Our Paris Letter.

Manawatu Herald, 5 July 1894, Page 3

Our Paris Letter.

(from our own correspondent.) Paris, 25th April. In all the corners of the pretty capital art and ' other expositions making their appearances, Salon de Peintnres at the Champ de Mars, Champs Elysees exposition of the same, and last but not least a " Marie Antoinette Exposition " at the Sedelmeyer gallery. These are the most important just now on view, but there are a good many more of artists not received at the Salons, and other ones who call upon the public to judge them. President Carnot, who is a great amateur of the Beaux Arts, did oi course not fail to be present at the opening of the Champ de Mars Salon. He was accompanied by the members of his civil and military household, and his presence brought together a select as well as numerous assembly of the e\its of the French and foreign society. The number of pictures this year is larger than ever, there being no less than 1201 oil paintings, 487 pastels and water colours, 135 engravings, 254 piects of sculpture, and 40 architectural designs, besides some 800 drawings of Jerusalem and the Holy Land by the artist Tissot, exhibited in a saloon by themselves. In the Champs Elysees v c alon nineteen hundred paintings are exposed in forty rooms, among which there are a good many of artistic merit. The two works occupying the most important positions are M. Bonnatfs " Triumph of Art," a powerfully drawn allegorical consceplion, and Mr Chigot's " Arrival of Admiral Avellan at the Arsenal of Toulon," As to the " Marie Antoinette Exposition," this is one of the interesting historical souvenirs relating to the unfortunate Queen and the Eoyal family, and has for motive, aside from sentimental reminiscences, two charities, for the benefit of which its patrons have been cheerfully assisted by the loan of portraits, drawings, furniture, tapestries, bronzes, personal relics, etc., all the work of the great French artists and artisans of the period. Among the portraits — "many of them being signed Grenze, Nattier, Tragouard, Vigee Lebnin, Heinsins— there are three or four sent by the Emperor of Austria. The collection of iurnitura includes the well- known armchair from the Queens cell in the Conciergerie. The number of visitors on the opening day far exceeded a thousand, amongst we may mention the InfantaEulalie d' Or'eans, the Puke and Pnchess of Fife, Mrs Vanderbilt, iu short the lean monde of the capital,