New-York tribune., 1908-05-17
FRENCH ARTISTS SALON
Ninefy-fue of the Exhibitors Born
= IN the United States.
Paris. May /.


fl from the smaller and more select Sailor
Nationale, which opened fortnight since con
rains 5,l62 works, and as usual among miles
OF Tnedlocrfty one finds about three hundred ex
amples Of genuine merit and of real interest
OF the fifteen hundred artists whose names ap
pear in the catalogue ninety-fve We're born ir
the United States. After a conscientious and
.mpartial examination IT may be said that
taken altogether. the American efforts this
spring evince earnest search after truth Wig
orous individuality, tempered by healthful re-
straint Of eccentricity, absence of morbid de-
sire TO ~astound.' and, above ALL moderation in
the reckless imitation Of whistlerian manner
isms that n1arred the American exhibits in the
salons TWO and three years ago
AS the visitor enters the enormous room at
the head of the stairway the Chant du De-
part Of Edouard Detaille meets the eye. II is
an immense triptych. nearly eighty yards in
erea, representing the Republican Belona.
mounted on a white Pegasus. brandishing the
tTi-colored flag Of Ealmy and Jemappes. In
the foreground OF each panel is a brass cannon
with gun carriage Of natural size. which is
pushed forward. action 'front.'" over field Of
gray. autumnal stubble by hundreds of brawny
citizen soldiers, singing the national anthem of
Masses Of Infantry follow up the gunners
snd the drummers rattling away with their
drumsticks in the right hand panel constitute
& most stirring bit Of painting Here we find
the fire and enthusiasm Of revolutionary France.
The color tones pale grays and browns. are
somewhat too effaced. and the treatment OF the
alleeorical theme lacks harmonious conception.
But the drawing is masterful. The brass can
non. the figures Of the young soldiers the mus
kets. swords and trappings are brushed with a
realism never to be forgotten and rivet atten-
zion al the expense Of the alabaster Bellona on
the silveTy Pegasus. II is nevertheless one Of
the finest military canvases Of our time and is
& thrilling reconstruction of the First Republia
The government has intrusted Mile Dufau with
the task Of painting four large panels for the
Sorbonne. Two Of these are completed and fig
ure in the salon The panel representing Radio
activity and Magnetism grouped together as
explained by Mile. Dufau, so to unite all
radiant forces for the external activity of mat
Ter. ponderable and irnponderab ble.' is inspired
II poetical observation of nature. There are
clouds. rain. rivers and forests exhaling vapors
and germs Of force. while the two grand mega
tive and positive poles are exemplifed by low
ing couple exchanging caresses as. each on
horse. they ride toward prineval forest. while
IN the sky elementary figures. outlined vaguely
male and female. drawn irresistfbly tow
ard each other in an heroic and magnetic kiss
There is fairylike grace in treatment. and the
color scheme Of subdued pinks. ambers yellows
and greens is admirable. Another panel repre-
sents astronomy and Mathematics" It is to
change Of opposing forces. causing everlasting
balance and rhythm The central motif is
formed by man and woman standing with feet |
IN contact. and with bodies inclined outward. |
They hold on to each other by their extended |
hands and swing in a circle somewhat after the |
idea Of certain Tanagra groups. and in the way |
in which rollicking children often amuse them !
selves when at play. Another figure holds |
triangle. and with uplifted hand marks the ca
dence u laws Of centrifugal and centripetaI
force. The execution fully equals the concep-
zion. The work is at once strong and subtle |
and places Mile. Dufau in the foremost rank of
French decorative artists.
Henri Martin exhibits a large panel for the
sorbonne entitled Study" A group Of acad-
emicians, prominent among whom is Anatole |
France. stands conyersing in the midst of a grove
beside river. To the left is stella support
Ing statue Of Minerva against which student
Is leaning. whose pale. youthful face indicates
despair at not being ble solve some forrnd;.-
bic philosophical problem. 1t is a conscientious
work Of perfect craftsmanship and Of vigorous
tones
Music Homage TO Beethoven is the subject
o. large canvas in which Jean-Paul Laurens
treats in allegoric conception the works Of the
composer. Large circles Of musicians, grouped
as i forming part Of an orchestra and wearing
mounted by q huge bust Of Beethoven with an
oppression Of ecstatic meditation. Prominence is
given 70 the ode TO Prometheus." the Heroic
Symphony and 10 the Solemn Mass" There
are floating visions of youths and girls. of men !
and women. upon whose faces are portrayed | I
feelings Of love, ambition religious faith or con-
fdence
The decorative ceilings painted by Raphael @
Colin for the Town Hall Of Haute- -Sienne dis /
close that masters exquisite manipulation OF d
grace of outline and delicacy of color. vigor- !
ous and original work by Robert MacCameron,
OF Chicago, ordered 10y the French league
Against Alcoholism. represents a woman and q
Two men seated at a little marble table slipping n
pale green absinthe The weird despair. mental {
thipRreck and moral bankruptcy depicted '
their faces are Wen calculated TO further the OBJ
jects of the league. The Wise and Foolish Vir-
gins by Henry Tanner, of Pittsburg. is a n
tnuston Of the scriptural parallels which have a
made the reputation Of that artist. Il
The portrait OF Henri Rochefort by Marcel O.
Bsschet is a n1asterful work. The Voltarian T
satirist true 10 life The incsiye. penetrating o.
glance The superb head with Iuxurfant, i'll o.
coinbed. bristling. white hair. the nervous 81
hand Of the man Of letters and the broad red z
s-mchair in which he is seated at a table Il
cred with newspapers and pamphlets, are well re
chosen deftly executed and VIII perpetuate the I
memory years hence Of the foremost polemic W
journalist Of Europe There exquisite pastel OF
Portraits of Heni Lavedan and OF DR.. Moyaux, 81
bg the same painter. lie
Lauth SENDS a charming portrait Of his young o'
wife in delicate gray tones Seymour-Thornass In
Portraits Of George Rowland and Of NJ. de al
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