New-York tribune., 1904-10-26

New York Public Library. 1Gr. +. weiterkar1pf.
informs Us that the late Robert Biun's exec
utOrs. Mrs. Henrietta HaIler and 9Ir. ". J..
Baer have presented a coYaplate collection OF
his etohlngs TO the department. This is good
news, Tor Blum was one Of the cleverest etct-
ers OF his day. lie was, in this field Of activity.
more or less disciple OF Forruny and in some
OF mis- plates worked Sn the very spirit Of the
brilliant Spanfsrd; but he had a wonderfully
sklIrul hand, he could do almost anything with
the needle that he wanted To do, and there are
plates of his ia which individuality is no less
clearly visible than manual dexterity.
Tbs, American wood engraver has pretty
nearly lost his occupation, but he is not alto
gether inactive. In THE Century Ar Timothy
Cole continues to print his blocks from the old
masters. and from time to time 1Ir. Henry Wolf
reproduces a painting for the pages OF ''Har-
per's." Also Mr., Gustav Krueu busles himself
come rain shine. as he has 50 fruitfuIly busied
himself for many years. in the production OF his
toric portraits the qualities OF which seem due
quite as much to him to the painters on whose
canvases he bases his engravings- Impressions
OF two blocks which he has reeentlv cut lie be-
fore Us write. One is OF a contemporary
portrait OF Rousseau the other is of Inman's
portrait Of Chief Justice Marshall. The former
IS perhaps the more painterlike work OF the two
The picturesque costume of the subject is treated
VITA oehghtul breadth and color, The Mar
shali is more striking for it's bold modelling and
its rich tonaIity. In each engraving Mr. Kruell
uses that intellectual grasp which has counted
Tor so much in the success OF his portraits meet
ing half way the painter OF his original and
collaborating with him. as il were. in an ex-
position Of character The portraits are full Of
vitality. In the details of technique In the SEN
sitiVe analysis OF form and in the detachment
Of head from its background Mr. KrueIl is his
familiar self in these latest products OF his art
as strong as he is delicate.
MF. S. Acknowledgements has sent US another
OF his Eaezzetints printed in colog In this plate
he reproduces Sympathy one OF those paint
ings IN which Greuze was wont TO portray
pretty, girIish model in a pensive attitude. with
embIems of innocence about her. The figure IN
Sympathy is a graceful type clad in a grayish
white dress with blue wrap flung about her
shoulders Her head Is tilted TO one side, her
lips are half parted. and there is an expression
Of pure sentiment in her large blue eyes. A pink
ribbon lies across her dark. ripping hair. In the
child's lap there is basket of eggs; she rests
one elbow on a kind Of crate in which duck
is family to be discerned. and in her hand she
holds pair Of doves The subject is graceful
and it is treated, OF course. with that sweet
suavity OF which CEeuze possessed the secret
He was,' perhaps. too sweet. In pictures like
This he carried sentiment TO excess But there
is no denying that he made a composition very
decorative and charming. Mr.. ent-EdwardS
reproduceS 1t IN the present instance WIN sym
pathy and a firm touch. AS a mezzotiRt en-
graver ne gains every year in address and quail
ity. The contours In this plate are admiralty
modelled. There is a lightness OF handling IN the
draperies which alone serves to show how Tar
the eugraver has advanced since he began 10
put forth plates Of this character and his tone
is TOW purer and richer than 1t ever was, save
in the Madonna" after BOtticelli which he
published a year two ago. We have received
from aim. by the way. an impression Of that
plate taken after the DETACHMENT always in
dicted when the edition fixed upon has been
printed The practice has something TO commend
it. no doubt, but this Madonna was so weii ex-
ecuted that we are sorry TO see the usefulness OF
the plate ended.