New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-02
FRENCH TORIES.
Coroings and EngrGUings Seen at
the Musee Gaillera.
Paris. August 2e.

Paris August 20.
tn. oollection OF French worries now on ex-
hfbstion IN Paris in the beautiful little Museum
OF Applied Art known as the Musee Gamers
IA as interesting as II is instructive. All ancient
work has been rightly and vigorously excluded
and with the exception OF a few pieces oatlils
from the period nearest CIR own, looV-Ao'"'
which form an excellent standard OF comparison
40 tbe proeress made in the art all the exhibits
are the work OF artists OF the day Selected
u,th great skin. the well arranged cases Of speci-
80 chow Al a glance what is being done in
each DEPARTMENT.
Considered as a medium for sculpture. II is a
question whether ivory IS suitable for large hg-
sires It's polished and somewhat soapy surface
loses dehniteness and becomes monotonous IN
less thrown into relief by some other material
CHANGING around at the larger works In THIS
exhibition, Il would appear that French a'tists
are OF this opinion and have preferred 10 cofh-
bine II with some contrasting material DaIhpI
has chosen wood for his complementary ma
se-tal ana with the happiest results. Using the
ivory only for the nude parts OF his figures. the
face. neck. hands. ETC. the costume and head
aress NJ snvo are OF wood. Theodore Riv1ere,
,,-ase-rsr- more subtle effects Of Color has taken
s1ebas+er ONYX bronze or silver gilt taking care
ALWAYS that his secondary material shall tone
ms tremendously with the ivory when uine mas
rreIlov,ed its tints as il does at present. Inc
work OF both these artists shows the lnnrl1eis
superior effects TO be gained when the master
does not disdain 70 carve the ivory himself IN
Ger the Second Empire the artists contehteo
themselves with modelling in the clay ana inc
work OF reproducing their designs IN me ivory
was left 30 the worlzmen. II follows that these
r,eoes by Danpt and Riviere are veritable WORKS
- CT each bearing the stamp OF a master hand.
-vs-l,e used alone
4, ,a-re pieces IN small figures 81 lends itself ad-
,,,-sflv 70 delicacy OF workmanship and high
e,,sb The little Phry-ne Of Scaillet Is an eK-
,,,,~,.e exary7ule OF the masters art ana among
,ha ob,ac.s Of religion some beautiful modelling
a. shown A DYING Christ, which, as the cata-
,os-,e indicates was saved from a fire, though
not until the crown Of thorns was partially ana
fhe arms entirely burned of, has acquired
new beauty IN the ordeal. for the trunk ana
hea6 are richly tinted TO variety OF tones OF
burned lumber In a different style snah
sr5ptych representing panorama OF Lourdes Is
a marvel OF fine and intricate carving as also
are the four plaques by Nedelle, in which the
s13etrothal OF the Tsar." the Marriage or Louis
XIV" tafter the picture by Lebrun), The Entry
OF Charles V Into Antwerp" and an Alteration
OF the Virgin" are shown in bass-reiief-
An interesting exhibit comes from the work
French artists, shows the influence Of Oriental
taste. Bearing the date OF 1859, five plaques by
Crailon Cpere). OF the Dieppe school, show
eroups OF peasants in high relief. but none Of
the exhibits Of this school are equal in beauty Of
design 10 those Of the other centres; and in
these plaques though the workmanship is eX-
ceedingly good and the ivory beautifully toned.
there is a lack OF imagination and Of idealiza-
tion which render them Disappointing.
An extremely delicate example Of engraving
or ivory is sent by Leborgne and represents
well known picture hy Boucher
In the department Of applied art there are
some exqusitely tinted examples OF French
taste and skill in which the ivory is combined
with pearls and other precious stones. one or
narnent Of exceedingly original design and beau
tiful execution consists Of two fuchsia blooms
81 fading tints the reddish purple Of the corolla
dying into p dull almost brown. tint: the calyx
and long starnens are Of creamy ivory with
family ereenish markings. and the whole has
gracefully twisted stem set with brilliants. In
another piece designed for a hair ornament, the
field flower known mill foil is exactly repro
duoed in greenish ivory. the clustering white
howerets being in glistening blister pearls. Both
these pieces have a striking beauty OF their own
and are fun Of character and originality.
The works OF the schools OF Italo-Byzantine,
Carlovingian Flemish and Spanish ivories. OF
which such excellent specimens may be seen in
the Libby Castle collection Of Mr.. and Mrs. Jules
Enrich. recently described in The Tribune. have
been purposely excluded from the Galliera MI
scum exhibition. and the judgment of Partisan
art critics is that contemporary sculptors, who
have devoted themselves TO carving and mod
cling IN ivory, such as Gerome. Riviere and
Dampt- and their combinations in wood, gold
and enamel with the creamy tusks OF the ee-
plant. have brought the art nearer 10 perfec-
tion than was ever attained by the ancient
sculpfors Q T. p.