The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-06

with and study OF nature. or the familiar bric-A-
hrac landscape manufactured In studos. The
lauor would possibly be very pleasing to tho
eye. very pretty very decorative. and perhnns
have literary interest Of the popular kind but
the former would be mt To suggest that there
WINS something better after all in landscape art
than any or all OF those qualti's implied. Stu
dio study OF landscape never made n landscape
painter yet An artist with certain stock in
trade and nice decorative sense can turn out
salable pictures. but ii il doubtful If the money
he makes will ever compensate him for the loss
OF his time.
There are more than dozen landscapes In
the Academy that are not after the fashion OF
CorOt, Rousseau Dupr6. or anybody else. but
that are independent results independently
achieved Such work is infinitely more DIM
cult ~ do than that which IL wrought out by the
clever mechanical processes and labor-saving
devices OF well-uppOinted studios. II tells of
patient study. Of sympathy with nature and
reverence for simple truths. of depth Of motive.
and OF serious contemplation. 1t reveals the
qualities and the special cndowments that are
essential to all higher achievement in nrt. and
It ia removed from all triviaity insinccrity.
md mnre clevcrnoss 1t comprises the bost
work that has been donr by American artists.
md no prognosis Of American art that is not
based on what 1t indicates can be OF much
value.
In portraits the exhibition is strong and In
the south room. the President of tho Academy
divides attention with one Of tho younger
men who heretofore has exhibited work that
was rather crude and uncertain in its chnrnc-
ter. This is Mr. J. Carroll Beckwith md his
" Portrait Of Lady" tNo. 3lGl is one OF the
striking features Of the exhibition. Ilo has
evidently worked very prontaby within the in
nuencc Of NJ Carolus Duran. and hns returned
to New York with ability 10 put his technical
training AMI experience TO practical use Tho
picture in question Is tren,od with grcnt deal
Of intelligent Independence; it ia we'll ar
ranged very vigorously modelled. and shows
decision and dircctncss in the handling. There
is some little lack Of refinement in the artists
method, but he has been content to find his ma
tcral in his subject. and dispense with any cx-
traneous eNpedcnts Of treatment or compost
ton. Mr.. Huntingdon's full-lcngth portrait OF
n lady tNo 32Sl. with which it hangs. is u fine
example Of elevated commonplace. conceived
within the regulations OF strict convcntionaliiy.
lirst-clnss millinery portraiturc. with aris-
tocrauc accessories. has had serious iuroads
made upon 1t by the more artistic OF the photog-
rathcrs. but 1t IA still source of no llttlc
qualification. II not actual luxury. TO the upper
classes.
Tho best portrait in the exhibition. and which
should hayc had the central space in the south
room is one that is very unfortunately and in
cNIlically hung In the central gallery II Ia n
large canvns by Mr.. Thomas Eakins and 1t IL
much the strongest work OF its class in the col
lection. II ia very remarkable portrait; re-
Ioseful. serious. and dignifed. broad and Wig
orus in its treatment. and full Of subtle dcinea-
tion Of character. and delicate but decisive reyc-
latIon Of Individuality Fortunately for Mr..
Eukns it is picture that can take care Of itself
anywhere. and although it has a place Of I'M
usual ignominy it will not by any means 20 IN