The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-12
THE FINE ARTS.
The Water Color Exh,b,,,o,.

The public does not seem to appreciate the very
meritOrious exhibition OF water color paintings at
the Artists Fund Galleries, and the visitors are so
few and far between that the gentlemen who have
arranged the affair." at considerable trouble to them
selves, are seriously in doubt whether they will be
able to clear expenses. This want OF interest is not
creditable to the art taste OF Philadelphia and we
particularly regret that the exhibition is better
patronzed, as the proceeds are to be devoted to a
very charitable object the Chldren's Hospital. The
water color exhibition is throughout up to q high
mark OF excellence and although the display at the
Academy of Fine Arts is more extensive yet taking
all things into consideration. the smaller collection
is meritorous and better worthy the attention
Of those who can appreciate really good
art works. Water color painting well
deserves to be better understood and more extern
svely cultivated in this country than it has been
it combines number of qualities that unattain-
able with other mediums. The present collection is
particularly interesting, as 1t presents number of
superior specimens of English, American and French
styles, which are so arranged that the visitors
make proper comparison OF the merits OF each.
The hanging has been judiciously done by gentle
men OF taste and discretion who had no other object
than to make the display attractive possible to
the public and the artistic of the exhibition
is such that it ought to give an impetus to the study
and practice OF Gquareue
Hitherto the English have taken the lead in this
branch of art and they have carriedit to high
up in this country, and many of the works by
native artists will compare favorably in every way
with the best English specimens. Messrs E. Moran,
f d. Lewis, w. T. Richards, l. L. Williams, j. Hamil-
ton, K. B. Bensell, and other Phiadephians have
some highly creditable contributions, and New York
sends number OF excellent works. Mrs. Murray,
who is now counted among the American artists,
may fairly be said to stand at the head Of the water
color school in this country and we would partcu-
larly call attention to her works for the encourage
ment of other women who are gifted with artistic
talents, as evidence that in art real
ability will be appreciated without regard to sex.
The picture entitled ''The Eleventh Hour" by this
lady, is work Of remarkable merit in every way it
is powerful in subject, superb in color and good in
drawing. In the pictures by Mrs Murray previously
exhibited here, the drawing of the figures has not
been particularly good although their excellences
in other respects have been SUFFICIENT to counter
balance this defect In the work under considera-
ton however there is nothing to complain of in this
respect, while 1t shows improvement in other par
tculars.
We heartily commend this exhibition to the atten-
ton Of the art-oving public, account of its many
merits as well for the worthy object for which it
was arranged, and we hope that during the remain
der of the time it is open the influx OF visitors
will be greater than during the past two or three
weeks.