New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-22
TENTH EXHIBITION or TIE W4TERCOLOR
SOCIETY,".


Society OF Painters in Water Coos was opened to artists
and representatives OF the at the National Acad-
envy OF Design Saturday evening. II was generally
ncipated that special effort would be made by the
members OF the Society indicate in their works the
progress o. the art this country and the expectations
thus raised not disappointed 1t is, beyond doubt
the best exhibition which have yet seem Not only Is
the proportion OF weak and imperfect work much less
than ever before but almost without exception each OF
the artists who has already distinguished himself
contributes pictures which give evidence OF faithful anu
conscientious. study, There Is very. perceptibie
tendency to hold the simple elements Of the art and
win SUCCESS without the OF the many technical aids
which may legitimately be added to it,
500 numbers, completely filing all the avail
able space in the north east west and northwest rooms
and the corridor. The hanging committee have done
their duty integenty and impartally, and every i'm
portant picture is within convenient reach OF VISION
The best works are concentrated in the north room
las they have been once wce) but lend their attrac
tons equally to the other halls The prominent exhib
itors are Coman, smiIlie Bricher, HOpknson Smith,
Bellows, W. r. Richards Ncoll. Winsiow Homer, Perry
Wood Swain Clifford, and Farrer or foreign artists
there are MISSIONER, Viegas Detaille Viber Bernie
Bellecour and De Leuce. Teresa Hegg, Miss Bridges,
and Mrs Stman contribute the best specimens OF still
life OF which there rather less than usual The for
gn element Is lust sufficient to give variety point and
contrast the work Of our own artists and the visitor
cannot fail 10 observe that the latter does not suffer from
the immediate comparison. MesSoners picture, TOT ex-
ample" A Republican Sentinel lis figure admirable
in pose and simple honest c0lorng yet the stone ram
mart behind him thin and insubstanal as piece OF
calico the green marsh beyond tle waterine mot quite
borzonta and the broad summer sky no better than
several OF our native watercoloriss could paint The
Japanese at Prayer" by Viliegas, shows what solid
hrancy can obtained by transparent color and what
nervous strength OF drawing by an intelligent hand
But tendency to blacluess in the shadows, this
picture would be still more effective
Coman's Durham Cathedral is decidedly the best OF
his six works the exhibition The deep and rich tones
OF the trees the eroofed houses and the towering pile
Of the cathedral on the hight admirably relieved
against gray English sky, which he paints with surer
nand than the keen blu" OF the Spanish air. His LIN
colin" in the east rOom is less picturesque in character
and the along the river have scarcely the neces
sary solidy OF texture. We prefer his Afternoon in
Algiers" which ia pervaded by delightful atmosphere
OF Incidence Mr. Tanys large picture, the Palace OF
the Pasha Ali Ben Hassen" is not quite equal to his
former work We miss the clear-cut outlines and strong
Hashug colOrs which properly belong to such subject
the execution suggests yuUr rather than the artists
usual boldness But his Ola shops in Agiers," in the
west room. IA work equally simple and satisfactory
Nr swain Clifford has made decided advance since
last year. Something IN his pictures which suggested
yropng after the effect, place Of clear ana posi-
tive apprehension OF the means by which should be
produced has disappeared His drawing is tru err his
color purer and his atmosphere more essentiaya part
Of tue landscape His Evening In the Sahara" Oasis
Of Filiacl" and Scene Naples are nearly equally
good, IN these particulars.
W Richards's Sketch" in the north room, will at
once arrest attention. 1t is low key, with SINGH
arly weird character OF earth and sky, yet contains
much more color than the artist has lately given in
his PICTURES II is painted on very coarse, bulsgray
oapel, with the high lights Opaque color. The prom
nent object huge. chaky toreland, filling up all the
middle distance, while the foreground is wilderness OF
gray rocks beside which somber green and
trees becomes almost brilliant II is sketch which
cites the imagination and cliugs to the memory. His
"Old Fort Canonicut," is painted with great skill and is
flooded with pensve, luminous atmosphere, but seems
TO have more of dream than OF reality The little pic
tire Of "Purga0ry. Newport" is simply perfect. Mr.
Hopkinson Suth comes again with his forest interiors
Hisiustraion of Bryants Forest Hymn" is tho larg
est and most ambitious specimen. It has much
cc0lness and silence, rs Is meet. the fallen and
mossy trunks IN the foreground are cspitally
painted, and save tendency to crudity the
and certain lack o strength in the shadows tho picture
would be quite successful The criticism will apply
to Mr. Bellows whose large picture OF" Coaching In Now
England" with many excellent qualities. IL married by
the thn spotty character Of the foliage His Last Let
tor better IN this respect but he has not been success
full with the young ladies. Mr.. Ncols Moonlight
Cape Anu"is perhaps his best work. certainly Is
difficult subject Tie has felt, and very faith
fully eadeavored to render the equal depth purity aud
mystery Of moonlight Mr. Snllies "Truants," In the
same neghhorhood Ia very good He has also view Of
the Yosemite Valley very and lovely in color and
several other excellent landscape sketches.
OF genre pictures have only space to mention. at
present Mr.. Woods Arguing the Question" Mr.
Honer's "Rattesnake." and Mr.. Perry's "spun
Out" and "Mllkmaid" Several artists In oil
nave also contributed small but careful specimens Of
their work in watereolor MIR. McEntee has pair
which very strikingy-s Winter twilight which
makes the spectator shiver. and blazing October land
scapc. Mr.. Cropscy has a ANAL and agreeable Lake
scene," Messrs Van Elten and shurtlc several good
landscape sketches. and Mr.. barley with cattle
well drawn hut far from agreeable In color OF tbs still
lie. Miss Dridgos's "Rseneid" "a easily the best thing