New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20

"is not as good sculpture Tuckerman would
have US believe" but he Is at pains to add that
'it is not as bad as some others have hastily
pronounced IT." and he goes to talk of this
once celebrated statue in this vein: at is a
sculptural conception, however. timidly ex-
pressed. The artist had a glimpse, that time if
never again. of something fine and poetic, If
his work was not warmed by the glow of in
spiration IT avoided the other hand the tur-
gid bombast, the exaggerated emotion of much
modern italian and French art The serenity
and 'repose' of the old school sculptors were
not merely negative virtues" In this rational
manner does MIR. Taft proceed throughout he
tells the truth about such sculptors as Green
ough, Powers, Crawford, Rinehart, Harriet
Hosmer, and SO on, basing 1t on critical and
sympathetic examination OF the works he de-
scribes; he is severe but he is fair. He has.
moreover a keen sense of distinctions, he sees
where certain of the sculptors Of what he calls
the middle period, Palmer and Ball, limited
promise of better things Carrying his record
on he gives a very just chapter on the ad-
rnirable work OF J. @ A Ward. and then pro-
ceeds to deal with the newer influences. He
writes with ardor, but with Judgment, of MI
ST Gaudens and Mr. French. and gives very
discriminating account Of their contemporaries.
including practically every sculptor. having any
gifts al all who Is at work to-day. He uses
light touch. and Is genuinely interesting The
book is exhaustive, IL Is appreciatiVe. and from
beginning to end Ii has the sobriety betting
a formal history. Nothing SO adequately and
comprehensively covering the field has been pub
hshed before II Is. OF course, laVishly illus
trated a remarkably representative collection or
photographs having been made for the purpose
II may be noted that this is the first volume In
a series, edited by Professor Van Dyke, which Is
to embrace ell the branches Of American art
Mr. Louis c. Elson is writing a history of Ameri-
can music: MIR. Samuel Isham Is preparing
volume on American painting. and Mr. Joseph
Pennel has one under way on American etching,
engraving and Illustration
Mr. Cafin's American Masters of Sculpture"
does not pretend to rival Mr.. Taffs thorough
going volume II Is a collection OF Impressions
of ST Gaudens. Ward. French George Gray
Barnard MacMonnies Bartlett Warner and a
few others In these Mr. Cafiin shows accuracy
in Interpretation and shrewdness In criticism,
but he does injustice to himself in enveIopns his
observations In too fervid style With greater
simplicity he would make his lively and readable
essays more effective The tinted illustrations
are particularly good half tones from photo
graphs.
In closing this rapid survey Of the latest art
books of the must mention the new
edition of MI Longfellow's "CyClopedia OF
Works of Architecture In Italy, Greece and the
Levant" II differs from the first edition of
1895 In that II Is smaller volume and
contains only OF the photographers orig
inally used among the Illustrations but the text
is the same al OF the fine half tones are retained
and in its stout buckram binding this edition is
really better calculated for everyday use than
its predecessor-beside being cheaper. Il Ia a
valuable work OF reference. and 1t is cordially
welcome in it's new form.