Dark gallery - Expo Paris 1855

France. - We were now entering what was called the dark gallery. It had only been possible to place paintings on one side of the gallery, on the wall opposite the windows, which put them in an unfavourable light, which the artists had to take into account before making a decision on their work.
We still had few paintings to mention here; but some were signed with famous names and were worthy of the reputation of the artists who had executed them.
We were first stopped by the Young Sick Man (3414), by M. Jobbé-Duval, who treated with exquisite delicacy subjects in which ancient art is wonderfully combined with fantasy. The Death of Abel (3729), by M. Nègre; a very ugly Spanish Lady (2808), by M. Courbet; the Harvest in Romagna (2478), by M. Baron; the Castle of Heidelberg (4216), by M. Wyld; the Toilet of Judaism (4216), by M. M. M. Wyld; the Toilette de Judith (3989), and the Judgement of Solomon (3990), by M. Schopin; a Portrait (2608), by M. Louis Boulanger, and the Roche de dix heures (2809), one of M. Courbet's best canvases, may be placed outside the line.
M. Jobbé-Duval had exhibited another charming canvas, which one regretted not being better placed, Toilet of a Bride (3412); Departure (2905) and Return of the Fishermen (2906), by M. Auguste Delacroix; Gulf of Rapallo, near Chiavari (3496), by M. Lapito; the Edge of a forest (4049), by M. Thierry; a View taken near Trouville (3102), by M. Fleury; Souvenir du pays (2591), by M. Bonhomme, and a Portrait of Mgr Sibour, archbishop of Paris, by M. Henri Schef-fer, were also worthy of attention.
Finally, we ended with a few paintings that were quite successful: the Beignets (2738). Louis XV, Mlle d'Humières, by M. Cibot; l'Eté de la Saint-Martin (3725), a very remarkable landscape, M. Nazon; la Promenade de la Dauphine (2546), by M. Faustin Besson; un Etranger reconduit à la frontière par mesure de la police russe (4219), by M. Yvon; two portraits of Mme. Yvon; two portraits of Mrs. O'Connell (3739 and 3737), by Mrs. O'Connell; a Portrait of Mr. Leroux, of the Comédie française (3505), by Mr. Laugée; and finally the Battle of Moskowa; capture of the great redoubt (3484), by Mr. Langlois, the painter of the Panorama des Champs-Elysées.

© Guide dans le Palais de l'Industrie et des Beaux-Arts 1855