New-York tribune., 1899-12-31

rore,gn Office protested against the illesality OF
anv embargo upon foodstuffs. British prize
courts are not likely to establish new prece-
dent when England is utterly dependent upon
An Imported food supply in time OF war Ger
taIniy II war material consigned to portuguese
subjects is not liable seizure In Delagoa Bay
neutral property on British or neutral ships Is
EXEMPT from capture by the Declaration OF
Paris
Harrington House is crowded this afternoon
with large and fashionable throng for the clos
ing function OF the year. This Is the private
,,.w Of the winter exhibition OF the Royal
Academy II is a Van Dyck exhibition, almost
as notable as last years Rembrandt show IT
includes 100 out OF 1000 works usually at
,rihuted TO Van Dyck and all the finest ex-
amples Of his later or English period. 1t Is q
wonderful exhibit OF the resources OF English
country houses and private galleries. The queen
has lent her best Van Dycks from Windsor ana
from buckingham Palace, and every castle ana
historic estate has contributed TO the show IL
is the high carnival OF Vanity Fair as II was
known in the reign OF Charles ], with princes
statesmen. generals. admrals, court faVorites
and reigning beauties OF the day. arrayed IN
their hnery and smirking and playing idly with
their dogs. dwarfs and fans. though so bale
ful an object as a scaffold for their King could
never cast its shadow athwart Whitehall.
Snguarly enough. the place of honor In TINS
ccurtlv assemblage is held by Puritan among
Puritans: one Of the masterpieces OF the show
Is the portrait of Lord Wharton in a shepherds
green doublet, with staff in hand. like DAVID
and an amber mantle flung across the shoulder
This wonderful painting comes from the Cars
collection at the Hermitage. st. Petersburg, and
by virtue Of It's own merits as we'll as the
ulustrious station Of the lender it is enthroned
among the treasures OF English portraiture now
on view at Burlington House. The exhibition
while weak in religious works. contains me
series OF Van Dycks painted during his residence
in Italy and after his return 10 Belgium as
we'll as his English portraits.
The winter show at the New Gallery is also
devoted TO Flemish art and is OF exceptional
interest One room is filled with Rubens pict-
ures but these are with few exceptions Of little
account owing to the impracticability Of decid-
ing how much or how little Of the painters real
work goes under his name. Another room Is
occupied with a pretty collection OF portraits
and landscapes by English masters who owed
something to Rubens and more to Van DycK
The pctures in the main gallery are Of extraor-
dinary interest since they represent the early
y1emish school notably Jan Van Eyck Mem
ling, Dle0rlCk, Bonus, OHteIdtIh' Do'iNS' -""DN'N
and other pioneers. Here are 1Oi examples
from private collections In England, and many
Of them have never before been exhibited. This
show is one which fascnates students Of art
and promises 10 excite many controversies over
new problems in the history OF medieval art.
Princess Christians portrait Is now being
painted by Wilhelm Heinrich Funk, who has
also been engaged on other portraits, including
one Of Mr.. Arthur Balfour. which will be ex-
hibited next week at McLean's Gallery land
scape exhibition OF the works OF Aumonier. f.
A. Waterow and Peppercorn has opened this
afternoon.
Pantomime reigns at the theatres. where busi-
ness is remarkably slow. Old English comedy
will be revived speedily at the Haymarket. The
holidays are the dullest England has known for
a decade; there are servants balls in the coun-
try houses but few Christmas parties and little
shooting.
Mr.. Adebert Hay sailed to-day for Cape Town
after ten days arduous work in London
l. n F.