New-York tribune., 1900-04-22

enees In the place of Samson blind, disheart-
ened and dishonored there was the outcast
republican of the Restoration left unhanged.
put despised and neglected, "a burdensome
orone TO visitants a gaze" With Dalila ap-
peared the frivolous Philistine wife. whom he
had taken out of a Royalist family and who
proved unworthy of his companionship and de-
serted him. Samson's lament over his blind
ness and loneliness sounded like the lonely
poets own heartbroken cry for sympathy when
his daughters neglected and forsook him. and
the splendid lines recoUnting the overthrow Of
egemies by reserves of strength and sudden
access Of power were luminous parable of the
renewal Of Millions own celebrity when His
cioudless thunder bolted on their heads in
Paradise Lost" Samson Agonistes' may not
be choral tragedy, perfect in lyrical flow and
Greek form, but it is a grand and impressive
monument Of Millions life and character,
and the stately epitaphs may be found in the
lament over blindness and neglect, and In the
epical significance Of Samson's patriotic exploit.
The GuildhalI art show ought not to be
neglected by American visitors this year on their
way 70 the Paris Exposition. for it is excep-
tionally brilliant and interesting. It consists Of
10 works by as many living artists Of the
British school. and II is a representative colec-
tion of a high order of excellence. Mr.. A. G.
Temple. the director of the Guildhall Art Gal
lery. is a benefactor whom American travellers
ought 70 hold in high esteem. for he enables
them to year after year the choicest works
from the private collections. I regret to say
that two pictures which he was most anxious
obtain from America withheld al
though he procured without difficulty Lady But
ler's "Quatre-B Bras from the National Gallery
Of Victoria and Sir z. ]. Poynter's Queen Of
sheba's Visit 10 King Solomon" from the Ma
tional Gallery of New South Wales. I cannot
regard If otherwise than as ungracious for the
owners Of art treasures in the United States 10
reject the requests of the Corporation Of Lon
don for the temporary exhibition of works by
British artists at the Guildhall, where immense
throngs OF American visitors are favored year
after year with the privilege Of seeing the best
English art without cost.
The most important work now at the Guildhall
is Mr. WhtstIer's famous portrait Of Thomas
CARLYLE which is lent by the Corporation Of
Glasgow. In IT a great painter triUmphs over
accessories so commonplace and inartistc as an
ill-itttng coat, shabby trousers and a souch
hat. for the ven arable sage, with his gray hair
and sad. pathetic face, Is transfigured into
philosopher and seer in his humble surround
ings It is the of the old masters that i'm
parts distinction and character even TO the
shabby old clothes and leaves upon them the
impress Of artistic quality. It is fortunate that
a splendid example Of Mr. Sargents technique
is close at hand for comparison with this mas
terTiece of portraiture. I do not consider the
portrait of Miss Astor one Of Mr.. Sargents
greatest works With all the bold brushwork
and amazing painting Of costume. it lacks the
spontaneity and intense vitality bf his best art;
but the technique is marvellous. Mr.. Shan
mons portrait Of his daughter as Magnolia" IS
one Of his most charming works. There are no
English portraits in the gallery which can be
compared with these three American works
certainly neither Mr.. Herkomer's White Lady
nor Mr.. Fidess portrait Of his wife, nor Mr..
Collyer's "Rudyard Kipling." nor Mr.. Ouless's
Lord Roberts''-but the Scotch school has sew
eraI strong works notably Mr.. Lavery's portrait
OF Lady Young. and Mr.. Guthries Miss Wilson"
The Scotchrnen know how paint, although
the martinets of Burlington House are slow in
discovering their talent.
After Mr. Whsters portrait Of Carlyle, I
would describe Mr. Holman Hunts THE
Shadow of Death" from the Corporation Cal
lery Of Manchester, the most important work
OF the collection. There is dramatic power.
creative impulse and intense realism in this
work. despite the defective composition and
mannerisms and the medieval effects Of missal
ample Of the Pre-Raphaelite movement in Mr..
Windus's TOO Late with its touch of realistic
romance It reveals heartbroken woman in
the last stages of consumption meeting unex-
pectedly the Indifferent lover who has Tilted,
neglected and weIlnigh killed her. Mr.. Watts
is inadequately represented by Cupid Asleep
but Mr.. BIrton Riviere is at his best in Dan