New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-21
A REVIVAL OF ART.

The Hon. Amasa Thornton and the Hon.
Perry Belmont have two hearts which beat a.
one Animated by single thought, they have
simultaneously approached the Mayor. 1t Is not
recorded that they suffered from the expert
cnce. Their hair was not pulled and they were
rot told to Get TO the deuce ont Of here But
that is perhaps accounted for by the fact that
neither Perry nor Amasa poses as reformer
and that Amasa does not look like n Spanish
sen captain, nor Perry like n Chlnaman. Perry
and Amasa, in sweet harmony, applied to the
Mayor to become a patron OF art and spend
S11 900 for the execution Of portraits or
busts Of himself and his predecessors, and Of
prominent architects of the present municipal
structure. We understand that neither Amasa
nor Perry is proud OF the others company on
this errand. and each avOws that he came 10
the City Hall without knowledge of the doings
OF his co-worker. This only shows the power
Of mental sympathy. Brothers in soul, their
plans conceded. ard unsuspecting they found
themselves together on the same Grand and
Amasa's typcwrttcn brief supplemented Perry's
coquence. and PeTys periods gave life to
AmaSas cold and formal pages
The Mayor says ne is in favor Of tho scheme
provided his picture is left out. That is undue
modcsty, though natural in n person of Mr.. Van
Wyck's retiring and gentle disposition. He,
however, should not he neglected by the paint
ers though, perhaps for variety he might ap-
proprately be represented by bust. But we
do not think this scheme should be confined to
mere portraits. Let us have some great his
tOrCal pictures 70 preserve the thrilling scenes
Of our city life for future generations. Mr.. Van
Wyck offers nm excellent series Of Incidents.
One painting which might appropriately be done
by IN impressonIst in the style of that school.
with shaky outlines and lurid colors that are
seen double could represent the historic mo-
mcnt when Mr.. Van Wyck upheld the right Of
the judiciary in places Of amusement as against
the Puritanism of n tyranncal police Then We
might see him stOrming the Board Of Educa-
ton. That would be- heroic Another picture
might show him kicking the hated Spaniard out
Of the City Hail. or pulling the "pggcc tailcc Of
the bold Chlnee" Mr. Van WyckS career Is
picturesque and spicy, and a room In the City
Hall ought TO be devoted TO frcscCeS cOmmcm-
Grating II. And A. Il. Gardiner should not be
forgotten. Perhaps the supreme moment of his
career was in his great Grafton when he told
Now Workers what wicked woman he could, il
he would. show Mrs Molincux to be. and then.
ont OF respect for decency, RETAINED and just
assured them they could take his word for it
that she was bad. Such n chivalrous act of n
great colder, who is as brave as he is gentle,
offers uS modern incident with which 10
supcrscde the paintings of Raleigh spreading
| his cloak for Queen Elizabeth. Perhaps we
might have a new "St. Michael and the Ora
gon." with the Distrlct-Attorney kicking Re
! form into hell ard If statuary is wanted, who
could better pose for Modcsty hiding her eyes
! from children's bare arms:
BIT those are not the only ones worthy to be
| cas-: In bronze and preserved In paint. Amasa
| properly says the Hon. Thomas {. Platt the
author Of our lllustrious Tammany government
should have place on the llnc-tbouch perhaps
some would say at the end OF It. Lcmuel Qugc
casting the historic 19l votes for General Tracy
would make \ picture which could not fail "a
awaken the grateful memories of Mr. Croker
followers. II scientific progress is 10 he sym
bolized, what would be better than Commits