New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-04
ART EXHIBITIONS.
oRIENTALIA. OLD MASTERS AND MOD
ERN PAINTINGS.

Mr.. William Churchill Oastler The REMAINING
space is given to old and modern paintings. about
half OF them belonging to Mr.. Frederic Bonner
and the others belonging the American Art
Association. The sale of the Oastler collection be-
gins at the galleries next Tuesday AFTERNOON ana
Will continue through the afternoons or the hVe
following days The eIghty-two pictures VIII all
be sold at Chickering Hall next Tuesday evening.
The exhibition Is In several respects OF distinct
Importance
Mr. Oastlers treasures are of special significance.
The importation into this country of vast auanti-
ties OF objects produced by the modern craftsmen
OF the East has threatened delay for years the
erection OF a permanent standard of taste in such
matters Great masses of this work, pretending
to be artistic" really commercial IN char
acter Mr.. Oaster illustrates in his collection a
profound knowledge OF his field. Judgment which
has apparently failed him. There are nearly
twelve hundred numbers in the catalogue and not
represents inartistic or uninteresting piece
1t is obviously impossible to traverse the collection
in detail. We lay stress instead upon the extraor-
dinarily high average of excellence 1t is notable
also that while the lacquers are peculiarly nu-'
merous and fine. the collection is chiefly remark
able for It's variety. In each department the ex-
ampes brilliant. Among the single color or
decorated porceains among the bronzes and
lacquers among the worries and enamels. one feels
a OF completeness, though the collector
had contrived TO secure just the specimens neces-
sary TO show the form of art in question fully and
It's best. There star pieces groups.
One of the latter especially. the gold lacquer
rage service of the seventeenth century consisting
OF thirty-three pieces. is wonderful museum ex-
hibit. faultless In all Its members and throwing
by itself flood OF light only upon Oriental art
but upon the social customs of the East. Yet In
intrinsic beauty. Mr.. Oastler has some tiny boxes
impressive this marriage service. that fills
three cabinets The collection has. in short rare
educational value. II provides touchstone for
the student Close study OF these beautiful things
will show him what text books can make plain
only with the greatest difficulty. the difference be
tween the masterpieces Of the japanese anu
Chinese craftsmen of past centuries. and the WORK
which is to-day turned out by the carload for in
cautious Western amateurs. II is true that much
of the modern work is amazingly clever. and some
times 1t Is fairly comparable to the productions OF
earlier centuries. But these adequate examples
apt to be thrown IN shadow. at least In the
Western market. by the mere journeyman's per-
formances.
The pictures In this collection stand for the most
diverse schools both ancient and modern. There
Is a charming portrait by the Spanish Coello The
Wife OF Admiral de Cordes.' pleasant in color and
delightfully."- archaic In STYLE and two portraits by
the younger Pourbus. with vigorous and mellow
toned portrait by Boil. leave a favorable impress
sion. The Jacob Ruysdael sea piece full OF
movement and very pure In tone. Is a noble canvas
despite its sombre key-rendered more sOmbre by
the passage of ttme-and one OF the two Law
rences Charity: The Misses Newdigate. OF Sur
rey' is a fair example Of the English painters
suave elegance and delicate color His Portrait
of the Countess Of Wilton contains some char
acteristic workmanship but it is rather heavy,
uninteresting painting. There TWO examples
of Raeburn. portraits of Mr.. aud Mrs Carlisle
Like the Lawrences, they have merit but are far
from representing the full scope and charm OF the
artist The Catherine of Portugal" given to
Mignard is dull and lifeless painting. reminding
more of the extreme rarity on this side OF
the Atlantic OF really fine works by the earlier
Frenchmen The two small panels by De Bloot
will pass muster. We cannot say much for the
David Garrick" attributed to Gainsborough
Concerning No &c. Dutch Landscape" there Is
note IN the catalogue for which the de-
serves the warmest commentator. He states that
although this is signed "Hobbema." he does not
consider the picture characteristic OF that artist.
and accordingly offers II ION It's merits a
vas without regard to who painted it, This
is the proper way in which to present the painting
70 the public 1t is certainly not Hobbena. and
II Is refreshing to have 1t catalogued with such
candor. We may add that the landscape is never
theless an admirable piece of work luminous and
beautiful.
At the head of all the modern paintings stands
the glorious forest scene by Diaz La Mare aux
Grenouilles' formerly In the Dana collection
This one of the best examples of the artist
brought to America. 1t shows him in his most
authoritative mood overlooking with the poetic in
spiration important to the treatment OF his
sylvan themes Light color. sentiment, every
thing is expressed with the utmost sympathy. and
over entire work is shed the distinction Of i'm
peccable design The three small Corots are good
but minor productions. Daubigny Is more strik
ingly represented. and there are capital landscapes
also by Michel. Dupre and Jacque. One Troyon Is
present a canvas comparatively small in scale but
stately In composition. and full OF strong work.
both In the landscape and the cattle. Fromentin's
I'm Algiers'' has novel interest. 1t Is an early
work and is marked by more freedom and less
polish than find in his most familiar canvases.
Later Frenchmen included In the show. espe-
ciaIly Cain and among the landscapes by
that painter there two beautiful things. Gre
puscue' and THE Home of the Artist, which leave
him on a fairly elevated plane. though 1t may be
questioned If he ever the spiritual force
which is indispensable IN landscape of the highest
character. These paintings, with the Landscape
by Vollon have much that is attractive IN color
and In style, without somehow striking the note
that most persuasivey touches the imagination
No fewer than pictures by Monet here.
One of them the "Old Church at Vernon conveys
hint CT beauty in Its misty, opalesceat tones.
and there is certain senssous charm in the three
fragments of the famous Rouen Cathedral series
but We observe that the latter do not wear well,
they are even less plausible than they seemed on
their hrst appearance and none Of their companions
in this collector. the odd Church at Yer
non" does anything to minimize the defects of i'm
pressonistic procedure carried to excess. The
studies by Besnard. like the Rouen experiments OF
Monet. have well. but there is perhaps
one exception to be made among his four paint
ings. No. 80, The Waning Year" is stin cap
tivating in its purely decorative aspect
1t IS interesting 10 meet side by side with the
Barbizon men, Cain and Monet. two American
masters. Inness and Wyant The Spring Bios
SONS Montcair New-Jersey.'' OF the former. is
scarcely than sketch. but il has lyrical
beauty which puts 1t IN the category with
the splendid Diaz. So also of Wyaat IL may be
shares In the imaginative naturalsm and fine orig
inalty which encounters in the Barbizon lead