Evening star., 1918-02-17
NOTES OF ART AND ARTISTS

The exhibition Of paintings by J. r.
Bouchor. Official painter Of tho French
armies. shown last week in the gold
room at the Shoreham Hotel. proved
on the whole exceedingly disappoint-
ing. by no means measuring up to the
standard anticipated or to that estab-
lished by other artists Of France whose
works have previously been exhibited
in this city.
Not only were the pictures shown
rather uninteresting- subjective1y. but
in point of merit inconspicuous. 1t is
art Of this type. produced under official
patronage. which has led to revolt and
sweeping condemnation of the aca-
demic- But while there are such ar
fists in France as Lucien Jonas, whose
stirring Autographs of war scenes are
now on view at the Library of Con-
gress. there is no need for discourage
ment and small occasion for alarm.
In art. as in other walks of life,
there are a diversity of giftS-painters
who are admirably trained. producing
works which are uninspired and dull,
as well as few who illumine and en-
liven through their genius whatsoever
subject they essay.
France has always been most liberal
and most broadminded in her patron
age of the arts, encouraging all who
gave promise, and leaving it to time
and future generations to determine
real worth.
x
Scarcely have the Bouchor pictures
left this country when word comes
that a collection of 500 paintings. sent
over under authority of the French
government, has arrived in New York.
Obviously, these works are sent for
two reasons. to bestir interest in and
sympathy for France among the peo-
pie of the United States and to secure
through sales support for the needy
French artists.
plished is more than probable. provid-
ed the works are of a character to en-
gender such feeling. But that the Sec
ond object will be attained is more than
doubtful.
More money is actually being spent
today for works of art than in the
United States. In fact, it is reported
on good authority that a Chicago paint
er, finding no sale for his works in Chi
cago, went to Paris and held an ex-
hibition. and in a very brief time sold
more than thirty pictures at excellent
prices
The art auctions in New York, it is
true, are well patronized and works
by the old masters have brought high
prices. but such works are today
reckoned as good investments. where
as paintings by cotemporary artists
in this light are of unstable value. Aad
yet II the purchaser is astute, the
chance OF return on the works of paint
erS whose reputation is in the making
is much larger than that of the works
Of those whose regulations are made
At the Brooklyn Institute there is now
on view a notable collection of works by
French artists, not only of the present
but of the past. The collection comprises
paintings. sculpture. furniture, textiles
and other objects of art assembled under
and shown at the Panama Pacific Expo
sition and more lately in the leading mu-
seums in the middle west
The Retrospective section comprises
seventy five paintings, twelve works of
sculpture and ninety-three medals pro-
duced between 1870 and 1910, all selected
from the Luxembourg collection Among
the painters represented are Bastien-
Lepage. Benjamin-Constant. Besnard.
Latour. Harpignies, Laurens, Legros,
Manet. Monet, de Neuville and Puvis de
Chavannes.
The cotemporary section includes 1ss
pictures dating between 1910 and 1915.
many of which were taken from the
studios of artists fighting at the front
The exhibit of decorative art includes
historical furniture, porcelains, carpets
and tapestries selected from the Mobilier
National at Paris. the national repository
for objects of art, an institution originally
established by Louis XIV
OF supreme importance in this section
are four enormous Gobelin tapestries dat
ing from the reign of this famous king.
Such an exhibit as this is not only of
interest, but great educa-
tional value
For the first time the artists and
the manufacturers are exhibiting side
by side in the Fine Arts building, New
York. The New York Architectural
Leagues annual exhibition has, been