The New York herald., 1877-01-17
ART MATTERS.
THE ARTIST FUND SOCIETY.

THE ARTIST FUND SOCAhI1s
The seventeenth annual reception Of the Artist Fund
Society took place last night in Kurz's Art Gallery
and proved exceptionally successful The object Of
this society is strictly benevolent aud this lends to its
reunions a character OF genialIty too frequently
absent from artistic nssemblagcs rho society
numbers some sixty odd members and includes most
OF the best known American artists This year the
pictures contributed to the fund above tho average
merit which obtained ut former exhibitions. although
somc few paintings which could we'll havc been re-
jeccd have found places the walls However, thcre
arc SO many really strong pictures compensate for
tho presence OF the inferior that VIC eau easily
forget the presence OF the mcdiocrltcs.
STRONG
Among tho artists who have done themselves most
honor Mr. David Johnson stands prominent. He has
Two midsummer landscapes remarkable Tor their
strength and freshness Mr. johnson belongs 10 those
artists constantly making sincere efforts 10
improve their work and seeking new methods Tor the
fitting expression OF their ideus OF beauty. We hre
no therefore, much astonshed wnen we see
and vIgor, as in his "Mcadow al Ramapo" In which hc
shows power as landscape painter, and suddenly
surprises his friends by the Introduction OF some I'D
mirably studied catto The moudow itself Is pnntcd
with and precision that would delight the heart
ofa pre-aphac.e yet has tho strength and broadness
the French school Mr.. Johnson's picture Is w fur
the freshest and most vigorous Ian dscapc In thc col
lection Dpother young man has also ntcd pic
turo whidB gives him ut once high place among
American nsure-pain,ers. Under the modest title Of
..The WINDOW Mr. o. U. j. Lay contributes remark
ably sweet work. il epr'scnts young girl sitting by
window. She Is alone with hcr thoughts, and, if we
NAV Judge BY the expression Of her face, full Of
rcposs aud tho softcncd light IN which tho scene Is
bathcd, they arc holy thoughts This work Is as re-
markabc Tor the excellence OF It's execution rs Tor tho
poetry and beauty OF us sentiment The management
OF the light is masterv. Note especially the way IN
which the creeping vnc Is painted and the cunning
which It's lines disposed so as not to interfere
with the harmony OF tho composition. Hitherto Mr.
Lay has been chiefly known as portrait painter; In
future hope sec him devote portion of his time
to ngurp subjecta
AN ARTISTIC pxAr.
8. y. Guy has admirably painted picture illus
trang the lines 'Who taught my infant lips to pray
The artist shows two children praying at their
mothers knee and has imagined tn. novel idea Of
painting them in interior room. Tie foreground
OF the picture s dark room aud from this we look
through door INTO the lighted rooW where
IN ls Se ca Of distance nas
light effects with singular hdclity II is an artistic
feat OF high order. Of which Mr. Guy has right to be
proud. De Haas effective moonlight scene, and
:. Clifford u very pleasing work. representing
scene Oh the Hudson by twilight. Bristols "Black
Mountain, Lake George rs sircng, vol composed
canvas Eastman Johnsou's ''OId Gobber'' rs we'll
up 10 his average, and ~ spirited work. An ideal
head by Iawre pleasant to look upon und good In
co;ar 1no President OF the society, Mr. Hicks, has
work with nice feeling, "The Morning PraIer,"
which We prefer TO his more pretentious work. W. j.
Hennessy's stiatherlng Fruh' Is natural and full OF
charm. Near IL Is clever little work By Boughton,
much stronger In color than most Of bis works
Arthur QunrtIcy, one Of the young artists, has two
very good Casilear. CIopscy, Miller Scott and
Fulconer arc also Well represented. j. &. Brown Is
seen ut his best IN street Arap SUBJECT Two boot
blacks gambling, aud the artist calls his work
'.Hcads Tails" II Is iull OF character and
strongly realized storey paints silas Foster Of tho
Bihedalc Romance, and gives US strong picture Of
a reaper sharpening his scythe. There bcsidcs
number OF other works would like to mention did
spucc permit but enough has been said tho
quality OF the works composing the collection. The
paintings Will remain ON frcc exhibition until January
80 when they will be sold by auction at Association
Hail.