The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-22
THE FINE ARTS.
THE Water-Coior Exhibition at the Artists
Fund Galleries.

The WnIpr-{' 'OfOF Exhibition the Artists
Fund Galleries.
Last evening a collection of water-color paintings
was thrown open to private view at the rooms of
the Artists Fund Society, No. 1884 Chestnut street
To-day the collection was made accessible to the
general public, and win so remain for about month
AS the proceeds OF the exhibition for the benefit
of the Children's Hospital, located on Twenty
second street, below Walnut, very worthy insttu-
tion we should anticipate liberal patronage, inde
pendeny OF the unquestionable merits of the paint
ings on exhibition. Embraced in the collection are
over two hundred subjects, covering the whole
range between the slightest sketches and ambitious
efforts such as are seldom attempted, and still more
rarely with success, except in oil. The most prom-
nent watercolor artists of both Europe and America
have contributed 10 the collection, and the walls
may be found many masterpieces OF the art.
This exhibition is particularly interesting, as 1t is
the most extensive exhibition OF water-oolors we
have had in this city, and it is well worthy OF the
attention OF all art eonR0SSetTs. There is prevalent
opinion that GltayeJe is an inferior branch OF art
and this very erroneous idea is encouraged by the
fact that at the exhibition OF the Academy of Fine
Arts works OF this class usually sighted by the
hanging committee, that the public scarcely have
fair opportunity TO judge Of their merits. Water
color painting, too, has been but little practised In
this country, although in England it has been car
rled to high state Of perfection. BY organizing
separate water-color exhibition, the gentlemen who
have Interested themselves in making the collection
now on view at the Artists Fund Rooms have done
q genuine service to She art-oving public, The
works can be judged on their own merits without
pelng placed in disadvantageous uXtaposition with
OIL pictures and the very high character OF the col
lecuon Is calculated TO impress the public with an
adequate idea OF the real merits of water-color
painting Water-coIors have important qualities
which oils nave not and the two cannot pronerly he
placed IN comparison. The transparency deIicacy
and tenderness OF tone which are the distingusbng
characterstics or oqUdree cannot be riyaed i'm oils
and we hope that this exhibition will have the et
of giving the public some new ideas ON the sphoo,
and will encourage our artists make greater efyort
than they have done hitherto to create AN Anerica
water-cOlor school OF art.
The north room which the visitor arst onters IL
devoted principally TO sketches OF both foreign ana
American artists. Prominent among them NAV ha
noticed works OF merit by c. Schussele. j. II
Krimmel and Mrs. f. Murray, and an illumination
by Miss Jean Lee, which fairly rivals the work of
those old masters OF the art the monksh copyiss of
the Middle Ages
The large middle room Is devoted 10 the works OF
foreign artists exclusively and presents many of the
finest productions that have made their way to the
United States. Perhaps the most striking and
effective is picture by Mrs. H. Murray, entitled
1.-THE Eleventh Hour" which Ia admirable In color