New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-13
ART EXHIBITIONS.
The Collection of the Late Aler-
dRder Blumenstiel.

A"u HtodeIn paintings which have been placed on
exhibition at the American Art Galleries by the
executors OF the late Alexander BIumenstiel and
which will be sold at MendeIssohn Hall Thurs
DAY and Friday evenings. practically all from
Continental sources They represent the taste OF
an eclectic, OF who liked a painted anec-
dote, pretty" picture. but liked also fine land
scape by master bit of really artistic tech
nique The collection is one Of those (which suffer
little from being exposed to view all at once
The piltng OF example OF brisk but shallow
workmanship upon another conveys unfortunate
impression distractng attention from what Is first
rate In the mass. But has only 70 look through
this assemblage OF 207 oils water coors and draw
inss with care to See that II was built up with a
good deal Of judgment and feeling
The drawings for example could have been bought
only by collector with intinct for the sgiti-
inaIeiy interesting thing. Mr. Blumenstiers group
OF such personal souvenirs embraces some capisaI
sketches by Mcneil the famous illustrator whose
WORK has only too seldom appealed TO American
connoisseurs, and sketches by Israels. Jongkind
Miilet and Boudn. which ara equally beguiIIng The
Mlilet Wrestlers'' and the JongkInd particu-
IarV welcome Another feature OF the exhibition
slgnifying that Mr.. Blumenstie sought escape from
routine IS the set OF five fans. the ivory blades OF
which each bear design painted at the owners
request by well known artist. All the schools
are represented in this scheme, our own among
them and while the Importance Of the various
tiny contributions is not 10 be exaggerated. there
is no denying the entertaining character Of the COL
lection as a whole. Some OF the artists have done
their work with extraordinary tact considering
only the limitation Of scale involved but the arbi-
trary form with which they had TO reckon In
striking contrast to these little force
the illustrations Of the Barbizon school
VI the two Corots one. the 'Nymphs Bathing" is
as oeautfu as II is expressive OF the art
lists poetic Individuality The masses OF foIl-
age in the fine composition are painted with
impeccaole delicacy and Just beneath them the
luminous tones Of the sky and the water
bring a positively enchanting element into the
picture. Diaz, in three examples, and DUpre in
one. interest without provoking enthusiasm. Not
so Troyon. Rousseau or Daublgny These three
all present in works which in one way another
make strong appeal The Returning Home OF
Troyon is well painted in the foreground which is
filed with sheep, but IL IS even more attractive
where the handling of the landscape is concerned
This Is one Of those paintings in which TrOyon
carried refinement 20 a point where it took on an
almost imaginative quality. Reusseau's Sunset
is scarcely more than study. and il is very nearly
a monotone but the weighty landscape forms
shown in sharp profile against richly lighted
background treated with a subtIy personal
touch There are good qualities In the small sketch
by Daubigny called "A Country Road" but he is
better studied on this occasion in the two large
canvases early Morning" and LIE Pare Ges Mou-
tons. These might seem roughly execuIed beside
Of mis- familiar pieces. and unfinished
into the bargain, but, as a matter of fact, each
records with notable funess and strength a superb
impression. They show that Daubigny could take
broad and even grand views OF naturfa when ne
chose.
The best companions Of these works OF the old
romantic naturalists the pictures by Courbet
Boudin and Harpignes. all works Of merit. Cain,
who is represented by four adequate pieces would
be more persuasive, perhaps. II he were not sub
jected TO comparison with these painters Jakoo
Maris holds his own we'll with a very small but
very charming landscape ION the Zuyder Zes.
and there several likewise very creditable pro-
auctions from the brush of Clays Indeed Mr.
r10rIr
fortunate In his purchases of works by this popu-
lar Belgian, obtaining than one picture OF an
unconventional character. Moving still outside
the beaten track. he hit delightful painting
by the EngIIshman, j. NJ Swan, tn the httis
'Iioness and Foxhound.'' and the same inde-
pendent quality secured for him valuable things In
the study by Fortuny. Courtyard OF House n
Madrd': in the interesting Head" BY Dagnan-
Bouveret; in the clever landscape, by Lhermitte.
The Pond. and in the two panels by Fantln-
Latour one a romantic nude and the other
beautiful flower subject. The Fortuny stands al
the head Of a considerable body OF modern Spanish
work in which, however, a brilliant example or
Domingo The Cabaret is the only other item TO
excite admiration. There are. too. many OF the
ioIly monks of Casanova, of them are par
ticuIarly worth while Among the few American
pictures the most important is the early forest
scene by Inness 1.-The Last OF the Mohicans." a
picture in which the trees are admirably treated
We may mention also here the dainty Landscape
by Mr.. Leonard Qchtman.
Returning 10 the Continental schools. We md
number OF artistic Dutch pictures by Nalkenours
n 1-boren Bloumers and De Book For the rest
the Frenchmen predOminate. and while one OF two
of then-VoIlon with mastery still Life, u
study Of a copper Jug, eggs and other objects and
an interesting landscape. the Docks and Ral-
faeIu with good character study, AFTER a walk
nrovoke more than favorable comment, there Is
little TO be said of the picture by Gerome Beraud
T.eIoir. Iefebvre, Jacquet, FIaneng, De Neuvtie'
Rovbet and Grolleron, save that they exhloU the
usual ceverness Of the Salon in It's usual estate.
IT, ola MASTERS are included in the show. unre-
rnarkable but pleasing masculine Head oy Sir
Joshua REYNOLDS. and English Landscape OF
somewhat slighter significance by Richard wilson
Many Of the pictures at which we nave glanced ale
Iii In scale The opportunity for modest but
DraatabIe investments is exceptional