The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-13

| IN ue cOhecuOn OF pictureS that has lust been
paced on exhibition at Earies Galleries there are
several by Philadelphia artists which are deacrvlro M
more Than the brief mention which WAS ali we were
| able TO give In first notice
MIR. James Hamilton exhibits two new vorka
THE Edge Of the American Fall, Niagara" and
"lrometheus." In this representation OF tho great
cataract ss In his large painting on the same subject
| Mr. Hamilton succeeds in giving an idea OF the
height, largeness and volume OF Niagara more suc-
cessfully perhaps, than any other artist that has
attempted IT, The point OF view IL 40 taken that
while the top OF the fall IL far above the head or tho
spectator, the bottom is lost In the dense cloud of
mist that rolls up from the vortex NotytbstandInv
the important qualities mentioned the 'rNiauara" ia
aver uhsatsiactory work, and the same mar be
said OF the "Prometheus." In this the crash OF tho
clements, the war OF water earth, and sky the con-
est OF titanic forces: all indicated with certain
amount or power, but the effect IL that of the
scene-painter, and the peculiar dlngy grey which
this artist seems excessively fond OF Is cold unsym
pathetic, and dsagreeable MIR. Hamilton has more
Imagination than almost any of our artists but he
seems TO be unable to give full expression 20 his
Ideas, ana his best works are scarcely more than
hints or enlarged sketches powerful but crude This
Is radical defect in Hamilton's style and while
his small water-coors, drawings, and sketches are
always spirited and often admirable because
they are valued simply as sketches and not as pic
lures, the same slap-dash method Ii badly adapted
to larger works, where the lmmaturitles of the
sketch exaggerated by each additional inch of
canvas. We do not contend for finish as synonymous
with smoothness and prettiness; but Mr. HsnIlton's
pictures would lose nothing IL he would bestow
more pains in working out his ideas and If he
would contrve to get away from the two or three
effects TO which he limits himself and which he now
throws upon the canvas almost mechanlcally
Without the imagination of Hamilton, Mr.. E Moran
Is vastly more panstaking and studious artist. Mr.
Hamilton has not advanced u step In the last ten
years, while MIR. Moran has shown q steady improve
ment, and his pictures are distinguished by the very
qualities which those Of Hamilton most decidedly
lack Mr.. Moran studies nature, not under one or
Two, but under various aspects, and while the pecu-
larites OF his style sufficiently Marked he does
not often fall into mere mannerisms "The Reef Of
Nonnans Woe" exhibited ut Rares,' IL q work OF
merit. The title liz not, perhaps, the best
that could have been chosen, as 1t
raises the expectations OF the spec
tstor, while the artist has scarcely given full ex-
preston to the spirit OF the pocm and the figure of
the girl lashed to the broken mast ls sufficiently
prominent TO. aid great deal In enforcing the
idea. The title, however, was probably after
thought, ana the picture has some fine points which
worthy of notice without regard TO the subject
The glimpse of tender morning sky above the dark
heights TO the left the storn-cloud rolling away 10
the right and the cruel waves dashed Into foam on
the rocks in the foreground all finely rendered
Hamilton, Moran and indeed every other marine
painter that we are aware of, exceed in one ni-
portant particular by Mr. W. r. Richards This
artist has not done much in the way of marine paint
ing but what he has attempted he has done well.
and he has accomplished all that he undertook to do
"Afer Storm Nantucket Island" IL his largest and
most successful marine picture, His previous efforts
in this limo have been too highly finished for
sketches, and not sufficiently strong in sub
ject to be considered a. complete pictures:
we have rather regarded them as careful
and elaborate studies in which the artist endeavored
to give faithful and exact transcript particular
phase Of nature In all of these works Mr. Richards
succeeded wonderfully In giving life and motion to
his water. few years ago he exhibited side by
side, as we believe his first attempts in this line OF
art, fiery sunset scenc and grey misty effect,
both being "reminiscences OF Nantucket In the lat
ter especially the swell of the wateI creepngu up out
of the fog and swasllng on the rocks was rendered
with remarkable skill The spray, the edges OF some
of the waves and the broken water in the foreground
were too hard and liny, but the sensation of move
ment conveyed In q manner that indicated u
close careful and intelligent study of nature ana
thoroughly trained hand. #.
This quality of motion H. the most marked charec-
terstic in the picture now on exhibition at Earles.
The horizon is hid by the outlines OF the waves that
race one after the other towards the shore; above
Is stretch of sky covered with watery clouds, and
below Is strip Of sandy beach, where the waves
roll and then rccede 10 be lost in those that follow
As far the subject goes, there IL much more In
IL than IN the other marines by the artist 10
which alluson has been made; but 1t requires no
great stretch OF the imagination 10 fancy that the
noise of the angry be heard, and that the
huge shat lifts itself above the others against
the sky will in second more sink at our feet In
long roll OF foam The sky Us not altogether salts
factory, the color being somewhat spotty in places
and the whole picture Ia rather too thnly painted
and Is wanting in texture; but In spite of it'd defects,
which are of but minor moment il " u very decided
success.
Three small works by Mr.. W. H. Wilcox have
some points of excellence which entitle them to at
least passing comment These "Moonrse,
Chicago Harbor," almost too smoky In effect; and "a
November Day on the Prairie" representing nat
stretch of country covered with q dense growth OF
grass ana bushes, and overhung by dark clouds,
through which the sunlight CLEANS, and defines the
distance by line of light The general effect
IL represented In the third picture, "Vow on the
Susquehanna near Columbia"
MIR. George Is. Wood, Jr., who appears 10 have
almost abandoned landscape, has four small genre
subjects, which, while they scarcely equal 10 the
best French and German pictures OF tho class,
show very decided Improvement ana are far In
advance of anything that this artist has yet pro-
duced. These are "The Old Tink er," "rhc Stocking
hnitter avery clever little picture; 'rhe Brook
and THE Cottage Door"
''rhe Engagement between the Monitor and Nor
rlmac, by Aanthus Smith, " ono OF the largest pic
lures that this artist has yet produced. Mr.. Smith
was an eyewitness OF this encounter, and he has
given very spirited and undoubtedly faithful repre-
senaton OF one OF the greatest and most momontous
naval battles OF the worlds history.
These pictures, with Mr. Hls "fo Semitic Valley"
whch improves upon acquaintance; Mr.. Constant
Mayors GOOD Words Mr. Berstadt's effective
cnromos ana their originals and few American and
foreign pictures OF interest make small but attrac
tive exhibition, which IL worthy the attention OF all
lovers OF art
SPECIAL NOTICES.