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| CUPID AND PSYCHE - This painting, exhibited in
the French section of the Art Palace, was from the studio of Lionel
Royer, a later aspirant for fame in Paris. The work well exemplifies
the predominant characteristics of the French exhibit of paintings at
Chicago. There was usually great size of figures, exceeding
"courage" in design - that is, defiance of customary prudence as to
moral effect, united with high brilliancy of color, and absolute
regard for reality in drawing. When one entered the east Annex of
the Art Palace, he came on rooms which
were considered full with a dozen of these large and most often nude
figures. But after a study of their novel and able treatment the
miscellaneous collections in many other rooms palled upon the eye.
At the same time, there must be much to condemn in these great works
from Paris. For instance, if realism be the key, why the tiny wings
of Cupid? which certainly are inadequate to the needs of an aerial
creature of his size. Again, Cupid is either too large or too small.
The pose of Psyche is infelicitous. In fact, the reader is to judge
that all the faults come forth in the black and white of the
engraving, while only the great drawing of untasteful figures, and
none of the astonishing tinting and rotundity produced by the artist,
are caught by the camera. The story of
Cupid and Psyche is told elsewhere. |
