174

EXPOSITION AT VIENNA.

that their highest attainments are in the sphere of color and tone, was proved by the extensive display made by these two countries. The Belgian exhibit was by far the larger, and occupied a number of rooms. Several of the works of the late Baron Leys hung in the annexe. The most original artist of the age, Baron Leys created a school which has taken root in all countries with more or less vigor, and is grafted, in noticeable strength, into the manner of numerous artists un­converted to his way of seeing and painting. The largest picture shown, and the one which represented the artist best, and at his strongest period, was a study for the fresco in the Hotel de Yille, at Antwerp, Burgomaster Launcelot van Ur- sel haranguing the Militia to defend the Town against Martin van Rossem. The gothic simplicity of line and naivété of pose in the burgomaster and the assembled crowd of militia» the disregard of all academic rules of composition, and above all, a deep sympathy with the character of the people por­trayed, joined with a superlative richness of color and strength of tonethese are but a few of the good qualities of this work. In the Fête given to Rubens, from the museum at Antwerp, painted in a totally different style, one finds less to admire in the somewhat strained effect of light, and in the labored figures. It recalls Rembrandts Ronde de Nuit, in the force of the lights, and in the admirably managed shad­ows. A picture by Baron Leys most promising pupil, the lamented Joseph Lies, was also sent from the Antwerp Mu­seum. It is an episode from one of the numerous invasions of Flanders, and is called the Approach of the Enemy- From the picturesque village in the distance pours a motley train of peasants, and teams heavily laden with the household goods, and goaded on by the reported approach of the much- dreaded foe. In the foreground halts the advance guard, a young lord and a trusty attendant or two, with a score ot cowardly boors, armed with the implements that come fhst to hand. The venerable parson and his pretty daughter have just come through the gate, and she is evidently not uncon­scious of the presence of the handsome young leader of the guard. Full of incident, and grandly illustrating the char­acter of the people, it has all the charms of most beautiful color besides. Another pupil of Baron Leys, Victor Lagy e >