New-York tribune., 1919-02-07

Old and Modern Paintings. and
Old Armor

By Royal Cortissoz


view at the American Art Galleries
there is a portrait of seventeenth cen.
tury Italian origin (No. SD about which
the catalogue says, "In some respects
reminiscent of the style of Moroni.'
The line is cited here not only in trib-
ute to the judicious tone of the cata-
logucr but as "in some respects" we'll
/ illustrative of a great deal in the show
There are some great names in the col
lection, but there are no great pictures.
inns Is an array, rather, of respecta-
bic old canvasoS, some Of which are
me. but none of which creates a SEN
sation.
The walls abound in those dccora-
| tive portraits of the British and Con
tlnental schools which have fallen into
place with warm welcome in luxuri-
Gus American interiors, not because
,hey are by any means masterpieces,
put because they are creditable school
pieces and arc handsome into the bar
gam. 1t does not matter that a por-
trait like the "Comtesse dc Bougain-
vie no. 23>, by Robert Tournieres,
IS not the finest flower of it's period.
Inc point is that it is an authentic
part of the seventeenth century and
the first part of the eighteenth
IS, besides, charming. Moreover, there
arc present on this occasion n number
OF pieces. that are above the average
There are, for example, the three can
vases given to Van Dyck, the stately
study of court splendor in white satin
inc full length of isabella, Lady de
la War; the graceful "Lucy, Countess
OF Carlisle," and the spirited "Jerome,
second Earl of Portland" In none of
'hese do we meet the incompatible
master at his best but in all of them
we are beguied by the accomplished
tradition of his studio
Jhere are one or two interesting
Italian things, notably the "Cardnal
Rlcci,' by Pulzone, really character
'Stlc bit of seventeenth century church
rortralturc, and the cool but gorgeous
replica Of Bronzino's familiar "Eeonora
OF Toledo and Her Son. But the
salient canvases are from British and
Dutch brushes. The Reynolds "An-
'hony Chamicr" is a minor but good
performance, Sir Joshua in his ordi-
nary but still polished mood, and there
are admirable specimens Of Boechey,
Lely, the school Of Lawrence, and divers
o,her anonymous craftsmen. The por-
traits from the low countries are al
most uniformly good. Ip this category
the examples of Van Ravesteyn, Mere
welt and Janssens are all Of excellent
quality, and again there is a strong
group OF half dozen school pieces
ne genre and the few specimens of
Dutch landscapes are not so ingratiat-
ing, but here and there the level
reached is fairly high, as in the "fat"
pit OF ole painting by Aert van Gelder.
The picturesque David and Bathshcba''
The modern paintings, brought like
the old ones from various collections
are OF similarly uneven character, with
number of prizes interspersed among
thlngs that are commonplace A re-
markable episode is supplied in the
group of five Monticelis belonging to
Mrs. c. L. Atterbury, every one fash
ing with the mellowcd vrtuosity Of
the romantic Frenchman. There is a
me ILLUSTRATION of his art, too. in the
n,ady and Swan" consigned by an
tributes an interesting Monticello in
his ceremony in the Woods" The
modern Dutchmcn are well represented
In a fine water color by Wilcm Maris,
an exceptionally good cathedral subject
by, Bosboom (from Mrs Atterbury's
collection, which seems usually to mean
a painter-like quality), and a character
lstlc scene from peasant life by Israels.
he Barbizon contingent is small but
choice. The landscapes by Corot, Dau-
tlgny and Diaz make glowing little
group. Holding their own beautifully
beside 1t are certain landscapes by
Homer Martin, George Inness, Wyant
and Blakclock.
The Inncss "Golden Sunset" is Il
lovely picture, dated as far back as
1862, but having scarce a trace of the
tight" manner OF his early period.
This is, on the contrary, in freedom of
brushwork and in rich, sensuous color
charm as potent as a work of the
painters prime. There are typically
fresh landscapes by Theophile de Beck,
there are uncommonly good cattle
l1eccs by Van Marckc, there are clever
things from our own more recent
school, paintings by Chase, Beggs, Bo-
Eert and several others. The modern
collection is not any more than the old
cne an affair at ell thrillng but both
are of a character to make the sale in
terestlng when it occurs next Monday
and Tuesday evenings at the Plaza.
There is also to be seen at the
American Art Galleries, where it
is to be sold tomorrow and Satur-
lay afternoons, a collection making a
more recondite appeal. This is the
lheodore Offerman collection of
ancient arms and weapons, to which
specimens have been added by several
other connoisseurs. There are about