New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-14
FINE ARTS.
THE WATER COLOR EXHIBITOR

THE WATER COLOR EXHtBITiOf.
The Managers of the present Exhibition have
done wisely. it seems to in not making any one
place particular limbo for drawings that neither
be said to be accepted rejected Orr feeling Is.
that there ought not 10 DO such limbo in any exhi-
bition. without carrying rigorous rules too severely
INTO execution there should DO bones made OF refus
ing work that the would prefer kept out OF
sight after it has boon accepted and the more
this principle is acted on with frmness In any
case the better tho Exhibition ID sure to be- The
Managers OF American Society have no more Deen
able 10 get rid altogether OF weak and jeune work than
have their brethren OF London and Paris, hut they have
gracefully contriyed make IL inoiensye this year by
putting here and there, rather than in morgue by
itself and we are therefore obliged to look at 1t I'M
Icss we will This IA tho more sensible way and the
mora cbartae-kinder TO the artist and to the public
Tho corridor gallery has usually been the sad resort or
these castaways. But excepting that 1t Is somewhat
narrow large pictures well ill., 1t 10 not place TO
be avoided the light thereand this is the main thing
being as good that of any OF the rooms Aud we find
berel number Of drawings that are as worthy OF
notice IA any in the exhibition. The Leaves" from
Mr. Wnslow Homers sketch-bo0k arc very striking
leaves indeed aud could be content to see more OF
them There is original vein In this artist and IN
working It, his love for truth and drectness Keeps him
well clear OF a3ctationno which vice We have never
once known him fall Nor. though we believe no got
much OF his arteducation IN Paris, docs
he In tho least recall the manner OF any
famous artist there. IL Is true he has a manner
OF his own mannerisms the reader choose to call
them SUCH but the manner has sprung from the artists
individual way OF looking at Nature not from bis way
OF looking at some othor mans pictures. Mr.. Homer
pla,ply enjoys his art. His pictures have nothing
shoppy about them. IA IL they were only made TO
sell We imagine the artist painting for pure pleas
ure and being rather surprised at ones thinking OF
buv,ne his work. These ten sketches-mere memoran-
dunn bots and exclamation points they areare sure
70 arrest every passer no onel can fail 10 see That
they have been made byi clever, observing, truth
loving man. They so pleasant to look at we arc
almost content not ask Mr. Homer for hnshedpiece
Mr. rbomas Eakins sends several drawings Of great
merit two Of the best OF which are well placed In the
corridor. These portraits OF rowing and sculng
celebrities their boats and set In landscapes that are
ga much TO be enjoyed the men, with their beautifully
uglv muscles or tho skeleton boats-the only exqut
stely artistic production of the American nineteenth
cenry mind thus Repeating the old contest OF the
coda Nature made a boodhorse as her masterpiece.
and man a skeleton-boat as his Nature piqued, went
one better and put soul into her beast but put
Riolin into his paper-shell, on which Nature
sulked and smiled, and owned the ODDS were
evan. Mr. Eakn has struck out a new vein in these
sun,ects and barring slight eIaggerations, and
ome signs OF tmidy. his work is very clever. In No.
oo- 1.-THE Pair Dared Race-John and Barney Biglin
Turning the stake" EAST Room) the shore is delight
tnv managed and the drawing Of the figure Is worthy
y, heinc closely looked at IL Ia full OF spirit ana thor
hv right in,ntention and while there are faults Of
, Main TO be SEEN plain too that they are fail
80 70 col ALI the truth the artist is honestly striving
~ and such failures add not only Interest but vuo to
anv work Mr. Eakins's drawings will be looked for
, interest II Is not every year there is SO promising
a first appearance.
IN elm ,rest wall OF the corridor there arc several
cor studies which slight and unpretending as they
orc oeserye looking at for they show the direction In
h,c acme OF our young students are working Field
plowersnbys NJ Gay, elbows much freedom and tech
,ooI skl in the use OF a conventional method-a kind
~ abort hand very convenient and effective Also but
.,sinst which We would like 10 utter milo protest
Trerv artist We maintain, ought to mako his own
o,hod and IL IA by the obstacles that are put In
ms way of tho pupils acquiring independent
rer ~ observing aud recording his ohserva-
iiops that "schoos OF art" and professional
,chcr,of the arts do such much harm o! course. In
n there s no real harm done, but IN every ih'
stance where theirs capacity for good original "orh "s
the case with NJ Gay theroi serious io''
NJ time resulting from the teaching that mas Oech gone
,bronrb Vith-most of which must DO uhcaihod anu
,, demands hard work % make up. IL is inns wasted
m fact Tnen thofo 1re tricks 20 bs got rid oi 'nd tu'
On mora limo ani llDDi fus DuJ teieH'nS. ia 'h'
!, la othyr I'D, tIrs N "Jtlh ""u'HS