New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-27
FRESH FRENCH ART.
What May BE Seen at the Salon Of
the National Society of Fine Arts.
Paris. April Il.

TIC A0NOhu OOttttY " TIC ~A'"
Paris. April Il.
The champ de Mars salon. officially styled
that OF The National Society Of Fine Arts.
founded in 1870 by Zee. independent painters
and sculptors under the lead Of Puvis de
Chavannes. Roll. Besnard Carolus-Duran. Dag
nan-Bouveret and Rodin-an fred with the idea
q infusing new blood and originality mo
French art. which in their opinion had been
chilled and withered by the scholastic traditions
d Bouguereau and Jules Lefebvre-is each year
becoming more academic. Most of the painters
no longer strive 70 guide the popular taste. but
era con+e.,t 10 follow the public TO point Verg-
sns upon serz-e fattery- il is pure fiction that
separates Tie two salons. that Of the Nationai
Society az Fine Arts. now open, and that o. the
Society Of French Painters. which viii be opened
a fortnight hence.
The National Society. owing TO its custom OF
grouping together the works Of each painter
and also because there are only 244b NUMBERS
IN the catalogue. instead Of over 5oo as IN the
Society OF French Painters. always main
tains individuality and distinction. This year
The average standard Of merit is considered by
The French critics 20 he higher than usual OF
he twenty odd rooms ,here IS not one that does
not maintain the prestige Of some Interesting
painter.
The work that attracted The greatest throng
n, FINISHING day' Is the ceiling FOR the The
atra Fraucois. painted 10y Albert Besnard- the
sr.fer has taken his inspiration from the Meta
1rorphoses" 81 ovid. Apollo, the sun Coo
pulls up from their frantic gallop the four
horses attacheG 10 has car. The animals rear
ard plunge Around Apollo are the twenty -four
hours grouped in semi-circles. Hours Of night
pronitious for repose: EoCrs u Iootherly love as
well rs II passionate embrace: hours Of dream
o. sombre crime. Of anguish. or Of prayer Hours
Of 1av. bright. clear. luminous with sunshine
melting humanity - work 10 mental or 10
physical activity. Tnesa superb and varied
hours stand proudly on The cres;s OF heavy
clouds dominated by PhPbus Then come the
Nine Muses.. proceeding 10 honor the statues Of
the four French poets. corneiiie Racine
AIoIiGre and Victor Hugo Only third OF this
theme is given in The present picture The rest
Of TIE ceiling win probably Zoe exhibited in the
salon next year. The artist. Notwithstanding
the immense space m his disposal has avoided
q multiplicity of figures. Rolling masses Of sun
in clouds gracefully join together the various
motives The portion % the ceiling just above
the stage reveals man. a woman and serpent
apparently engaged in eager conversation. A
figure an their left listens with an expression OF
irony and skepticism. To the right is draped
female figure. gazing at the trio with an air Of
tender love and pathos The painters intention
is 10 convey The idea II the human comedy as
reflected by hstrionic art This conception is
executed with Besnard's strength and supple
ness in outline. and IN a most brilliant. almost
dazzling color scheme. II IS impossible 10 i'm
seine more intense yeloNs or more radiant
whites II is difficult 10 judge a ceiling, in
tended only to be viewed by the most powerful
electric lamps when the work IS placed on
wall OF a salon in broad daylight The effect
is. nevertheless, most striking. and the spec
tators seemed TO be hypnotized by the chromatic
s1aIes Of This daring colorist
s-frei Roll in his large mural decoration for
III gotol De Vile, entitled, Les Joies de la
Viz" gives the counterpart Of his decorative
wall rauel already placed ia the same building,
which represents the joys OF life in the forms of
literature. music and domestic happiness. The
counterpart shows Us human satisfaction at The
triumphs of architecture. engineering and
sculpture. il is sesthetc evolution, painted with
bold Zola-IIke realism. Albert Dagnaux, in mis-
decorative panel for the Fentlon High School.
presents mirthful procession OF children romp-
ing in April sunshine in meadow carpeted with
fresh greensWard, frightened with daisies ana
prlnroses. Rows Of fruit trees and hawthornes
81 full blossom harmonic with Tie ohildren's
bright, hopeful faces. DagnauN exhibits also sev-
eral smaller pictures of decorative panels, The
Bath and 1.-THE Dance % nymphs. and The
Aioo- "a liittlt, VOGUE D cross Ia Brittany with
q background ~ sea and sky.
Prominent among the decorative panels Of the
Salon is the "Parca Domino" painted twenty
years ago by Wilette for the once famous
cabaret lie CHAT Noir, and which was refused
al the salon Of 1Ss5. The work was sold by
Wiette TO Rodolph Sails for go francs. when
the pictures Of The old Chat Noir were sold bv
auction, il was bought by NJ. Belin. the pub
fisher, FOR 1890 francs In accordance with fha.
vote Of the purchasing committee of the present
Salon, u. DuJardn Beaumetz Under Secretary
Of Fine Arts, offered 10 buy the picture for lie
Luxembourg Gallery. d. Belin said ne valued
the work at 5000 francs. but would sell il 10
the state Tor 25oh- francs Negotiations there
upon ceased. The panel which is the master
piece Of Willeiie. has the delicate grace Of Z,
FraSonard, with modern MOntmartre motif and
treatment. The scene is in the sky high above
the chimneys and Windmls Of the Moulin De Ia
GAZETTE. long OF ballet girls brightens The
deep blue night sky. Beneath is q saraband Of
professional beauties, coquettes, shop girls I'm
every imaginable attire and decolIetage; scores
OF perrots frenzied and intoxicated by cham
payne, and by frantic orgies. rush through
space toward some mysterious abyss. IN the
midst OF this weird phantasma goria OF Mont
martroise revelTy is a huge omnibus drawn by
three superb white PercherOn stations The sal