New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-27
ART EXHIBITIONS.
THE z. O. MATTHIEssEN COLLECTION.

r. u.
A collection Of I45 pictures. formed by the late
z n Matthiessen, has been placed on exhibition at
,ba American Art Galleries where II may be seen
untu Us dispersal at auction the evenings of
,nrn ! and at Mendelssohn Hail. Names old
ona modern famous and obscure, figure in the
dialogue: to some OF them full justice is done
the walls, and TO others considerably less than
.,stice There are about a dozen old paintings.
sboVn mostly the threshold of the exhibition.
They leave at the first glance, tolerably favora-
HE impression. In a few cases this impression en-
dures after closer scrutiny. though even the best
This section OF the collection is far from illustrating
che great qualities which some Of the names in II
would lead to expect. Thus the Portrait of An
Ola Man" attributed to Rembrandt is an interest
,ng piece OF painting. powerfully executed and with
some attractive passages in the handling Of the
aee and hair Yet IN the fat color in the heavy
mpasto there is a certain coarseness. and nowhere
,n the painting do find the essential quality of
cha master nowhere his subtly rich and beautiful
,one The Portrait Of 2 Gentleman by Rubens,
has the same ambiguity. the face showing
Characteristic modelling. with indeed some almost
brilliant touches. but the OF the portrait sug-
resting rather the hand of a pupil Again, the large
holy Family" by Rubens procaims his power of
design and has passages in the treatment of the
forms and draperes in which we recognize the
holiness and hudity Of his style: but in color this
fails 10 suggest the Rubens of the great master
pieces n Antwerp and Paris not once do
counter here his brilliant, glowing note The
Mary Magdalen at Prayer" by Murillo. is a piece
OF nerveless commonplace, poor in color and quite
without the luminosity which often does so much
70 save OF the Spanish painters potboilers
from being quite uninteresting
The painting in this group which eNcites pc
cular expectations. by virtue Of the mighty
attached 70 IT, Is the Portrait Of Antonio Grimani.
Doge Of Venice given to Titan If one puts
aside the question Of authorship. expectation is
not altogether disappointed. 1t is a beguilng Illus
tration OF Venetian art. While the turgfd handling
NJ the table cover IN the foreground and the dull
psintng Of the sitters robe distract the eye, the
face is distinctly well done in the smooth and
painfully searching manner which practlsed
by dozen painters Of the time. The bony struct-
IRE is closely and effectively modelled; knowledge
and skill, may be sure. went the produc-
ton this portrait But where is Titian's genius?
Where is his firm, flexible handling of the flesh
tu;s that belong TO old age? Where is the sub
dued warmth and where the fine tone? Coarse IN
Grain and Curiously lfeless the flesh painting here
would do, no doubt for some minor master of his
day but not for Titan himself The Landscape
sith Cows and Ruins given TO Cuyp, has good
background, but is too hard and garish in its con-
trssts OF light and shade and too commonplace in
color for the master The old Woman Chopping
Onions" ascribed TO Gerard Dou, is excellent
piece Of Dutch candlelight painting. though
strangely deficient in the unctuous color which It
should possess: the View OF the Square of St
Marks Is an engaging II not DrllIlaIlt example
Of Guard and the Portrait Of the Rev. B. t
Norgate" by Lawrence. is capital performance
the sole work among the older things here which
can be enjoyed without reservation.
The modern wing Of the exhibition includes. amid
great deal that is Of small artistic value, a
Der OF hne paintings. The Castle and Forest.
Lombardy." Of Corot. though without the unity Of
tone that IS Characteristic Of his best pieces, is
delightful souvenir Of his earlier and excessively
analytical manner, and the other painting by him.
Ave OF Trees" IS altogether exquisite work.
quislta in composition and in color and full OF
20 charm OF his style. Both the Rousseaus are
autiful; there IS glorious color in the Sunset
tIter Rain" and there is the fascination Of a po-
etcally picturesque theme treated with keen fed
ing and with much Individuality in lie Puy."
perhaps the felicitous picture that has ever
beer painted OF Of the most romantic prospects
in the world TryoH is well represented by two
cattle pieces the larger OF which shows him IN the
background at least In his best landscape mood;
there admirable specimens Of Daubigny De-
camps and Dupre, and the 'Fontainebleau Forest
If Dlaz IS thoroughly typical of that painter We
Wish that the suaYe nude study by Diaz We're
good. whole II Is in some Of the flesh
tnts- There IS only one specimen OF Millet The
Nasherwomar." but that IS a superb drawing. BY
Meissonier there is highly finished panel The
Philosopher" which exhibits in its best estate his
technical dexterity, though there Is perhaps. more
Of purely artistic quality his tiny sketch of
peasant carrying a basket his arm Papa
Pierre In these lighter. more popular pictures.
indeed the collection is rich. We may mention a
least half q dozen works Of the sort. none OF them
great. but all OF them artistic and agreeable There
Is the captivating Italian Girl of Bonnat; there is
the Study Of Female Figure" by Cabanel, a
charming fragment Of academic art; there is the
lovely bit Of color and picturesqueness by the Ita
ian painter Favretto. Trimming the Vines there
are the paintings by Martin Rico, Vibert. Casanova.
De Melville. Lessi. Madrazo and divers others in
which there may He no inspiration. but in which
there are technical and decorative qualities not
TO be disdained. Here and there too. we come
across some such uuimportant but individual and
serious paintings the delicate river by Lee
pine, the sketch OF the Pope by Lenbach, the "Ho-
land Landscapes by Mauve, and the spirited ma
rine. On the Coast OF Egypt" by Mr.. Ruger Don
Ohio. In short. the Matthiessen collection contains
considerable body OF interesting work. We may
add that Il is cOmmemorated In edition de luxe
OF the catalogue. which contains admirable repro
auctions Of number Of the paintings