New-York tribune., 1875-05-17
FINE ARTS.
AMERICAN PICTURES AT CorTrER's.
Ner- York, May 4, 1875,

| The pictures by American artists, which have
been and enjoyed by so many persons during the
last three weeks at the of Mcssrs COttier Co..
No I4l Ffh-avc will not be on view much longer, and
1t is to be hoped that before they removed they will
have been visited by every in city who is inter
ested I'm the prosperity Of Art in America. With the
ception OF Mr. W. NJ Hunt Mr. John La Fargo, and per-
haps Mr. Abbot H. Thayer. the artists contributing to this
little exhibition OF somewhat less than forty pictures are
unknown the general public Several Of them have had
pictures skyed nOOred In late exhibitions, they have
been passed in silence by the newspapers and dis
OF their merits and their faults has been almost
exclusively confined to the small circle of their personal
friends II very certain that such position cannot
have contcned artists capable OF painting the pictures
Cottiers walls to-day. Ii is also very certain
that they done all that artists in general do to put
their pictures in the light OF the public marketplace
il they have been successful the fault does not
Iio with them. There are artists than
the world thinks who understand Turner's
taking down OF his pictures on the line In the
Royal Academy to make room for rejected artist In
whose work he merit, and sure that even in
our Academy there are good men and true who would
have made sacrifice to have Miss Oakley or Mr
Latlrop justice However here the pictures,
and the public has boen able to enjoy them In spite OF
the disinteresed people who think there isn't room on
the walls Of the Academy for all the schools you KNOW
who think these pictures too artistic, which Is as II
man should object roastbec that it is too beefy
Certainly the room with its tapestry OF pictures is
cheerful inspiriting sight, and almost everybody ex-
claims on entering at the delightful harmony between
the with It's rich but sober color and the paintings
Oakley surprises everybody with her power OF color
and with the vigorous workmanship OF her manly
Boy" II pleases to note her independence,
not suggesting any master, only familiarity with the
great schools ana loyal following their look directed
toward the e the energy, and tho spend0r OF nature
anny viii perhaps learn with something Ike
surprise how much picture like this do in lighting
4 binvO atnuta
trait of Boy" and it would be like turning down the
gas Yet there isn't square inch Of bright color in the
picture. The same lady has tall Venetian glass with
Azaeas in it. which is enough in itself to give her
! high rank among the mere painters while
| tho sentiment in it admits her to the company
| of those who not only painters but poets
Mr. Francis LathrOp is already felt TO he one Of the
men whose work is to exercise influence upon the
Art OF America in the future. lie has had place in
any exhibition, and all his pictures were refused this
Spring the Academy. Yet there not in the present
| Academy Exhibition hoad by whOmsoever painted
that has strength Of the Head OF Lady" in this
collection nor ia there such lovely square Of color there
as is TO In his small Sketch for Portrait here,
which was in the Water Color Exhibition but hung high
| up ont reach Of eyes. What quaint, American way
| of encouraging young artist this is and how
| perverse in artists who treated so if
| tbey look over the to Europe and
think of the way the Whsers and Boughons and Les
| lies and AllstOns get on.
or Mr. La Fargo, small need at this late day to speak;
but comforting know that such spirit his s at
last aftor much patient waiting, beginning to take pos
session of its own. That spirit is shown in his works Ia
boring without haste and without rest. to perfect noble
-idea that shall satisy-nOt the world, but his own de-
sireand which, for that very reason, does satisfy noble
people every where Mr. La Fargcs art has much
rety that we puzzled to characterize with word,
but it is first and always poetry and that word in
! cludes all that an artist need for. His solemn
1 Oh . III. { n ,
Etiye Panel" his exqustely contrasted Water Lilies"
which together perfect pOemwterc is the artist
among us who touch many and various chords
Yet while there among who Is rightly lifted
"A he to appeal the best there In the much abused term
p0puar-hOw little this artist Is known to Ameri
can public We have left ourselves space in which to
speak Of Miss Helena De Kay's work. which shows prom.
ise Of great encouragement her Portrait Of Lady
has being portrait and the refinement that
comes equally the subject and the artist and that
makes the delightful portraits when it shared
Miss b. Greenes work here deserves equal praise with
that from her hand In the Academy Exhibition, and Miss
Knowon Miss Lane and Miss Boot have surprised New
Workers with the knowledge OF talent that Boston has
monopolized thus far with many other good things
She sends smax lettuce. and rosebuds but she has
till now kept her artists for her enjoyment. Let
hope next year she may find Newiork more ready
| to welcome the work Of her daughters.