International studio (30.1906/1907(1907))

The Alexander Young Collection—III. Some Barbizon Pictures -


THE ROAD THROUGH THE WOOD'

BY N. DIAZ

the finest pictures in Mr. Young’s collection is
Solitude, by Jean Francois Millet. This large and
imposing landscape, which was exhibited at the
Guildhall in 1898, has, we understand, been pur-
chased for the Wilstach Gallery, Philadelphia, and

the American nation is to be congratulated
on its acquisition. Here the artist has suc-
cessfully presented the break of winter, the
first hope of spring. The pale salmon hue
of a winter sunset, which gives colour to
the melting snow and dark leafless trees,
adds a charm to the quiet restfulness of the
scene, while the beautiful grey of the sky is
not the least attractive feature of this en-
trancing picture. It is to be remarked that
though the canvas is very thinly painted,
there is no suggestion of weakness ; on the
contrary, the work has a feeling of solidity
and bigness. There are several fine figure
pieces by Millet in the collection, of which
Lhe Good Samaritan (p. 199) is character-
istic. It is interesting as a peasant’s version
of the subject and is beautifully drawn,
while the laboured movement of the man
carrying the helpless form is admirably
suggested. Finer in colour is the Hagar
and Lshmael, in feeling akin to the Going to
Labour in the Glasgow Corporation Gallery ;
The Little Shepherdess, a smaller work,
about 8 by 6 ins., is a typical and beautiful
example of the master’s art. The Rescue
(below) is one of the works which Millet
produced in emulation of Diaz, and is not to be
compared with two splendid chalk studies in the
collection, The Shepherd and The Track of the
Wolf (p. 200). Here is expressed all the pathos
and tragedy of rustic life, treated with that


“ THE RESCUE ”
198

BY J. F. MILLET