New-York tribune., 1905-01-11

European Paintings at the Fifth
AUenue Art Galleries.

AT the Fifth Avenue Art Galleries there is now on
exhibition a collection of about one hundred and
fifty paintings mostly by modern European artists
which is to be sold at auction "oy order OF Mr..
Eugene F of Paris" There are some old masters
in the show and we have found one of them, Pan
nini in AN Ancient city picturesque archi-
tectural piece fairly interesting The rest OF the
early Canvases. however. scarcely repay attention.
This does not much matter. since the collection
obviously relies for it's effect upon the gay and
decorative pictures of a distinctly popular charac-
ter in which it abouds. Stress is laid in the title
page of the catalogue upon the beautiful. charm
ing subjects and portraits and studies or Ialr
women" presented on the walls.
An amusing little essay might be written on the
psychology of "prettiness'' in art It Is commonly
assumed that the facile, Unconditional painter Of
merely engaging feminine types produces certain
kind OF picture simply because he is thus sure of
market As a matter of fact this gives only
partial explanation OF what we believe actually
goes on in many studios here and abroad. Some
men born to paint pretty women All their
resources are cunnngly adjusted to this end Take,
for example, a man like Gustave Jacquet. who has
four canvases in this exhibition, The observer
misses in these the quality commonly called tenn
permanent" But such picture as "A Partsienne,"
perhaps the most attractive of the four, is really
full of temperament 1t is full that is, of an
artists instructive delight in superficial graces.
He makes no study of character He has nothing
serious TO say. But he likes a fair face, bright
stuffs and ribbons. and his technique is precisely
the technique for the brisk notation of these things
on canvas Painters like Jacquet TO live in a
world of dolls. where human joys and sorrows and
all the elements that go TO the formation of char
acter unknown. Their works are hopelessy
shallow. but they undoubtedly very pretty
The present exhibition Is crowded with their
sprightly portraits Of smiling, ILNuFiously dressed
damses. Jacquet is the leader of a considerable
group which includes Angelo Ast Isaac Snowman.
Edouard Zier. Achle Fouid, Leon Comerre, LezilIe
des Essarts and divers others. Here and there We
find a painter who stands with foot in their
province and the other fixed firrner soil There
is striking illustration in one canvas Corner OF
the Louvre of the way in which the late j. J.
made the Biblical designs which finally won him
wide a reputation. This handsomely painted
interior study shows, doubt. certain lmIta-
tions. but in it's way it is beguiling. The example
Of Heilbuth. Catching Butterflies" is a charac-
teristic souvenir of painter who. in mis- moments
caught fraction Of the quality which the noted
Belgian, Alfred Stevens, developed with such au-
thority and charm. We must note also The Straw
Hat" by Jan Van Beers, and "a Morning. Walk"
by Jean Bereaud, both pictures superficial enough
in quality, Yet suggesting in each case an indvid-
uality OF approach where the commemoration Of
modern fashion is concerned. other popular
names figure in this show. Martin Rico Meissonier
ROybet Albert Lynch Ridgway knight. Thaulow
Bouguereau Mchetti. Domingo. BOughton Rossi
Berne- -Bellecour. Vibert. MadrRzo and p Carrier
BeUeuse. None of these threaten on this occasion
TO set the North River ahame, but they combine
to leave. as we indicated at the outset, a gay and
decorative impression. The pictures are to be sold
in the grand ballroom OF the Waldorf Astoria next
Thursday and Friday evenings.