The record-union., 1899-02-27
A FREE ART EXHIBITION.
Copy of Munkacsy's Greatest Paint
ing on View.

There is on free exhibition at the
Nonparei store, Wasserman, kaufman
& Co., a copy of Munkascy's great
painting Christ Before PLATE" Nun
kacsy is a noted Hungarian historical
and genre painter.
In 1869, after long study at Gy1la-
at the Vienna Academy at Munich ana
at Dusseldorf, he made name in 1861
with his painting Last Day of Con-
demned Man" From that time his
fame grew wonderfully. His creates.
works are Milton Debating Paradise
Lost" .OS7S), Christ Before PLATE"
QSS1), Christ on Calvary" QSS4 and
1.-THE Last Moments of Mozart" QSSO.
Several others have followed, but none
have attracted so much attention as
that now under notice-the original be-
ing owned in the United States.
The copy now on exhibition here IS
canvas u by IA feet, and it is by the
colored artist, Nelson A. Primus. Mr..
Primus permits an injustice to be done
to himself and the great original by
emitting from the circular descriptive
of the picture, statement of the fact
that the canvas is copy. Possibly the
presumption is entertained that every
one will know that.
Mr.. Primus' work is well worth
visit. We may not all view the or
iginal, and, therefore, the privilege of
seeing faithful copy is one not to be
neglected. While copying is upon the
lower levels of art, nevertheless there
are copyists and copyists, and Mr.. Pri-
mus assuredly is of the better order
He must have native art ability, fine
art perceptions and delicate art sensi-
bilities to be able to make such a copy
as is now exhibited.
Any one can understand that capacity
to do such work as here referred to
should be developed along original and
creative lines. Possibly Mr.. Primus has
thus developed; we know nothing Of
him, and trust that his genius is not
limited to copying, notwithstanding the
fact that some really great works are
copies and that some famed artists
have copied.
In this work there are defects, some
shortcomings, as in the handling, while
we must think the drawing has faults.
but these are minor and in. presence of
such patent good work his reproduction
of this world famous painting is en-
titled to generous communication. It
was a heroic undertaking in the first
place, and the achievement is brilliant
The reproduction Of human figures in
groups, with portraiture, where all de-
ponds upon catching the dramatic effect
of the pose and expression of the coun-
tenances, the copyist encounters his
most difficult task, and as a rule must
he very much above the ordinary level
of ability to achieve success.
But Mr. Primus certainly has sue
ceeded wonderfully well. He has given
us an opportunity to see in reproduction
one of the greatest art works of the
century, and he has conveyed an excel
lent idea. of the inspiration and genius
of Munkascy. His work is so faithful.
so fun of feeling, is marked by such
warmth and is so free from the usual
earmarks of the copyist that it ap-
proaches very near indeed to the prod
.uct of genius, and certainly is the
handiwork of one whose artistic tastes
and abilities are undoubted
If the public may not see an original
work, a creation by Mr. Primus from
which to judge of the breadth and
depth of his ability, they can at least
with very little effort fancy what the
product of such ability should be- The
painting is worthy of a visit It is in
good light. but would be better seen at
something more of distance; but, as it
is, it is a treat to be privileged to ex-
anime it.