New-York tribune., 1910-10-23
THE AUTUMN SALON
n brilliant Exhibition of French
DecOratiuc Art.

Paris OCTOBER H.
After eight years of tentative effort 'he
autumn salon has now for the first time es'A0
lshed its raison d'etre and complete sue
cess It's dominant motive is that of decorative
art-decorative art not only in painting anu
sculpture but in house furnishing, upholstery.
1ewery, ceramic work, enameiling embroidery
and bookbinding. On these terms it surpasses
the grand art fairs of the spring. the salons
of the National Society of Fine Arts and the
French Artists.
One composition, consisting of eight panels for
an octagonal cupola, in the residence of M
Charles Stern, stands forth above all others. and
has been pronounced a masterpiece by Albert
Besnard and by several eminent critics. 1t is
entitled THE F1Orentine Evening", and Is in
epired by the "Decameron' Of Boccaccio. 1t is
oanted by Maurice Denis an artist who began
with volcanic outbursts of originality in the
roughly ploughed but fertile fields of the lnde-
Dendents but whose mature works, repiete WIN
prodigious fertility, spontaneous Vlgor ana re-
fined feeling, come as a revelation Inc co'or
Zones are scft pinks and clear pale blues.
enhanced by the crystalline purity Of F1oren-
tine twilight. Four large panels represent
sDancing' Bathing" Music and poetry
and evoke delicate and subtle voluptuousness of
the mind and of the senses. Groups OF 1e1'aes
nude or in exquisite flowing draperies. are seen
against blue Florentine sky. The figures are
beautifully posed and radiant with joyful life
Four intermediate panels in deeper tones repre-
sent Tuscan landscapes with slopng hills, re-
lieved by pine trees, expresses and olive trees
Vines roses lilies and wild flowers seem to yield
an aroma of Florentine spring, and the work
seems like the realization of a beautiful dream
Another excellent decorative work, but quite
different in conception and treatment, is that
PAINTED by Jose Sert for the ballroom in the
oofth the 10 AtplIa barcelona
The subject is '"The Dance of Love" The tones
are of dark grisaille with rich. but subdued reds
Ind yellowS. The groups seem to breathe and
live. Love is idealized in fifteen panels, which
Illustrate Love and DEATH where Orpheus is
weeping for the loss Of Eurydice; Love Stronger
Than Death' where Orpheus regains his Eu-
eydice, and Love and the Centaur, where the
-1s5limal passion is the dominating element
There is love drawing within its enchanting in
fuence youths, strong men, philosophers, war
fiors, musicians. statesmen and poets. broad
panel represents 1.-The Triumph of Love-" one of
lhe features of which is grand heroic male fig
tlre supporting in his muscular arms the woman
whom he has chosen for the companion of his
heart and of his senses, and who in her ex-
tended arms presents to an enthroned Eros her
nude rosy infant. It is a decorative poem,
vibrating with passion and beauty.
Mile Dufau exhibits two decorative panels.
competing the series OF four, executed Tor the
Eorbonne. Mile Dufau's other panels, already
placed in the Sorbonne, are Astronomy" and
''Radioactivity.'' Those now exhibited are
'Geology'' and Zoology" In the former the
central figure is a woman reclining by the sea-
side holding a large shell in her uplifted hand.
In the background is volcano, emitting vol
of lava. The idea, deftly developed. is
that Of fire and water creating earth The
colors bright clear and bathed in sunshine
The idea elaborated in Zoology is that the sea
gave birth to germs of animal life, and that
man alone has the power to subject animals to
his superior will. The nstrumentality chosen
by Mile. Dufau is music. The nude figure of a
course playing flute. There is primaval for
est. Vegetation abounds Animals emerge, en-
chanted by the sound Of the flute Bright hued
cockatoos, panthers, black leopards, tigers and
peacocks surround the musician In the back
ground elephants approach, and at the mans
feet huge snake coils with poised, gttering
head, darting forth its forked tongue as if
charmed by the notes of the flute Mile Dufau
has succeeded in imparting poetic even
neutrality-suspicious. of animal creation but it
is questionable whether she has not attempted
to depict too much on one canvas. The COM
position is harmonious and the color scheme is
vigorous and eloquent.
'NOtre Seigneur JeSuS- Christ