The New York herald., 1879-02-01
FINE ARTS.

ING-NoTEs ON THE PRINCIPAL PICTURES.
The private view Of the twelfth annual exhibition
of the American Water Color Society took place ut tho
Academy OF Design last evening. There was large
assenlbage Of artists and critics. figure in fine suit
OF armor loaned by Walter satterlee has been placed
OH the landing between the first and second flights of
steps. leading from the entrance up to the corridor
around which ranged the various galleries.
Plants and flowers tastefully arranged the
space between the stairs The paintings hung in
the north, east west and northwest galleries Of
the Academy and in the corridor, the large South
Room being closed, as usual.
1t will be found by those visitors to the present
exhibition who had the pleasure OF seeing last
years that it contains fewer important works The
average quality OF the examples is higher. however.
and the exhibition is. as whole. interesting:
for, though number of well known names are un.
represented there exhibitors whose first ap-
pcarances sgnalized by examples which will at
tract much attention. This new element brings un
doubted freshness and in some cases, undou oubted
strength. Munich, Paris and the Fortuny school
well represented The loaned foreign water col.
are. in general of little Importance though one
or two good names noted
The best water color in the collection and certainly
the best landscape is II. Swain Giords pilot Town.
Florida Q00), small work, which hangs in the
North Room. The motive is an exceedingly pic
turesque one, and the treatment has freedom and
freshness which are charming. 1t is singuIariy har
monous in its relations strong in perspective and in
landscape texture. The house in the middle dis
tance with the two palmettoes by it, is asuperb little
bit of the work. We would, however. ask Mr.. G,f-
ford how long the plank is which lies on the beach
in the foreground. Next to this, and mos di lrt
ing with it the PALM is Samuel Co!man's con the
Mas (302). in the West Room. which exhibited
in the water color display at the Union League Club
last season. and certainly the best example of his
work Mr.. Colman exhibits this year. The
color is rich, the composition fine and the
atmospheric effect master!y Broad in treatment
fine in drawing and harmonious it's lines it is GER
we would place fine little seaside sketch leather.
ing Seaweed" 1SS by William Mngrath which
hangs in the East Room. The grays in sky and sea
admirable the perspective is excellent and the
surf is strong point. 1t is crisp and effective in
every touch. A. II. Wyants two works in the North
Room, Vicinity of Newport" (40) and Forenoon
Effect 47) do him much credit. The first, to our
mind much the better work. is in a strong, dashng
vein, with excellently well managed foreground
finely given distance and a well toned broadly
handled sky. There is air and the real feeling Of
nature in this work. The second example will be
favorte with many OF the artists. TOR it is simple,
delicate bit OF impressiouism. under sky which can
be hardly called success Samuel Colman's large
Campus Kenneth Abbey, Sterling, Scotland" (l59l,
in the East Room, is fine work, simple in design
and treatment, with broadly given and well handled
color masses. Alphabetically it is skilfu and the
composition, with its well proportionna veruo.l and
horizontal lines. is very pleasing.
Returning to the North Room we note the same
artists STUDY from Nature, Narragansett, r. l."
(105). having good color and pleasing motive.
The light effect is strong point but the sky, and
landscape not in good keeping. Mr. Conran's
large Market Day in Brittany. Le Mans. (73, is
a well composed work which requires keying uD.
It is an effect of broad sunlight but we would hardly
know it if it not by the shadows which have
been carefully cast from the figures. These, by
the way though careful in costume and well grouped.
OF too large size for the artist to handle. In
silhouette they are however, better than could
expect from a landscape painter. A. +. Bellows is
represented by large work. 1.-The Village Ems''
(4l), similar to his "a New England Homestead" of
last year. He has, however, nothing to take tho
place of his excellent "An English Wayside Inn The
latter is picturesque which the two former not.
though they are pleasing rcnditions OF familiar
scenes. William Masrath is well represented III hia
1.-The Cabin Home (53, but must lay it to his
i'll health that he has not made great mark this
year as he did last with his mastery ION the
Threshold" his "a Golden Prospect and other
contributions. The young girl who, having just
risen, stands in tho fireplace and watches the
kettle boil. is soidly, conscientiously and wen
painted. and shall have more to say about her.
James ID. Smilic is effective in his sketch t39).
Of drawing, though rather false in its greens. In
his Jersey Meadows (35) George H. Smillie comes
well to the front A sketch of moorland with
quiet pool. into which Is reflected part of strong
and quiet evening sky, make up his picture. which
is very harmonious one. A quaint. picturesque
motive. snappy treated, with good color. is L. G.
Tifany's '.Old Houses ut Berne" (31).
Winslow Homer is well representedin in the collection
speak oflater; his largest picture "fresh Air" Ga
young shepherdcss standing in the breeze hill
top-is bold and effective work, excellent in its
strong light and shade and full Of the feeling OF
clustering day. F. $. Churchs mo Thoroughfare"
l6 is one OF those quaint. weird concets for which
he has a reputation. T. W. Woods .The Muddy
Crossing we have already expressed appreciation
of in these columns. and many will sympathize with
the charming old lady in her prcdicament. We pro
test against being expected admire and search fol
feeling in such an unpleasant. watery work ~
Henry Farrer's Twilight tss). J. G; Nicon hass
very real IN color and light effect in his Near
Knightsville, Maine (7a).
little Tiffany, "Archway Tlemeen" (l46), which is
full Of sunlight and has fine feeling of depth under
the arch. Henry Murhman's "Gentleman of the Six
.eenth Century G3o). has fine old head. and
glad to welcome this young and new member Of the
society. whose first exhibits in the present collection
are good in themselves and full of promise for tho
future Broad treatment. bold grasp after and
successful capture OF an effect pure color and .
strong eye for character in animate and inanimate
nature are his best points. 'The Little Merchant
p72) is like all his exhibits this year. study
picinre phs D' william MagratSs Miltmoia % isS iss
is sngularly unsuccessful work to be from good
a hand. The figure is heavy and ungracefui and the
GO good little X. Van Elten; there is nice color
and charming little vista over the river Walter
A. +. Bellows Little Thistedown' (175 has a face
Of peculiar and unchdlike contour cast In her
ana strange in growth Walter satterlee shows do
cided improvement in his Solitaire Q99 q
fully painted interior. with old bachelor seated at
the game The figure is well posed and nicely
drawn. Thomas Morans Morning Ride (12l),
strongly painted landscape rich and solid In color.
has horseman in fun gallop finely introduced.
On entering the West Room passing for the present
the corridor, get first sight Of the first contri-
buttons to the socictys exhibitions of three decii
edy interesting mcn-Mcssrs. Brennan, Blum and
Curricr. No matter what may be thought OF their
work their aims. and the latters decidedly
comprehensive, their productions will attract much
attention. The two former ardent disciples Of
Fortuny, and strong men, We convinced Of
this by the sight of their pen and inks
in the Northwest Room than Of the water colors,
which show, however, decided covcrness The color
of both is good, but Mr. Blum has the advantage.
They are both humorists and their drawings Will
raise may smile by their dainty grotesquerie
before the exhibition closes. The confrsyes go
into nothing deeply; they skim their subjects,
picking out bit OF color, grotcsque poses
a suggestion of rich furniture here and there to
transfer to their paper. Note first that grotesgue:
decorative almost carcature, "a Flight OF Storks.
by Robert Blum. An old Japanese artist is at work
decorating huge vases. while stork his model.
looks his shoulder. and young child tumbles
about the apartment In the most inconscquential
tuf, l14ll the first examnlc of A.