New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-24
LONDON ART.
Il Genoese Tam Dyck-A Modern
Masterpiece.
London, July l3.


tionaI Gallery for f18,5OC, or less than one-half
Titan. 1t is one of the seven Van Dycks
Gently sold in Genoa from the Cataneo collec-
ton: and since Lord Lansdowne has been in
strumental in securing its acquisition by the
gallery it may be inferred that any Irregularities
in the disposition Of the work have been salts
factorily adjusted with the Italian government
It is 4 great addition to the Flemish room which
under the new directors Encouragement Of pict-
ures adjoins the Spanish While private
collections have been well stocked with Van
Dycks the National Gallery has not been pro-
vided with examples of the highest quality
There is the big equestrian portrait of Charles
! which was sold by the Cromwellians after his
death and subsequently acquired from the Blen-
helm collection; there is the portrait of Corne-
Illus van der Geest, which Mr.. Wetts used to
describe as a perfect example of painting the
exterior Of a man. as the bust of Philip " in
black and gold was Of the psychology of reveal
ing the interior character; there is the nalf-
length Of artist, once enormously supposed
10 be Rubens, and there are four five minor
works, two of them copies Of Rubens's pictures
and the others sketches. The portrait of Cor
neIius van der Geest is the best one, and there
IS tradition that Van DycH used to produce 1t
Is a sample Of what he could do when there
were negotiations for a fresh commission. The
new Van Dyck. which now faces this work in
the corresponding diagonal space OF the Elem
Ssh room, is superior 10 it and ranks with the
greatest portraits in the National Gallery.
It is a bust portrait OF Giovanni Battista
Cataneo painted in Genoa during his five years
residence in Italy, when he had left Rubens's
studio and strongly influenced by Titan
The young nobleTnan's character is revealed with
mastery power-a cOurty gentleman, with
graces of manner strength Of mind, sincerity
OF purpose and fastidious taste. The Southern
complexion has enabled the painter TO use more
glowing color in the flesh tints than he after
ward adopted in his colder English portraits,
and the deeper, richer tones are like those OF
Titan and the Venetian portrait school. The
portrait has not been dashed off but has been
painted with painstakng, Iaborious To
precision of method is added the sense of har-
Tnony, which IS lacking in many Of his later
works painted when he was too prosperous and
employed assistants IN his studio. The portrait
has that supreme elenent-vitality; and II is
painted with simplicity, directness and force.
u has much charm in pose and in warmth Of
color as It has power IN the revelation Of char
acter and skill IN craftsmanship and compo-
eition. II can be fairly numbered among the
great Van Dvcks and II is the only in the
National Gallery
The modern masterpiece is the picture by Sir
=
He has been employed upon it for three years.
and as there are twenty-five hundred faces in
canvas less than five feet long-not glints OF
color. but carefully treated figures with indi-
viduality of pose and diversity OF costume-it
has been a work of careful calculation and
enormous labor. It is entitled ''Caracalla and
Geta," and represents q splendid f3te at the
Coliseum with imperial group in the fore
ground, where an Enclosure tuts out from the
arena The twenty-five hundred figures are the
spectators In a portion of the amphtheatre be-
yond the royal group, and they are watching the
bear batting which is in progress below. A pink
velarium outspread above them imparts
roseate glow 10 the Flagian theatre, and the
tint is rereated and freshened in the festOonS
and garlands Of roses between variegated mar
bic pillars surmounted by bronze statues. Every
face and figure is visible because the amphi-
theatre is radiant with vivid daylight; and the
details of construction of the building clear
" revealed as well the purposes for which 1t
IS used The fountains, the refreshment stalls'
the sanded floor. the acrobats. the bear balters'
the bears and many other details may be closely
studied but il is the yivacity OF the gay specta-
Gle in the glorious building, with Its roseate
glow its variegated marbles and its blush
shadows. that impresses the spectator. Inc
wonderfully realistic crowd in the luminous at
rnosphere becomes the background for the I'M
periaI group under four garlanded columns sur
mounted by white globes and this is harmony
Of color that delights the eye and fa5cinates
the imagination with radiant loneliness.
the Emperor SeptimUs Severus, in celebration
OF Caracalla's nomination as AntoninuS cesar
and the scene timed for the lnterlude Gnld-
WAY in the entertainment, when the wild beasts
have been driven back into their dens AFTER oe-
youring their prey and the acrobats and pear
matters are amusing the throng with miIder
sport. Caracalla stands apart by one OF the
columns a pensiye youth IN white with lace
averted from the arena and looking toward the
Emperor and Empress. His half brother Geta'
another figure in white, with richly embroidered
toga also stands and is looking on at the sport
with idle curiosity: and either side IS a sister
one in pale rose and the other in gray, one
bending forward TO peer over the baIustTade ana
the other fUrtiyely watching her mother, VINO Is
handing letter 10 attendant. The Empress
IS Julia Donna, the second wife. aTrayeu III
olive green and yellow, and beside her Is the
aged Emperor in purplish crimson 1t is one
OF the painters NEST artistic and beautiful
blends Of dull coOrs, and the faces and figures
are painted with exquisite senSlbiIity so as TO
suggest the fate which is awaiting them. The
TWO brothers, standing apart from instructive
distrust were to plot against each other and
10 become deadly rivals when their father, worn
out with incessant and strenuous warfare.
should die in Britain. Geta, with his love OF
fnery and his credulous weakness, TO die
81 his intriguing mothers arms by his brothers
rnurderous hand. Caracaa, who too tender
hearted TO look upon cruel sport, was TO be-
come a monster Of atrocity, pursued by the
hateful memory of a treacherous crime and
wandering over the earth at the head OF his
legions until an accident involved his assassina-
ton. The mother. unmindful Of the excitement
and glamour Of Roman holiday and pre-
occupied with her petty game of intrigue was
10 witness the tragic death Of her favorite and
TO end her days IN misery; and the restless
treacherous face matches her coming fate as
closely as her green and yellow robes blend with
the flowers and fruit in the baskets behind her
I'll.