New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-21

only in Paris Certainly one would not
expect 10 find anywhere else two such
cola borators as Maurice Barres and
Paul Iafond working together so indie
pendently and yet 50 tremendously. NJ.
Rarres writes the first half Of the book,
as man of imagination, and NJ. Lafond
brings to his part OF the task the system
and sobrietv Of the critical historian
You first read Of the soul Of Fl Greco
and then YOU follow the facts Of his life
and make a quite Unconditional survey Of
II his work We must say that the scheme
y is decidedly engaging NJ. Lafond is
not precisely dry. but neither is he pre-
cisely kindlins. and it is we'll for the
reader who wants. above all, TO get at
the genius If 4 great painter 10 he in
the first place fascinated and stimulated
by more or less poetic interpreter
NJ. Barres insinuates himself into the
heart Of his subject in charmingly deli
cate fashion. His part Of this book has
q title Of its own. lie Greco on le Secret
de Toledo" and his study Of the painter
is ALMOST III tludl itFfNNlf n EiANF VIZ
the town and its people. One is mo-
mentarily inclined - balk at this. Fl
Greco. we recall was a Toledan only by
adoption. He came originally from Crete
and as a young artist he sought his in
spiratien in Venice. where he fell under
the influence of Titan. But it is the
purpose of NJ Barres 10 show that Fl
Greco had i'm him the soul and mental
habit Of a Spanish Catholic. and in To-
ledo ne finds 10 this day the very es-
sence Of that type The point is devel-
oped artfully and with force. There is
assuredly a notable contrast between
Fl Greco's ascetic paintings and those
proud hosannas of the flesh which
contribute so much TO the splendor OF the
Venetian school and which, ordinarily.
would have exerted certain pressure
upon an artist in his formative period
There must have been some ineXtin-
suisha BILE fame burning in the bosom of
painter who could dwell amid the rich
est pageantry Of life and yet be irresisti-
bly, turned 10 austere themes FL Greco
was no anChorite either. but enjoyed the
society OF men Of mind, and. indeed. was
thoroughly human creature
Many Of his commentators, ancient and
modern. have said that he was mad. NJ.
Barres will have none OF that hypotE-
esis. FL Greco. he maintains was a
mystic. whose destiny il was 10 drift into
Toledo, a centre Of mysticism. and there
find his natural home. In that strange
elongation of the human figure so char
acteristic of the painter this subtle
Frenchman detects no cccentricity. 1t
suggests 10 him. rather in its linear
mystery. thoughts of aspiration: the hui
man body as FL Greco paints it is made
somehow a thing sublimated and spirit
ualzed, and hence a true expression Of
the Spanish genius on its mystical side.
His study will scarce commend itself To
the average modern painter with his ten
dency 10 dwell on matters of execution
in the strict sense, but To those who APP
preciatc the role Of ideas in art this bit
of very sympathetic speculation will
strongly appeal II makes. as we have
said. a delightful introduction To NJ. La
fond's wOrkmanlike account Of all the
concrete issues in FL Grecos career.
The book is generously illustrated with
reproductions that are not brilliantly
printed. but will do well enough.
Mi Gade's book on "Cathedrals of
Spain" will take a modest but honora bic
place in the literature of the subject. lie
has obviously been at pains 10 master
that subject i'm its purely architectural
relations. 10 study origins and styles. but
on the other hand he has been equally
careful 10 avoid pedantry in his descrip-
tons The layman. quite as much as the
architect. should enjoy his pages on the
great structures at Salamanca Burgos
Leon and four or five other historic
Spanish towns. Though he speaks with
knowledge Of plan and facade. Of column
and vault. he constantly remembers the