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Show PERFECTION ATTAINED. How a local art gallery represents the history of San Francisco. -The best portrait of General Grant ever taken. -Photography in its most attractive form - All styles and sizes of portraits artistically perfect. There are many reasons why the best photographic work in the world should be done in this city. The atmosphere is acknowledged to be as pure as that of Italy, the sky is the bluest and brightest, and everything that can be claimed as an advantage in the production of the most artistically beautiful portraits is to be found here. In addition to all this, at the celebrated gallery of Bradley & Rulofson, on the corner of Montgomery and Sacramento streets, there are the most perfect appliances ever utilized for taking faithful likenesses, and the staff includes the most accomplished and experienced photographic artists in the United States. While the proprietors of certain other portrait galleries are constantly making pretentions to exceptional excellence, the management of Bradley & Rulofson's establishment keeps on the even tenor of its way with ???? results than can be shown anywhere else. As a consequence of this the most meritorious portrait of General Grant taken in San Francisco can be seen in Bradley & Rulofson's gallery. It is simply impossible to improve on this splendid portrait of the great General, who is shown in it with his noble face and attractive mien. Being a talented artist, the operator who presided at the camera during the visit of General Grant has succeeded in throwing the light so effectually, that the best features of the head and face appear to the greatest advantage, while the eyes are shown with perfect naturalness. There is a total absence of the rugged lines and harsh shades which do so much to mar the beauty of seventy-five of every hundred portraits taken in this and other cities. Every detail is vigorous and yet softened, and the pose has all the easy, graceful dignity that so eminently belongs to the first citizen and grandest historical figure of the United States. All lovers of legitimate art should visit Bradley & Rulofson's gallery to see this magnificent portrait of General Grant, which will find a favorite place in thousands of households, and side by side with Washington and Lincoln, be preserved through the coming centuries. Having the two highest of all advantages of being the likeness of the greatest American character of the age, and the finest specimen of photography ever seen, this portrait will ever exist as something that the nation will delight to honor, and as one vigorous generation follows another, the likeness will be treasured as a souvenir that nothing less than sacrilege could mar. Although Bradley & Rulofson have produced numerous splendid portraits of all styles and sizes, they have never done any better work than this. Their series of celebrities is renowned throughout the world, representing, as it does, the visit of every illustrious stranger to this coast and the finest description of photography known. There is something extremely interesting, in the fact that portraits forming part of this series are to be found in almost every city of the civilized world. In the drawing rooms of Mayfair and Belgravia, as well as the salons of the Champs Elysees, photographic productions bearing the name of Bradley & Rulofson, are almost as familiar as in the palatial residences of San Francisco. Sarony, of New York, is another name carrying off distinguished honors, but neither it nor any other in the world of photographic art is more deservedly celebrated than that of Bradley & Rulofson, which is suggestive of everything meritorious and beautiful in the great modern art of taking portraits. No higher praise than this can be accorded under any circumstances, and the finest element about it is that it is fully merited. In the way of likenesses, what cannot be procured at the gallery of Bradley & Rulofson is not worth having. All styles and sizes of portraits are taken there in the most perfect manner. Large pictures for exhibition, in handsome frame, on the walls of richly furnished rooms, can be produced by the talented and experienced artists of this establishment with as much ease as simple cabinet cards, and, the prettiest lockets are ???? as readily as the most ordinary ????. What adds, moreover ???? ???? a visit to this famous gallery ???? ???? that in the showcases and on ???? are the portraits of the greatest men and brightest society beauties who have from time to time graced the streets of San Francisco. Wherever the eye turns there is something historically attractive, forming in itself an episode, epoch or era. Some of the originals have passed to that silent and shadowy country from whose bourne no traveler ever returns, but their likenesses are still parts of this world's life and are likely to ever remain so. It should also be said that improvements in photography are being constantly introduced at Bradley & Rulofson's Gallery, and that whether the portraits desired be those of ladies, gentlemen or children, none more beautiful than those which are produced at this celebrated art establishment can be procured in the United States.-S. F. [San Francisco] Evening Post. |