New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-01
LONDON NOTES.
The Chantrey Trust-Iimon at
the Court-A Cheaper "T'imes."

,,d not have been a renewal of the contro-
,-srsv over the mismanagement of a national
.-,,st /. has followed the bad traditions Of Bur-
iington House and purchased three minor works,
which cannot be regarded as worthy OF pres
.-rot,on n the Tate Gallery. The best is Mr..
,S.njer Hemy's London River; but ii is dis
,,nct,v inferior to a canvas from the same hand
mich Is already on exhibition there. This is
.pflchards." vivid and picturesque fishing
.cene with a crew hauling IN a net swollen with
och The veteran water painter had been grind
eng his colors and toiling over his sketch book
Tor many years when he produced that master
,tece Of sea ife but ii marked so distinct an adj
vanoe upon his art that II won for him inlmedi-
CITE recoenition as the best marine painter in
England The purchase of ''Pilchards' was
justified by the terms of the Chantrey bequest,
and the council displayed sound judgment in the
selection. London River is also good pict-
are but it is less dramatic in its realism and
less representative than the earlier work in
oualitv and tone A second Henry was not
needed among the treasures of national art
when superior one had already been secured.
The purchase of Mr. Wardle's Fate" and Mr..
Peeram's "Sibyla Fatidca" an equally
capricious performance. The picture and the
statue each had talent Of conventional kind;
hut neither painter nor sculptor had produced
thoroughly artistic work which deserved TO be
singled out for the distinction of being placed in
a national collection. The council may have
selected three fair examples OF current art from
the walls Of Burlington House, but its obliga-
lions under The Chantrey Request required it TO
look outside as well within the Academy in
IT'S administration Of a national trust.
The subject is TO be brought up in Parliament
nv a member with the felicitous name Of Mr..
Puu He will not attack the Academicans for
making use Of the Chantrey bequest as though
A. were an accommodation or charity fund for
the benefit Of exhibitors in Burlington House.
He will call attention TO the present administra-
zion Of the Tate Gallery by the trustees Of the
National Gallery ana TO the character OF the
works which have been added to II year after
year by purchase from the Chantrey fund. He
will move a reduction in the National Gallery
vote and also suggest separate and independent
management OF the Tate Gallery. These motions
are not likely 10 be adopted, but there will be a
practical method Of discussing the present ad-
rninistration Of an important trust. Those re-
sponsible for accepting the works purchased at
Burlington House will be put their defence
and required TO show cause for their neglect to
reserve a national gallery for the best art II
the subject comes up in the House Of Lords also
il will be interesting TO observe what men of en-
lightened judgment and sound taste in art such
as Lord Windsor and LORD Wemyss. have TO say
respecting the Chantrey purchases The AGA
demicans will naturally put up some one In each
house TO make a special defence OF their action
although they are not directly attacked, and art
lovers will be curious TO learn what they have TO
say in explaining their attempts to carry out the
testators intentions in providing the nation with
the best art Of the time
Sir Joshua Reynolds's lectures on art before
the Academy schools have remained one OF the
best literary traditions Of British art MI.
Cqausenis lectures delivered during the last WIN
ter were welcomed by the students as helpful
and inrigorating, and the hall was crowded
whenever he explained the art Of painting. he
was not a phrasemaker. and he was neither
dogmatic nor narrow; and he created genuine
enthusiasm for art. The lectures have been
collected in a book. and form one Of the best
treatises on art While the views on drawing
ana design, lighting and arrangement. color and
emotion and the comparative merits Of Titan.
Rembrandt and Velasquez are controversial,
the authors sincerity comprehensive sympathy
for what is highest in art and lack Of partisan
bias are revealed IN every chapter. The stu
dents who heard these lectures were encouraged
to become apprentices OF the masters at the
National Gallery, and were warned not TO at
tach themselves too closely TO any style or
pointing, but to broaden their training by pains
taking study Of the best qualities Of all schools.
Possibly there was not much that was new in
his lectures. and certainly there was not a lit
lie for experts to qUibble over on technical
grounds; but he contrIved to set before art
workers high ideals and to develop in them a
tolerant spirit. The book does not contain art
criticism Of scientific order but it is free from
sfectation and stimulates thought. The best
guide for the National Gallery is portrait
rcfw#
Chase, or landscape painter with a mind open
TO every great effect in art. who can go from
room to room and find something to excite his
enthusiasm in every great example of art. Mr..
Clausen performs this function for readers as
We'll as students and gives them a new idea Of
me dignity OF high art.
Few. IL any. Of the spectators at the Court
Theatre this week have ever seen ''Timon Of
Atnens" on any stage; and probably there is
mol one Of them who ever wishes to repeat the
experience. While Mr. Benson. with his ambi-
uon Tor producing everything associated with
SHaKespeares name. has revived 1t within ten
years at one Of the stratford festivals. it has
nor been presented in London since 1856 when
'Heips followed the example OF Betterton. Barry
HHu LoInund Ke2n and staged il for a success
iui run Phelps must have been a great actor
~ AAuact audiences for forty nights for so
I'-ishenoly piece; and without doubt he en-
7ieeu the text Of the folio and introduced a
sOoo many scenic and costume effects. Mr.. ].
!. Leigh who has now revived the play, takes
.A', oensons arrangement OF three acts, one
Ne "lth Timon's banquet for his hatterers
Aalse friends. another with the barInecide
AFTER financial ruin. and the third with
- -. march OF Alci5iades TO Rome and the man
- Death. This is Rn effective order for
- purpose OF emphasizing the contrasts in the
Hlalla-almost the nrlu nnnrricrnna EhnLe-