodore
De Kay production OF peculiar strength. and
with a personal touch. note OF style FOR which
We are especially grateful. Mr.. Macmonnes sends
the gay and picturesque fountain. which has been
set up in the conservatory" as the place may
we'll be designated. and contributes also large
, circular relief OF young girl on horseback Both
works full OF movement. and have the ee-
gance. the finish. for which this sculptor Is nearly
always to be remarked. The big door for ths
Congressional Library. begun by the late DIN War
ner and finished by Mr.. Herbert Adams. Is on the
whole impressive. but the lines seem heavy when
compared with those OF the similar door. entirely
from Warmers hand. which stands the other
end OF the room. Whether this means that tho
latter nodded that Mr. Adams unable 70
meet the test OF the dead masters art We feel
that It Is more just to estimate the living sculptor
by other work here shown. His bust OF Juls
Marlowe. for example. is captivating piece fui!y
expressive OF his and delicate style. the COM
panion bust OF a lady which he shows evokes the
same cordial comment; and IN the relief o! three
children. which completes the group OF his con-
tribut!ons continue TO feel the genial atmos'
phere characteristic OF his work. Mr.. Warner 10
represented not only by the doors 10 which We
have referred. but by number OF portrait buso
and medallions. and by one or two ideal produe-
tons which have been gathered together 10 form
a kind OF memorial group. All these things have
been seen before. and have frequently been DIS
cussed In this place. but the great claim OF War