New-York tribune., 1908-02-07
ART EXHIBITIONS.
The Craftsmen of France IN the
Eighteenth Century.

The art of the eighteenth century is represented
in American collections chiefly by the portraits
of Reynolds. Cainsborough, and the other English
men of their period. Within the last few years
some attention has also been paid to the French
school OF portraiture, but any further extension
of the range of amateurs had seemed to be
improbable The hope often expressed in these
columns, that might profit by the dispersal IN
Paris of such collections those of the Goncourt
brothers and NJ. MuhIbacher has had to support
itself on small encouragement But at last We
have reached at least d promise OF better things
The exhibition which has been arranged for few
days at the Colony Club shows that number OF
American collectors have begun to interest them
selves in of the most charming phases OF
European 1t is rather miscellaneous collec-
tion that is here brought together ranging as far
back as the school the CIouets and including
some pieces by our own John TrumbuIl. who
his academic robes a little awkwardly in the COM
pany of Fragonard. say, or Watteau, and there
are some items which are in no wise significant
of the brilance which is supposed TO dominate.
But there is enough here 10 enforce the point that
needed TO be made, namely. that the French
raftsnan of the eighteenth century is an In
comparable type, and ought to be made more and
more familiar in this country.
In him there were blended the two qualities
which have always belonged 10 the French genius,
the romantic impulse which burgeoned in the
broader aspects of the Gothic cathedrals and
the love of order, of prOpriety. which was in
carnated in the soul Of Louis XIV The rigid
formula imrosed upon French art by that monarch
are sometimes spoken of as though they were the
expression of his personal taste alone, but as a
matter Of fact the French have always been the
side of balance. Louis XIV merely adjusted to a
routine of the ideal which lies at the heart
of Gothic construction and which was harmonized
easily enough, paradoxicaI though it may seem,
with the classical elements in the Renaissance
His Journalism had its bghtng side; but it had this
much in its favor that it so drilled French art as
make a sense OF measure more natural than
ever before TO the French artist. The gayer mood
the eighteenth century meant careless loosen
ing of the bonds BY that time the academic ideal
of perfect craftsmanship and perfect taste had
come to fit the artist like glove. This fact is
obvious in his architecture and in his furniture, i'll
his paintings and in his books. He may give free
rein to his romantic fancy, he may be all grace
and tender sentiment, but courtly and exquisite
style distinguishes everything that he does In his
he is as consunmate as he is playful and
charming.
The present exhibition shows this exemplar of
eighteenth century polish, of sometimes wanton
mood, but always restrained method, as the true
Interpreter of that gllttarng social movement |
which he did so much adorn There some |
beautiful portraits of the time and beguil
ing pastels by La Tour and Drouais. There are |
dainty studies, more delicate in line, by Portal |
and Vatican. Best of all for their combination |
OF the note of the period with peculiarly in |
dividualzed. are some drawings by Fragonard. in |
Guiding Italian Garden of the Villa Medici' |
IN sepia. which is positive masterpiece The |
sheer witchery of technique and style in these |
various studies and fragments is subtle that |
one scarcely pauses upon the subject, though |
as in the FragOnard just mentioned, |
that has loveliness of its own. 1t is interesting.
no doubt, observe the grasp upon character |
shown in d portrait like the famous Benjamin |
Franklin of DupIessis. in little profile like
the Portrait Lady by Cochin. But the broad
interest of the show lies in just the magic of
rafts1nanship, the stroke of the pencil
chalk that by itself smells personality sensitive
ness and distinction. The somewhat mixed char
4cter of the collection has already been noted
While this is altogether pleasing il is TO be
in far it has permitted the in
7Iusion of A wonderful group OF portraits by John
bowman and d fine pastel by John Russell both
EEngIishrnen Of whom cannot too much;
very interesting landscape by Guard. and some
striking souvenirs of TiepolO. The Colony Club
renders A useful service in organizing exhibition
ike this which should give impetus 10 colec-
ors Such stimulus is especially welcome this
line when the dispersal OF the Ciroult collection
Paris is about TO throw upon the market an ex-
raordnary body of work by the eighteenth CEN
Jury masters. R c.