New-York tribune., 1905-02-12
PARIS ART NOTES.
Exhibition of the "Cercle VoInev'-
To Be Seen at Other Galleries.
Paris .IaDa,arxr 81

zs the "Cercle Volney." comes each year as a
sort Of curtain raiser TO the great spring art
fairs and gives forecasts of the harvest OF the
veteran masters. well OF the trend of the
Efforts Of the younger men in search of new
maths and fresh departures. The indications
this year are disappointing. The catalogue COM
prises 25i numbers. Never before has the club
exhibited in such profusion. Portraits predomi
rste in size and in quantity. 1t is to the art
shows Of the 'Volney' and the ''Epatant" that
smart society women of Paris, New-York. Chi
cseo and London come to select the master to
whom. after consultation with admiring friends
snd relatives is TO be confded the task of paint
arg a portrait which must be at once beautiful
and decorative" 1t is the law of supply and
demand applied to portraiture. The result is
that one finds a brilliant gallery of dainty por-
traits with decorative features borrowed from
Csinsborough. or from Natter. or from REM
brandt and which certainly are delightful piet-
ures but wherein truthful resemblance of face
or earnest portrayal of character is insidiously
.eupered by gross hattery. Rich coloring
surntuous deneation Of the latest millinery
creations Of the Rue de Ia Paix. graceful con-
+ours and roseate flesh tones, all set forth upon
backgrounds of parks and gardens Of the old
English masters or enhanced by lapdogs or
NEUROLOGICAL stage tricks Of the French eigh-
teenth century painters, make attractive bait
which tickles the cosmopolitan palate and sell
dom fails to catch the passing fashionable fad
ana fancy. We have pretty pictures rather than
truthful portraits: but is this sincerity? Is this
art?
FRANCOIS Flameng has this year instituted
revival Of eighteenth century methods of
mythology in his radiant portrait of Nine
40 which is greatly admired by mundane
critics An exceedingly beautiful young woman
with blond hair and hazel eyes is seated in a
park She wears q moss-green gown, enhanced
nv = profusion Of large pearls. Upon the chaste
nudity of her dainty shoulder rests a large
culver full of feathered arrows. The artist
has thus travestied his subject in the garb of
a Diana after the once favorite formulee of
Natter and Of Vigee-Lebrun. The lady smiles
and as fair visitors assemble before this de-
ughtful canvas they exclaim: "Oh, how nice it
would be TO have a portrait modern. so up
to date and yet in the attire of a Diana, or of
an Aurore. or of a Naiad."
Ferdinand Humbert exhibits two portraits of
ladies in his most approved pose and with his
effective old English master background with
trees and clouds. Gabriel Ferrier sends two
eleborately finished portraits of ladies, embel-
lished by the charming sheen of silk and velvet
and by the distinction of rare fur. Paul Chabas
has double portrait of two young ladies, finely
drawn and delicately colored. but in composition
are other delicious portraits by Ernest Bordes,
Triquet Maignan, Weerts, Zwiller, Laparra,
Umbricht Lauth, Cesbron, Cayron, Alaux,
Benziger, Moreau. Neret, Saintpierre, Roger and
Renard. Emile Wauters, the Belgian Bonnat.
and Corrnon send robust and sombre portraits
OF men.
An exceedingly clever and humorous note is
struck by Jean Weber whose Automobile
Trip" holds its own with the happiest fancies OF
DsuFnier or Of Hogarth. The picture presents
en episode Of an eventful journey through Spain
made last autumn by the artist in twenty
Two horsepower automobile. 1t is in the market
place Of Poncorbo, near Burgos The motor
car is turning. whirring and shaking amid
drove Of pigs. Dogs bark, geese hiss, ducks
ouack and hens cackle Women raise their
arms toward heaven with walls OF despair, Men
and boys threaten the occupants Of the auto
car with sinister gestures. Girls Shrek in anger
from the balconies, and the village is completely
topsy-turvy The sunny Castilian atmosphere
is delightfully."- rendered, and the polychrome
garments Of the inhabitants hang in effective
profusion from the windows. This is perhaps
Jean Vebers masterpiece, and it places him
first among French colorists and French carl
caturists.
DewambeZ, always original and inclslVe, seaos
revolutionary burial" which is a curious
study Of Socialist funeral passing through
the streets of Paris Soldiers and police keep
hack the crowd, and the mourners spread red
eonmunistic drapery on the hearse- Men ana
women carry wreaths Of red crimson eglantines.
The portrait of man. with a long black beard
seated in a cafe in the bohemian resorts of
Montmartre. is strong and suggestive. and may
be considered one Of Dewambezs finest speci-
mems Of drawing.
Daguerrean is more academic than ever with
his .Cs,,nfd at Rest'-a delicate waxy angel
Of love, with unfolded wings, aiighting on
block of white marble. Jules Lefebvre exhib-
its a beautifully drawn profile of girl. cold and
correct, and bearing the Hebrew appellation of
Sarah" There is a delightful picture Of
ruby checked child seated before picture book,
perfect gem of life and humanity, In which
Abel Faivre, the popular carica turist, has con-
centrated delicacy Of sentiment and charm.
There are good landscapes by Damoye, Guig-
nsrd, Grivaz. Aston Knight Delestre, Twill and
Dameron. There are characteristic sea and river
scenes by lie Gout-Gerard, Trgoulet. Gueldry,
Gosseln ana Grenier. A clever and delicately
eoiored vevy market place. by William s Hor-
ton. is much admired. There are some pleasing
nudes by Raphael Collin and by Paul Chabas.
The character studies by Jean Weber and De-
"afnbez are refreshing and stimulating The
portraits are imperneated with fattery, and
many OF the landscapes indicate that the artists
Tear rheumatism and slun the open air. Other
wise the show is a good one.
The sculpture section contains pleasing ivory
ana gold bust Of Desbordes- -Valnore, by Belloc;
marble bust of Henri Lavedan, by Ernest
Dubois; Triumphant Victory" by Paul Four
"ief' bust Of Nine. Litvinne, the charming
ginger and sster-in-law of Jean de Reszke. by
Dehys Puech, and some remarkable statuettes
II bronze Of soudanese negresses. by Herbert
Ward