Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-26
L; RE IS, FRID A Y



OWN intrinsic merits, were points OF iilu-
nination upon the walls, and contributed
much to the first impression and general
Effect o! the exhibition. But, in place OF
these and other paintings which grew so
familiar to US a year ago, there appear now
the works OF other artists, some OF high and
Of hig hest reputation. Among the new names
new only to this Gallery's cataiogue) are
those of Kensett, stanford k. Clifford. In
ness, Shirlaw, Chase, F. Hopkinson Smith,
and, among the foreign painters. Meyer
Won Bremen. We must sdd to this that
many artists, already familiar to us, have
kindly chosen this year to select from their
studios for our examination, works which
much better represent the several excel
lencies of the painters than those sent by
the same artists year ago: such artists
for example, as Messrs. Bricher, Brown.
Eastman johnson. Ryder. T. l.. Smith and
Shurtlef. To these names many visitors,
in consideration of the attrsctiveness of the
subjects, would probably be inclined to ado
those of Messrs. Beard, Bellows (for water
colors), r. Swain Clifford, James NJ. Hart,
Miller, Quartley and Van Elten. On the
whole We must conclude that if the pictures
of the present. collection are at all less strik-
ing at first sight than were those OF the
former collection. yet their permanent e1-
csllen ee is. at least, as great.
The visitor. We may suppose. will natural
ly commence with the landscapes. as best
display ing the aim and the success OF Amer
lean art. Among the more than fifty
landscapes here.-showing BY their num-
Der aud BY their generance excellence how
strong is tho tendency of American
painters t. the careful study OF ma
ture,-No. ~. By the late Mr.. kensett,
has the first claim on our attention. Not
merely as picture of high merit in itself,
but also as a somewhat rare e1ample-on
public exhibition and ssle-of this distin-
guished artists work, it will be one OF the
first paintings to be sought out upon the
walls. The quiet harmony Of the middle
and left portions of the picture best repre-
sent the peculiar refinement and deiicacy OF
the painters manner. in the distant cliffs
and the snow-cappei mountain. and in the
subtle cradations of tone by which the
multitude of au tumnalhued trees are made
to come forward from the distance into the
foreground. Ia the front. the dark brook
winding toward you, and the rock in light
and shadow, add much to the general effect.
Mr.. wyant, whose fine picture (No. "
was purchased last year for the gallery,
and who has lately won such favorable
notice from tho Partisan artcritics, has
sent to the present exhibition two land
scapes. No. %, Tho Mississippi Bottom, "
is of striking and powerful effect. Its few
and simple lines. its chosen self-restrsint oil
nolor. its broad space, give it an air OF great
ness. Ii has-if one may venture such an
expression in respect to painted land
scape-a certain sculptural sense OF power
that bides its time it is a look into q new
world, q field for history to come. The
light breaking finely from the sky and over
flowing the wide plain, the effective opposl-
ton Of the group Of dark trees to the
highest light of the sky, the narrow CLEAN
of the distant river. the luxuriant growth
of the foreground, and the skill. Tor In
stance, with which q few scraps of pain
are made to turn into cattle at the proper
depth Of air awsy-are excellent parts oil
an excellent whole. In the same artist
Road to Kenmore" mo. 30. scene IN thu
neighborhood of Killarney the low noun
tain-rsnge is painted with great attention
to form.
Mr.. Minor, whose Evening on th'
Mouse" was so deservedly admired las
year, has contributed IA tho nrasAnt erhi
bitIon two landscapes. both Of high merit,
although in very different styles. In both
the simplest elements have suihced tt
the artist for his fine results. No
50, Evening"" is remarkable for TIT
luminous power of its after-sunse
glow. The light of this ended day is still
| floating in the West, and seemingly NOR,
brilliant as it is about to disappear. Tn
brilliancy is skilfully sustained and height
ened by the darkness of the trees OZARK bu
| retaining COLOR striking strongly upon tn
| Illuminated sky. Rapidly and boldly paint
| ed, it treasures up for remembrance thu
| still beauty of S1mmer evening. No. n
| BY the same artist is bright and sunny
| with the CHEEKY air Of a fine Autumn day
| The light blue sky, with thin white clouds
| the rich greens of the grass, the russell AMI
| yellow Autumnal foliage. the glimpse tn
lake in the background. all bear their par
| in the agreeable harmony of this picture
Especially noticeable is the spreading
merchandising oak in the centre. with al
and light well through it, and the warn
colors of its foliage plsssingly repeated IL
the sedgy pool in front.
MIR. Bristol's Lake Memphrsmsgog, "(No
81 strongly resembles in its qualities hi
Connecticut River" OF last year; We have
in the main, the same almos. perfect paint
ing Of smoothly ripping water-surtace. an
the same extraordinary ease in the repre-
sentation Of distance behind distance. From
the admirably painted projecting land oil
the left, with its trees 10 clear sight the ey
looks far on to the point on the right will
its foliage dimmed By haze, and to poin
still more remote farther back. the noun
tain finely yelled in mist, and still beyon'
the mountain range fading away into ye
DINNER distance. The light sky, the ex
auisite shadows on the water, the air OF IN
ruflled quiet. are nature itself. The Who'll
seems done with such ease. that We hardl,
think of the wears of careful observation
and assiduous practice which lie behind tn
charming nsturalness Of the artists work
No. 5, by the same painter, is in quite dill
ferent manner, but is also of agreeable an
harmonious coloring.
The luminous color, the soft aerial tones
and the somewhat idealizing tendency o
Mr.. SANFORD X. Giffcrd's landscapes, ar
well illust rated in his three paintings in tn
prosen. collection. No. IS presents to u
| an lnuian summer al!ernoon- n soiucl
haze is over all, and slightly veils-by it
brightness-all but the steep slope an
the rudy and goljen-brown foliage
the foreground Below CLEANS broad
wooded plain. through which, here an
there, small stream glitters to tho sun
In tho remote distsnce-remote as in
dream-a noun tain range melts softly int
the sky. A desirable picture. and charac
teristic Of the artist. Another admirabl
scene, and in much the same golden wealth
or, il his Marshes of the Hudson" INC
s9). The cloudless sky, the bright reiiec
tons in the shallow waters nearer the eye
the dry ma rsh-grasses summing themsel7e
on the shore, the brown woods on tn
right that. although !eafiess. have rudd
vigor about them, as though ready to cheer
ily begin again next Spring, all wear tn
calm gladness Of the chosen and seiec