The New York herald., 1877-01-21
ART MATTERS.
aEcEPrloN or THE AMERICAN SOCIETY o.

Literature
were well represented, and every other person cncoun
tered moro less Of a celebrity II had also the
merit Of being perfectly Tree and easy. the organ.
izers Of this exhibition, with true Bohemian instinct,
always begin proceedings by "stag party" As re-
suit there was delightful OF freedom, of which
tho assistants took reasonable advantage and the re-
ception was generally voted magnificent success.
ARRANGEMENT
Tho Committee OF Arrangement deserve great credit
for the way which pictures have been disposed
There undue crowding, and no picture has been
hung out Of sight Tho idea Of marking the rank Of
picture by placing 1t the Line to have been
departed from, and each work left 10 make its own
impression the public This idea has many de-
cidsd advantages to recommend It, and when car
lied out with fairness and judgment can
scarcely fail TO give general satisfaction
Looked ut whole this years exhibition
Stands well ahead OF all It's predecessors and vndlcatcs
artists from the rcproach Of standing still II is
evident demand for good water color painting
sprngipg up among American ART connoisscurs, and
this delightful branch OF painting promises TO obtain
high place IN tho estimation or people IL
properly enjoys in Europe.
THE ABSENT.
good many OF native artists either do like
10 work in water colors cannot succeed in this ma
teral There Is consequently large gap in the list OF
names which we accustomed TO meet in art exhbi-
ons and though the water color painters have worked
vigorously they have not been wholly able TO make
up In the matter OF quantity for the absence OF their
comrades of tho brush In order prevent the works
spreading too much the walls the South Room
has been boaraed mp and tho collection disposed in the
remaining rooms and the corridor.
rHE COLLECTION.
Among the moro striking pictures is a study OF
rocky plain, with just glimpse OF the distant sea,
from tho brush OF Richards. Tho cooring is remark
ably quiet and subdued The rocks in the foreground
we'll studied. and are painted with unusual vigor.
This work impressive and cannot very well pass
Il by without noticing it
THE CoLLEEsA
Mr. Willia.a Magratb. modest artist of moro than
ordinary merit is in this exhibition to great
vanas.. He has two paintings In the North Room,
both OF Irish subjects in rendering which nc
excel One represents peasant girl churning and
another collceDs busiy engaged working lace
whe thcr tongues not less busy than their hpgcrs
They probably exchanging the OF the day. but
whatever may be the subject OF the conversation II
be pleasant Tor tho happy honest faces Of the girls
wrcathcd in smiles These works afford good
dence Of tho versatility OF the artist for while both
p,ctu are thoroughly and Enthusiastically Mileslan
they different as possible 10 treatment. ''rhc
Butter Churnng" Is an interior with single figure,
aud Is painted with wonderful strength. The girl at
the churn is the picture Of robust health and is we'll
In her place with her churn and her crock, OF cream
She seems t. have been interrupted for moment
at ner Work and turns toward the invisi-
bic intruder with pleasant look Of inquiry
though the ntrusica was not al all Objectionable
II the picture Is remiiscencc there are good many
people who VIII envy the ARTIST The other picture is
outside scene and has bceu painted WITH the same
iorce ana us companion. The sunlight effect
is well rendered. but OF necessity It lacks the rich.
glow OF the interior picture. Several other pic
lures OF IRISH ntc by the game artist, scattered
through tho exhbitlon each is fresh and dis.
tnct in type and all exhibit the conscientious
work Mr. Magrath is an admirable draughtsman. He
q N "a m
jules Wo, ms sends cevcrly painted Spanish sub.
ect 1t Is lover waiting the appearance OF the fair
at the reja The figure we'll drawn, and the bit
Of street much truer to nature than usua u pictures
Bellows fine work, "Coacnng in Now England " with
It's admirable study of American slms. has found
place IN this room. Also hts .Harvest Scene Eng
have already been noticed at some length in tho
HERALD. and only necessary here to refer to them
nns s0oa a OS wh or 'e%
strong study OF tired croquct player.
A. y.unx Lady I resting chair Her
with strength and freedom, and the painting OF tho
costume rs vigorous and full Of promise. The flesh
painting Is not equally good, but, no doubt, time vii!
help the artist In this direction.
Berne Bellecour has Tor abandoned his brilliant
coors and appears 10 advantage In u small picture
which has little more motive than is usual in the
school Of costume painting lady Is teasing cat with
her fan aud both cat and lady are expressvely
The action OF the lady is at once easy and natural.
Slight IS the subject 1t is positively relief from tho
costume painting, pure and simple, which unfortu-
ARAB SCENE
Tiffany has a remarkable and very agreeable
picture OF Arab lite Its composition Is scattering and
there OF between the groups below
and the elegant veranda which towers above and
seems TO belong to another picture. His figure paint.
ing does not impress with any idea OF strength or
vgor and possibly the picture would have been better
without theui Hopkiuson Smiths "ln the Darking
Wood" Is thorough realization OF wild wood
II full OF rank odors aud picturesque with creeping
the forest lie scattered about and them begin
creep the lowy orchid The biuc heavy atmosphere
Is suggestive OF fever aud nguc.
Is represented by sevorai works. "The Cavalier and
the Priest" boldly skcched and full of character and
one OF his characteristic attacks tho monks which
is called ''The Grassa1p .crs aud the Ants" This
represents the meeting OF poor child Of song and
c spow ,s op tho ernnnd rho m1rstr.I ia ca, N he
summsr garments and has nough but his guitar, while
the monk. well clad, IL laden down with provisions
THIS wosk rs fall OF humor, though, no doubt, there
undcries plenty 0t food ior reflection.
MEIssoyIEEs
contribution is q "Reputcan Sentinel of the Army OF
the War; painted with great power and simplicity
II is so natural we alrn0s: seem to the The
an Italian girl washing at fountain, picture full
oil sunshine Van Ellen has several pleasant land
scapcs. In one OF them number OF well executed
barn iowIs are introduced.
new man. Horenden, sends from Brittany proms.
her fortune in iovc by the ihstlc-down 1t is strong
IN color, and shows freedom and certainty drawing
Colman has a realistic picture Of Venetian nshing
boats, with their curIously picturesque sails d. r.
Knights "Noonday Harvest Mcal'' cannot be passed
ovcr-t Is strong in composition and harmonious in
tone. The midday effect. too, is admirably
rendered. Swan Gnord has several Eastern subjects
but tho picture which plcases mo,t from It's nov
Llty perhaps is bit Of home landscape which rcsn
and vie~rss Pranshnkon, who IRON his name ~
probably Kussan, has two small pictures of respect
able mc'it. One OF them especially full of
vigor and represents a race between scighs
The action OF the horses is admirably
rendered A. H. Baldwin has managed 10 make even
the tugboat picturc-qur, but could only succeed by
loading It dowa with female beauty. Brcher has
fresh and pleasant study OF b. OF landscape. with
stream and in the foreground Homer, always
peculiar, has n striking picture OF two ladies seated
sofa playing chess--thc whole painted against a
white background.
James 9. Thom's pretty picture OF two children in
0cd will fail to the ladies' II charming
IN its sympathy with childhood and simplicity Of
motive II has besides the advantage OF being well