New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-29
ART EXHIBITIONS.
OLD MASTERS AT THE Loros CLUE.
SOME PAINTINGS BY GUsrAvE
CorYppETA NOTE ON ppycrs


CoURBET-A NOTE ON PRICES.
The twenty-forr paintings In this months 81.
hib,tion at the Lotos Club have all been drawn
from the collection OF Mr. Catholina Lambert
They are OF early date, illustrating the art OF thu
Low Countries In the seventeenth century and that
OF England in the eighteenth. Though none Of
these examples OF the old masters OF major i'm
portance. there are hardly any canvases without
some merit. Thus. the two portraits by Van Dyck
may not be frst-ratc specimens Of that great
painter. but both are admirable productions. and
one Of them. Baron Arnold de Roy is a really
beautiful piece OF painting The three portraits OF
men by Mierevelt Janssens and Van der Hoist are
also very interesting works II is not remarkable
trio but 1t stands for great period. and Is. on
the whole dignihed. Even more plausible IL tho
Portrait OF the Duke OF Hamilton" by William
Dobson. follower OF Van Dyke. whose rather
savish devotion TO the style OF the master aid not
prevent him from occasionally rising 10 plane OF
power and charm. The portrait In this collection
represents one OF his happier moments. The land
scapes attributed 10 Van der Neer, Van Goyen and
Solomon Ruysdaei. with the figure piece given to
Albert Cuyp are broadly characteristic OF the time
from which they date. but In each case fall below
the standard Of the individual painter They up
hold fairly we'll the Dutch tradition. yet leave us
a little regretful. Van Goyen and Cuyp especially
can be captivating in the last degree, but only
when they are at their best. The group Of English
pictures is not very interesting far the por.
traits by Harlow Ward and SIR John Watson are
concerned. but II embraces one or two works OF
some character. The portrait Of the Duke Of Well
ingtof, by Sir Thomas Lawrence is a more than
spectacle example Of the painter. and. while the
Portrait OF Lady" by Romney is without the
tender quality characteristic OF his finer work, II
is nevertheless a capital performance. with album
dant vigor and freshness. few attractive land
soapes by Thomas Barker Of Bath, Joseph STAN
nard S. w Reynolds and William H. Crome. and
a dry but quaint and pleasing Portrait of Lady"
by Pacheco go to complete the exhibition 1t is q
small and modest show II is worth seeing.
At the Durand- Ruel Gallery there are DOZEN
pictures by Gustave Courbet. the French natural
stic painter. who had little II any OF the romantic
feeling potent in the work OF the landscapists
OF 1880. but who shares with these men the honor
OF having discredted forever the artifce Of the
Academy In the treatment Of nature. His was a
bold and even brutal style. There are pictures IN
this collection-such the study Of a deep gorge
with a mass Of autumn foliage on one side and
snow-capped mountain heights on the cther--in
which the audacious cancellations OF the painter
end In obscurng the forms Of his theme and throw
one back on the mere beauty Of the color.
But 1t Courbets privilege to paint now and
then with much lucidity as vigor. and not far
from the Unbalanced picture to which we havs
just alluded there hangs a study Of springlke
painted in light and even sparkling
-
was an uneven artist. executing now such per-
feet work as the small marine. with troubled waves
Swallowed by tragic and superb sky, and again
such woolly. impossible thing as the larger cam
vas, across which the ocean rolls In Opaque, un-,
natural ridges But ia always sincere There
is ngratatng quality in even his least lovely
productions He felt the nobility and wild grandeur
of nature. and though there Is something repellent
in one big, bleak landscape shown here. with It's
ciffke and rather sodden textures. the,
final effect Of the picture Is distinguished. and IN
a sombre way. beautiful In paintings like this
one he shows that he had the grand manner at his
command when he chose to use IT. But Courbet
was full of contradictions. The study OF bird OF
prey rendng a deer has only technical charm Ia
It's treatment Of the central motive. but the Lands
scape In the background Is not only veraclous II IL
original and delightful This picture is typical or
the artist. 1t shocks and 1t fascinates. One feels
always In his work a rude strength that hovers on
the edge of brutality and one feels almost as often
the magic of a painter who was sensitive to tho
deeper things in nature and could interpret them
With subtlety and tenderness. The present exhtbf-
ion needs two three Of the not very numerous
pictures which he made completely satisfying. but
/ gives. nevertheless. very just idea Of his work.
At the Macbeth Gallery there may be seen O.
number Of landscapes by the late Richard PAUL.,
the collection including some of his rough sketches
Both in his preliminary studies and in his finished
pictures this artist disclosed genuine sympathy
for his subject. and exercised. moreover. cons'd-
crab BILE skill. Sometimes in his scenes Of sunset he
recalled the rich quality Of Dsubigny. Ills work
had sentiment and truth This little show presents
him In very creditabe aspect and revives
thoughts Of regret for his untimey death seven
years ago.
II is reported that the local picture market has
recently been in a very prosperous condition. Many
pictures have been sold. and at good prices But
1t has been left to Paris TO witness some particu-
arly gratifying incidents in the auction-roon The
Desfosse collection sold there day or two
AGO La Toilette" a wel-known picture by Corot.
brought $4,000 francs A Saint Sebastian" by tbs
same painter fetched 1900 francs, and third pct-
ure 1.-THE Studio" also by him, sold for S2,OW
francs. Courbet's celebrated picture OF himself
painting. In his studio surrounded by his
friends. a composition symbolical OF his artistic
was sold for $1,000 francs. marine
by Met brought 5000 francs These figures are
significant OF the tremendous competition inspired
by the entrance into the market OF any really val
liable pictures. and Of the strength OF that market
1T this moment.