New-York tribune., 1901-04-28
PARIS.
NOTABLE PICTURES BY FRENCH AND
AMERICAN ARTIsTS-GEROME'S
WASHINGTON

Copyright: 1901: By The New-York Tribune)
IBT CABLE THE TRIBUNE.l
Paris. April 27.-The Salon of French Artists.
or the Old Salon, commonly called that Of the
Champs Elysees. which will be opened by Presi-
dent Loubet on Monday, occupies the entire
Grand Palace OF Fine Arts, with the exception
OF dozen rooms set apart for the pictures Of
the New Salon, described last week The Salon
OF French Artists contains 2.092 oil paintings
BOO pastels and water colors. and 667 works of
sculpture. One thousand five hundred and
forty-eight artists exhibit oil paintings OF
these 101 are Americans. twenty-three of them
women. Five hundred and seventeen artists
exhibit pastels water colors twenty-nine of
whom are Americans eighteen of them women
The number Of Americans admitted to the Salon
this year is twice great as that of all other
foreigners and their work. according to the
opinion expressed 10 me by Jules Lefebvre, Ben
5amin-Constant, Robert Fleury and Gabriel
Ferrier, shows higher average of excellence
than has been attained hitherto. Indeed the
only faults that the most severe of all Partisan
critics Theobault Sisson. art editor of the
Temps" can detect in the works of American
painters exhibited at the present Salon of
French Artists is that they are too easily salts
fed with brilliant surface qualities; that they
are prone 10 initiate the mannersrns OF French
masters. and that in certain instances they lack
thoroughness and sincerity. But it is only
fair TO point out that these reproaches would
apply with greater force to any group of two
hundred French artists taken at random from
the two thousand painters whose names figure
in the catalogue.
1t is particularly gratifying TO find that the
quality Of pictures in the Old Salon shows an
advance quite marked as that noted last
Sunday in regard to its neighbor, the Salon of
the National Society. The canvases that come
under the head of Salon horrors can be counted
on ones fingers. There is a sangunary combat
between an elephant and three tigers: there is
a young girl about to be devoured by a lion:
but morbid pictures, together with aggressively
vulgar nudes and decorative cocktails, are few
and far between The choice of subjects is more
wholesome and pure than in former years. Evil
dence abounds of earnest work and high ideals
worthily sustained. Academic thoroughness has
never been more happily exemplified than in
Joseph Balls large mellow toned canvas lie
Repas des Servantes.'' Three maid servants
wearing white caps and white gowns are seated
at a table spread with white CLOTH bearing
the monday meal The sunlight streams in
from large window; the reflections of light on
the oecanters of amber wine, the wine glasses
the china, the brass pot and the floor surpass
anything this artist has yet accomplished in a
Speciality wherein he excels. 1t will surprise
one should this picture win the medal of honor
of the year There is a marvellous delicacy and
refinement in Benjamin-Constant's portrait of
Leo XIII. which is radiant with intelligent
benevolence Less pleasing is the same artists
portrait Of Queen Alexandra, in pale yellows and
mauves, with nine rows of pearls around her
neck Bonnat, who has painted official por-
traits Of all Presidents of the French Republic
since Theirs. exhibits a strong, truthful like
ness OF President Loubet seated in a simple
wooden chair, his arms folded, his head slight
ly thrown forward. In the features are de-
picted the Presidents keen observation, kindli-
ness. and, above all. his sound common sense
No portrait in either Salon has more solidity
or distinction than that Of lady in pale chrysan-
themum yellow evening dress and white lined