New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-13
LONDON NOTES.
The GassSot Bequest to the GuiIdhaH
--Vcfoy1an 14rt and Stories.

=, the course OF thirty or forty years he accu-
-ulated a large collection of pictures, and, not
saving children 10 inherit Them beuueathed
,ber to his wife. for use during her remaining
-esrs. and ultimately 10 the Gudhau Art Gal
isrv Mrs Gassiot decided to waive her rights
,d 10 present them at once to the CITY of
1ondon and the pictures are now on exhibition
., the central gallery. When art collections are
sold at Christie's daily and scattered among
dealers for redistribution in England and Ameri-
c. the preservation Of so large a number of
csnyases in the City is an event of exceptional
interest. It may prove source of embarrass-
rnent 10 the Corporation, whose art gallery is
now overstocked. and the construction of a.
larger and worthier building may be the sequel
TO this benefaction- The collection itself is fair
" representative of Academic British art dur
ing the Victorian reign Some of the work is
commonplace, but at least one-half of the 10
nafntings adequately reveal the resources of the
Academicians during protracted period. The
old fashioned English preference for story tell
ing pictures is strongly emphasized. but there
ere also landscapes and marines of excellent
quality.
There three Consta bles-a small landscape
In the upper gallery a coast scene near his
birthplace, in East Bergholt, and a large can
vas, "Fording the River, Showery Weather"
IN the place Of honor On the end wall. The last
a splendid example Of his simple, direct style
of reproducing quiet nature It is fanked by a
series Of carefully painted marines and land
scspes by Patrick Nasn1ith once known as the
Scotch Hobbema- On the left wall there are
two gIimpses of the Midway by W. J. Muller
the Bristol painter whose Nile pictures are or
dnariy considered his most characteristic
works One of these, "Gilingham" is a lovely
picture, with two red tiled roofs balancing each
oherO each side n a d1Kitn
ducks in the water, a group of children on the
hank and a village spire in the distance. Near
by is one of the elder John Linnell's realistic
pictures, The Timber Wagon" and on the op-
posite wall is better example of his art,
Changing Pictures" with view of Hamp-
stead Heath, mellow in tone. There are
seven works by that charming painter of land
scapes and rustic scenes, William Collins, 1.-The
Nutting Party and Sunday Morning being
conspicuous for vivacity There seven ma
rines by Clarkson Stanfeld, whose salt, ser
vioeable, unsentirnental sea- excited Ruskins
admiration The largest is "Old Holland" with
cloud painting as effective as the nurky sky
IN Constables great picture Of the river ford in
showeTy weather All his canvases disclose
this old time sailors practical knowledge of
ships and the sea, The Victory Being lowed
Into Gibraltar" being one of the most spirited
David Roberts's Venice and Edinburgh disclose
the nethodlcal, painstaking painting Of the
period; E. w Cookies ''Schieveling," with Dutch
craft is full of vigor. and j. C. Hooks tales
on canvas told with characteristic lucidty
and animation. One Of B. w Leaders pictures,
The Churchyard at Bettwys y Coed" reveals
the freshness and simplicity of his early style.
and there are good examples Of Sidney Coopers
cattle and Canterbury meadows.
Among the figure pictures and genre work
1s
most noticeable being "A Chat Round the
Brasiers,'' which is well painted and fairly pull
safes with animation There are two examples
OF the stern and precise work Of William Dyce
some Of whose pictures adorn the walls Of the
royal robng rooms of the houses of Parliament
One is characteristic religious work, George
Herbert at Bemerton," with serenity in the face
Of the sweet singer among the trees and the
village spire in the background pointing
heavenWard; and the other portrays Henry VI
during the battle of Towton. The Irish genre
painter. W. E. Mulready, is represented made
ouately by a minor work. and there simple
stories in paint by Thomas Faed and other
artists who humored the Victorian preference
for art of this order. Sir Edwin Landseer is
represented by THE Travelled Monkey" little
work sparkling with hu1nor, and by THE First
Leap" with a Highland pony. Sir John Mil
lais's transition period from Pre-Raphaelite in
huence is well illustrated by the familiar COM
ranion pieces, My First Sermon and MY Sec
ond Sermon" with the little girl in dull scarlet
and purple, with red leggings, listening demure-
ly. but suspiclously, in one instance, and SUM
bering TRANQUILITY on the second trial Every de-
tail is mastered with painstaking care. and the
color schemes are admirably ordered, the red
and purple being softened by tones Of dull green
in the background. Sir Lawrence Alma-Tad-
enas sense Of beauty in marble surfaces, flow
and draperies is revealed in Pleading, and
his stronger style in THE Pyrrhic Dance" with
tie muscular figures of dancers with spears and
Shields and the contrasted faces and costumes
OF the group Of spectators. Marcus stones
story Of the retreat from Waterloo to Paris, with
Napoleon bending in detection before the cot
tage hearth while a group of peasants. headed
by boy with a drum. look on with curiosity
and awe, is told in the Victorian manner; George
H Boughton is represented by Returning from
Church. with antique costumes in red ana
green, and gray walls covered with snow; and
Briton Riviere, Frederick Goodall, w P. Firth
and other painters, have minor works MI.
Temple has arranged the pictures with remark
able Skill but the collection will be seen TO
greater advantage when the works are not clut-
tered in q single room
The Hayrnarket is IN many respects the best
ordered and most delightful theatre in London.
and a new play its stage is always an IN
tsresttng event, for Frederick Harrison is
manager endowed with sound judgment ano
coed taste. His associate. Cyril Maude, is also
versatile actor, with trained talent for &c
centric character, and the new plays produced
there are ordinarily designed with special REFER
ence to his requirements Captain Marshall mas
Provided for him an excellent part in The IN
toreseen." and the result is a delightful I'M
personation Of a lovable and quantity huInor-
Gus vica-. whose inflrnity of blindness is coun-