New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-22

when La Navarro came up the harbor but he de-
c!nred Tint what he had been able TO see had
greatly impressed him. Last night, after dinner
at the Waldorf-Astoria. ne started out TO spend
the evening In company with one Of his pupils. NJ.
Duran has brought none OF his works with him 10
this country. but his baggage included a nLmber
OF clean canvases. which there Is no likelihood that
he will have to carry home again As his plans are
formulated ut present he will work only In New
York. his visits TO other cities will be for pleasure.
Il am very well acquainted with American art,
said ". Duran. Many OF those who are pre-em-
nent In America have been pupils OF Bonnat or
myself Art has made extraordinary progress here.
and there seems TO be a constantly growing popu-
lar appreciation OF H. I think most American
painters may be classed belonging to the French
school. There I. as yet no dlstinctvely American
school OF painters
The artist is distinGuishcd-loo man. with
cordial manners and quiet dress. He speaks Eng
lish imper.cctly. The Journey here was the hrst
long sea voyage ;hat he has ever taken ort MS
f.ara OF seasckness were not justified. and he de-
clared that he enjoyed the Journey greatly.
No doubt one OF the first things NJ Carolus Duran
will DO after having rested from the fatigue OF his
VOYAGE 10 New-York from Paris will be TO visit the
exhibition OF the Society OF American Artists AS
ne enters the galleries he will he confronted by MI
sargcnts double portrait OF Mr. and Mrs. I. y.
Phelps Stokes hanging in the place OF honor 1t IS
quite conceivable that the distinguished visitor will
saw TO himself: "Ah! One OF my finest works my
pupil" Sargent received much OF his early train
Ing in Duran's studio He painted his masters por-
trait Other American artists have studied under
this noted painter and If report he true they hold
him in peculiarly afrec tonaie regard He has been
a generous and a helpful teacher We doubt II any
French painter coming 10 these shores could be
surer of n warmer welcome than that which Amer
lean artists are bound TO give Csrclus Duran. The
fashionable world will also be interested In his ad-
vent. For years he has promised TO come but for
yc1-s he has delayed. and when portrait has been
desired from his hand the sitter has had to go 10
Paris. In the French capital ne has long held
high place. He has painted the "grande dame OF
French society for many years and with such
brilliant brush that hasty observer might be ex
cused TO- regarding him the painter in ordinary
10 the aristocracy Rivals he has had and
in greater number than the present moment. but
he has held his place. His tenacity implies the con-
servatism which Is at the bottom or his art. For
brilliant painter his development has been
dnarily uneventful
Carolus Duran born az Lille in 1923. He
studied in the municipal art school OF that town and
then came TO Paris with a view to embracing the
profession OF a painter permanently. He appears TO
have had bat slender resources and It was not until
he prize established by NJ Vicar. n citizen
OF Lille that he in a position to go 10 Italy
In Rome he devoted himself to compositions Of
some Importance and sent them TO the Salon. but
before long he travelled from Italy into Spain and
nj Madrid fell at the feet Of Velazquez BY the
time he returned to Paris from his long months OF
copying in the Museum Of the Prado he was on the
whole portrait painter. and. in spite OF excursions
into other fields Of art. portrait painter he has
renal lined ever since. His studies in genre have been
interesting. hut not important. His mural decora-
tons also take an obscure position. But In por-
traiturc he has ranked high Perhaps It has been
because he brought back from Spain something OF
the simplicity and breadth OF Veazquez and used II
for time. but believe the secret Of Duran's
great success has been the peculiar quality OF his
taste His earlier works. and especially the noble
equestrian portrait Of Mile Croizete appeal to the
amateur through purity OF tone refinement Of exc
cution and distinction OF style The portraits which
have made the name Of Carous Duran famous on
two continents have exchanged these precious quail
tiles for certain ample but arid gorgeousncss
The costume portrait Is often nothing moro than
tho expression OF artists desire 70 indulge in a
technical exercise. II Is alSo the expression Of a
widespread feeling among the people who have their
portraits painted that II IL good. when you are
posing for postcrity TO b, dlzzling in aspect
you can. Duran seems TO have met that feeling
halfway. and in the world from which he has
drawn his sttcrs nil the 10 be
Ing their best and most vivid gowns. The men. OF
course. arc in the black h1oit Of tho nineteenth
century But II cannot he said that Duran's mas
culine portraits make the substance OF his fame.
~ beautiful women radiant In their
mos splendid attire. As result his portraits have
figured among the most aggressive and domineerng
things OF his time That they have been marked
hv the ouieter but more delightful characteristics
~ his earlier work believe would only he as
eer,c1 by his most devoted adhcrcns. The un-
nretud,ced observer finds the sheen OF rich stuHs
,iresome after time; this pyrotechncal display OF
6 Fin and cevcrncss weares the eye. and we Will
cren add affronts the taste. These are not works
NJ art one protests: these are mere hamboyant
The generalization would he. In a
measure unjust. Examine with care The worst OF
,heso overloaded canvsses. and In the swirl. broad
rendering Of some nuance OF color and texture In
the delicate limiting OF an expression. the hand OF
reaJly powerful artist will sometimes he rccog-
razed But in uniform strength and self-conroi VI.
Duran has for many years seemed remarkably de-
oc,ent When the seceders from the Old Salon es-
,ablished the New and ". Duran sent group OF
tall nortrot. 10 the show II was Impossible 10 pass
49,, u,,,hout a sensation OF vlgor and skill and
.,,.pdor But Il was not possible ~ nnger over
,h.,, lona either. The note was too garish the
,,. y, view seemed too material. too much con-
..,nes with merely superficial things Therein you
a.. IN. bane OF Duran's art. He paints the sur
,,o. o,,.n superbly. Sometimes NJ VIII execute
OF technique which, In pure daring ana
go vii oll tho studios with awed delight But