New-York tribune., 1903-02-04
-4RT EXHIBITIONS.
The David C. LyaN Collection Of
Wnderu Paintings.

very miscellaneous in character 1t embraces io'
works by modern painters. most of whom belong IL
the French school Some names in the ca'a-
lcgue justly famous. others have less serious
standing, but all represent certain comniero'a'
value. In fact the impression received as one soe'
slowly through the galleries is that of work IN
general on merely agreeable plane with mere an"
there flash OF genius Illuminating the broad area
of commonplace. Now and then Nj Lyaii appeais
to have varied the monotony of collecting "oihS
good of their kind but quite unexciting by pu'-
chasing first rate painting by master. II was
doubt wise TO distribute these few things IN tfe
different galleries which temporarily shei'ei
the collection but wish they could nave Deen
put in a group by themselves.
The commanding position in such group Woul"
naturally have fallen to the famous picture py
Millet known as La Naissance du Veau IL Is
one of the most interesting of rustic HE ne
painted. and the appealing TO student
of his for the reason that it illustrates
method slightly different from that familiar IN the
paintings by him in American collections Inc
composition is typical enough It shows two men
carrying a newborn calf litter to the 1arni'
with it's mother closely following, and woman
bringing up the of the little procession Inc
figures are the same as those which Miet treated
and again. simple types rendered WIN
simplicity and force. But If the sentiment Oh 'iie
painting. its human interest and tender reailsih
are TO be matched in a dozen other designs OF
his the handling is peculiar Black lines boldly
drawn. accentuate the forms and give to the "ho'e
painting a feeling Of rude strength ana OF per
sona gesture uncommonly impressive lhere 10
beautiful color in this work. and. above all tnefe
is great sincerity and distinction of style lts I'M
mediate neighbor upon this occasion is La FIN Gu
Travail one of Jules Breton's typical peasant
pictures and beside Millet's breadth and dignity
the pretty qualities of this artificial producton
shrive I'D till they seem almost eontemptihle Two
excellent pendants for la Nassance du Neau, IL
the group suggested above had been arranseu'
might have been provided In the charming httle
nude study by Miliet The Surprised Bather ana
his "Gardeuse des Vaches." a suave pastel oh
one side of the chief Miiet-though not TOO near
for the notes color in them to confict-the hle
illustration for 'Ivanhoe" by DelacrolX i hHIeNe
ment de Rebecca," would have made me effect
1t is more than illustration; 1t is none plece
of romantic art, dramatic in composition and win
a soubre splendor in its color. Another striking
canvas to be associated with these is the Ell
virons Of Ornans,' by Courbet. an example Oh INC
sturdy naturalist which is little OBSCURE mere
and there but which has some magnificent pas
sages of color in it, and is stamped everywhere win
his powerful individuality.
THE Cardinals Blessing" by Isabey' belongs IN
the same category with the pictures toucheu "p
in the foregoing remarks, by virtue OF It's ro-
mantle quality, and its effective splash OF Ieu'
right in the centre where tells In brilliant fash-
ion. Basten-Lepage ordinarily might De eApeu'eu
to rank somewhere near the best men III coiie
ton like this one, but his "Rire d'Avr1l' land-
scape with figures. is of his colder proouclioi'.
and in execution generally wants the originality Oh
his best paintings The landscape masters %
1880 figure in the collection signincantiy enoush,
though not perhaps brilliantly as 90 Aiiie'
and Delacroix Their works would form rather
setting for the great paintings we have toucheo
upon than independent sources or lnspir rd'ioii.
Corot, for example, is indubitabiy the true coIo.
in lie Bouleau with its lucent air; In Inc foresl
Path" which is full of lovely shadows or "ohdet
full modulations Of tone; and In MS peariy pane
Near the Sea-; but not OF these rises anoVe
the level on which the painter may De stuoleu III
half a dozen OF the seasons exhlpluohs- Aa
bigny is In slightly better case One OF the iouf
pictures by him, Sunset on the RIVER 10 hs "
Isbtf,1Iv luminous in color IT is captivating IN
design and his large early Spring, thougn 700
arsenical In its green, possesses IN It's oose she'
character personal charm which is very appea pea
ing There are three good Rousseaus' one oi .ii'-,
the "pouehny' fresher in theme than usual ana
containing a beautiful sky; and by Dupre 'here
are four examples. each one OF Whlcn Is duiiii '
without being in any way remarkapie. Inc sii.e
landscape by Diaz has too many eiachs III H. ~.
the figure niece by him, Cupid Festival is not
oniv good in color, but is strong IN the accuio's
balance which is struck between the nsufes "il
the landscape, balance which Diaz dio not always
secure The Landscape by Michel Is interest
inc NOT eo much for its intrinsic qualities as TOT
its raw grays. marking departure from tie et
lists usual, and sometimes rather "eai iso.I. :,
browns Fromentin, in his souvenir OF Aiseiio'
is not only unhackneyed in theme. but more at
.c+ia , color and In tone than ne often is IN the
examples that find their way to the auction room.
One or two later landscape painters, Pelous anu
Iambnet mark in slghteI but artistic ana ihte'-
esting performances the transition from the more
DISTINGUISHED the superhclany oesuihhs eiuo
oT Mr. Ivalrs collection. He bought a great many
pictures which popular in subject ana oec-
orative il character, but of no very great aitiss
Quality. There is the celebrated "Springtime' OF
Cot that familiar picture of youth ana d llaio
seated in a swing in a sylvan environment Ihere
Is Bouguereau's Crossing the Stream siniueiiS
clever in a nerveless academic way, ana similarly
yapfd There is De Neuville's spirited military com
p TN l.
we'll known IN reproductions but with nothing III
,t that can dis2ense with aid of the reproduc-
tcns in fixing the work in the spectators mino
There is the handsome bit of color and of pictur-
esoueness "A Sorte," by Schreyer. There are
more things like these But of them rouse
the least enthusiasm. They are unimpeachape
IN their respectabiIity; they always certain TO
receive plenty OF attention when they are brought
beneath the auctioneer's hammer. but there IS no
denying that they leave the disnterested observer
cold. Though Gerome's polished picture or Eastern
life "A Strong Merchant. may fetch a hlgh
nrice it cannot move words of high eonlnen-
dation Only one of these academic pictures excites
something like hearty admiration Ihat is Ihe
Broken Pitcher by Bonnat which may be brittle
and even cheap in color but has in II the kind OF
,,ortrnansbin that is to be expected only from a
master Between the finest works in the coilec-
ton which noticed at the outset. and the empty
successes of the Salon, there lie a NUMBER or small
but often well painted and even charming pictures
like THE foudoir' of Boldini, capital specimen
of brilliant dexterity; the beautiful little Cattle
end Landscape" by Mauve; the tiny still LIE
bv VolIon, which is worth dozen pictures like
his large sleek "Moissonneuse, and a hanu1tl OF
water colors by Chaplin, Vibert and De Beaumont
The collection will be sold at Mendessohn Hall next
Tuesday evening II should be added that the
edition de luxe of the catalogue is exqnisitely
printed volume, with many good reproductions III
photogravure 1t is smaller than any of its prede-
cessors but this only makes it the more conven-
and he