The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-25
THE SOCIETY or AMERIC1N ARTISTS.

II has very unwisoly been given tho MOST
prominent place in the collection. Unwsely. be-
cause Mr. Weir can do better work. as his nd
mirable portrait in tho Academy exhibition last
year conclusivcly proves. and also because the
picture is distinct failure. likely to iniure the
artists reputation. and unworthy Of tho place
II assumes to the exclusion OF better work by
others. The title is In the Park tNo. 63), and
the subject Is n group Of half n dozen figures
about n bench among the trees. 1t Ia thrown
together without any apparent idea OF compost
ton or suggestion of definite purpose tho
treatment is coarse. and the drawing. p0rticu-
larly OF the face Of the principal figure. girls.
IL careless and Indifferent Mr.. Woir has not
properly thought out his subject or arrived Mt n
distinct apprehension Of its purpose. and con-
scqucnty he has boon unable to apply 10 1t such
knowledge and skill rs his study abroad had
enabled him to acquire.
Mr.. Il. Swain Ginord's three pictures mos. 81.
90. and 75I are charming landscapes. odd
Trees on the MHssach usctts Coast" the largest
canvas, is one of the most thoughtful. serious.
and we-considered pictures that he has cx-
hibied. In its general treatment II Is admir-
able. and it has all those finer qualities that
make II to produce upon any thoughtful OBJ
server distinct and sensible impression OF the
underlying mood and spirit Of the scene itself.
Not as much can be said. unfortunately, for
Mr.. Bolton Joness Une Lande en- Fleur en-
Bretagne" mo. 46l. for Mr.. Ennekng's No
vember Sunset" no. 49, or for Mr. Tryons
Meadows at Auvergnc" tNo. 80. As for such
landscapes rs MIR. c. NJ. Dcwey's "Summer-an
Impression" tNo. ~. or Mr.. Wyatt Eatons
"Sprngtime Effect" tNo. 7G). they have their
uses in studios. but are wholly unfit for pur-
poses Of public exhibition. They are not beau
tful. they are not Instructive and. exposed
under such conditions. they appear trivial and
absurd. That they and so many other contribu-
tons that have the same character are on the
line" shows very clearly that the controlling
element in the Society this year is deficient in
ordinary discretion and common sense.
Mr.. John Lafarge has sent Venus" mo.
114 shell and Flower" mo. 1l5l. and
Flowers" mo. 116l. The Venus" Is n little
painting that has some very pleasing qualities:
the Shell and Flower" is n very pretty bit OF
color In which Mr. Lafargc has as usual. graft
fed his infinite yearning after the beauties Of
the decomposed ray Of the prism; and the
Flowers" will take place with his best exam
pies Of such works. All three are trlnng things
after all, and show merely that much loving and
careful work has been expended and some in
effectual prettiness attained. II is strange that
Mr.. Lafargo can DO content with decorative
work OF such comparative insignilicance. He
figures as "A man OF possibilities. always sug-
costing that he can produce something noble
serious. and loftily imaginative. or something
deeply contemplative sombre. and religious.
but invariably declining TO DO either. We have
no artist whose apparent temperament so SEEM
ngly disposes him to tho higher purposes OF
art as Mr.. Lafargc and It Is. II must be con-
iossed. not u little disappointing that he does
not justify in greater measure what appears
to be the Legitimate expectation OF him.
A ~
little tone study" Twilight" mo G4l. An oc-
tober Day CNo. 1881 and Evening" (No. 1907.
Tho last named is the most interesting and
characteristics and has n sky that contains an
exquisite variety Of form and color. An Octo-
Der Day" shows some excellent work. but does
not by any means Disclose Mr.. Wyant at his best.
One Of the marked successes and most inter
esting pictures is Miss Mary Cassatts "Por-
trait" no. 99.l Il has some really excellent
qualities and is easily superior to anything in
the way OF womans work that has been seen
here in a long time. II Is not easy to avoid the
conclusion that. had this picture been sent in
| by one OF the younger men Of tho Munich or
Paris consultations. 1t would have been ac-
corded very different reception; not merely
In the matter Of hanging. because 1t can be seen
very well where 1t Is. but in the amount Of
| posing that would have been done 10 order in
| front Of il, and the things " that would have
been discovered in it and proclaimed with nco-
| herent ecstasy.
" Scowling Boy" no. 100 is by Mr.. j. Frank
| Currier. whose recent exploits at the Water
Color Exhibition discomposed a great many
worthy people. 1t is remarkably clever. very
strongly and effectively treated. and is another
unmstakable stone on the fast growing cairn
Of Franz HAS go The Mirror" no 100 is an
ambitious attempt Of Mr.. Wyatt Eatons which
| elptVa Ia In, 1.
which is characterized 10y an unfortunate man
nerism that defeats it Of any serious or thought
| full attainment 1t Is. however. a much more
| human and intelligent performance than was
| his unfortunate portrait Of the poet Bryant in
| the last exhibition. No. 90 in the catalogue is
! also by Mr.. Eaton, and is entitled " Sleeping
Faun.' Tho name takes one somewhat aback
ones ideas of "A faun being more or less unasso-
| ciatcd with linen sheets. or such awkward and
| obvious sexual features as were doubtless more
characteristics OF Faunus's daughters, if he had
any, than OF his sons There is some color Of
fcsh in 1t. but nothing else to explain its ap.
pearfnce on the line or Justify its existence
anywhere. The name however. is interesting.
and. in certain sense. instructive. showing
| that the professors Of tho now departure in art
believe in wide applicability Of terms.
Mr. George lnncss' two pictures, A Cloudy
| Day tNo. 1897 and A Passing Thunderstorm"
| no. 81 are both impressive and seriously
treated landscapes in which well understood
and sincere purpose has boen very thoroughly
and effectively attained. MIR. Inness's method
is direct, broad and unconventional. and in both
these pictures he Is reasonable and Ineligible
TO a degree that he is not always. In any care
full consideration OF them it is impossible not to
feel how strong ne il, or TO be- unaffected by the
vigorous individuality tint is apparent in both
his general purpose and his way Of treating it.
Mr. Charles II. Millers recent incubation has
taken admirably, and he must be a source Of
Intense qualification to tho practitioners who
have his case in charge. His two pictures.
Sunset at Crccdmoor' (No. 10l and Autumn
Landscape" (No. 400. furnish amusing ex-
amplcs OF the rapidly with which even a thor
oughly healthy person can hayo the rational
| part OF him removed and begin to grayely OK
hibit all tho phenomena Of artistic hypnotism.
Tho attendance at the Kurt Gallery has boon
larger than it was on the occasion Of tho So
cictys first exhibition, and the now movement
is evidently regarded with good deal Of inter-
est or Mt any rate curiosity, by the public. In
| bringing these notes 10 q conclusion il is TO be
4 q.