The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-09
THE SOCIETY or 1MERIcAN ARTISTS.


ciety Of American Artists will he opened to the
street, tomorrow. Friday Inst was vanishing
day" and yesterday n private view" was had
OF the pictures byavcry lnrgo number Of people.
The collection this year is of greater interest
than that presented on the occasion Of the Soci-
c'y's first exhibition. which. financially and 9th
erw.se. was successful. 1t Includes more good
pictures, mora lnrge and striking cHnvases.
ana larger aggregate number Of contributions
appear In its catalogue. In its general aspect
1t indicates with some distinctness tho direction
of such progress as art in America is now
making and it admits one to clearer insight
into the influences. motives. and individual
ideas that brought the society itself into OK
istence and that have since continued TO ami
ma,o its members and ndhercnts. There is
much in 1t to encourage any one who has intel
ligcnty watched tho later growth OF art IN this
country. and perhaps not a litte also to cause
some apprehension ~ TO whether the path now
being followed is not fraught with danger for
n large number OF those who have chosen 1t.
II is evident that the influences that nre ut
work imply very marked departure from what
heretofore have been the leading characters
ties Of American painters. and while in many
cases the results attained are somewhat dis
couraging and misleading. II is apparent. new
erthelcss. that the majority Of the artists whose
productions are exhibited are acquiring
broader education and much deeper knowl
edge of the true nature Of the mission that each
has undertaken. This Is probably quite Ms
easily seen in the Indifferent pictures that are
exhibited as II is in the bost; and II comprises
whatever there is in the exhibition that is en-
couraging or that suggests any considerations
ms TO the future. In this respect the exhibition
Is instructive TO n degree that the Academy Is
not and at present cannot be- and "a plain
and candid nvowal OF tho work Of the younger
and promising men. from among whom our
painters IRE undoubtedly 10 come and who arc
unpuestionably the exponents of allour present
art progress il should receive careful and in e.
teigont attention.
As TO the danger that new methods and tho
consequent affcctation OF n school involve. 1t is
simply that which awaits all extremists. 1t
happens that a man who has painted with
the deepest fidelity. sincerity. and narrowness
OF method. and who has at great pains achieved
mcdocrity or mere prettiness becomes finally
conscious that he il working TO no purpose
He becomes proselyte TO a new method which
hns the baleful charm OF facility and he yields to
the expectation OF maximum OF attainment
with minimum OF expenditure OF intellectual
effort. Whatever Of promise there may have
been In him is lost in the extremes to which he
forthwith goes. and ne persuades himself into
all manner OF indiscretion and does the most
absurd and extrayagant things with the air Of
perfect gravity that is commonly characteristic
ot the dangerously insane. There Is no re-
sponsibility involved. ami there il incidentally
the great qualification Of being admired by the
many who are never 80 happy as when they are
confronted with what they cannot understand.
and who deem that to affect anything short OF
tho profoundest and most mysterious knowl-
edge OF 1t would be simply AN admission OF
barbarous ignorance.
Young men with no very deep sense OF their
artistic purposes are easily led into ecccntrcity
as nm eXpcdient Of cheap success. and among
the pictures in the exhibition of the Society Of
American Artists are a few painful exam pies Of
Intellectual posturing in the new garments. 1t
seems to have occurred NIL at once to some peo-
pie who had been working very patiently and
striving very hard 10 learn something. that
CorOt painted his celebrated pictures very
easily" that Dupr6 made his great landscapes
without any very obvious effort that Rousseau
never could have gotten really tired either phys
ically or mentally. and that Daubgny slapped
In y perfect picture in nm hour or 30. The ex-
ampes in question are instructive in showing
with what ease their authors have proceeded to
equal accomplishment After many years Of
tediousncss but Of sincere effort. they must
feel in their first mistaken moments Of emanci-
patton like tho gentleman who for twelve long
wears lnnguished in dungeon. until suddenly
bright thought struck him." and he opened
the window and goi out
There ara other examples. however, in
when deep and revercnt feeling. manly senti-
ment. anl broad and conscientious treatment
llxs i'm.
mnnd proper respect and intelligent sympathy.
As people learn 10 appreciate these the shallow
aflectation OF other things that are unworthy
ami pretentious will be better recognized. For
the prest nt one must put up with an intermin-
able amount Of napdoodle; but at the same
time be not unmindful that il has its uses-like
the measles.
Last year Mr.. W. VI. Chase had the most
striking picture in the collection OF the Society
OF American Artists. and one very generally
accepted as the best Of its kind that any Amcri-
can artist had produced. 1t was his Ready
for the Ride" how in the possession OF the
Union League Club. This year he contributes
portrait OF the artist Duveneck which
Is easily the most interesting work OF its
KIND In the exhibition. but not as his
picture last year was. the most consplc-
uous feature Of tho gallery Unfortunately
The place on this occasion is taken by "a picture
which ought not 10 have boen hung at all. Mr.
Thomas Enknss large canvas. "A Demon
stration in Practical Surgery" This is n sim
gularly powerful picture. admirable in compo-
siton. excellent in drawing and fun Of the
most vigorous and effective treatment. Ii is
Objectionable in its present position because II
Is ineNDedient 10 expose distinctly repulsiye
subl"f In such a place. 1t depicts n scene in the
operating theatre o! a medical school, at the
time when an operation is in progress and an
explanation of II given TO the class 10y the prin-
clphl surgeon. The most conspicuous portion
oi the work is that relating 10 the method and
circumstance OF the operaton-the wound. tho
fresh blood bedabbled ON fingers and instru-
ments, the administration OF the ara'sthetic.
and the general surgical equipnge. The treat.
ment, in strictly technical sense. leaves very
little 10 be desired, but from any other point
OF view it is simply painful. The effect upon
sensitive persons is precisely that which a
medical student experiences on the occasion Of
his first operation and while Mr..
Eakins IS power is sum to produce that inn
preston, it is hardly an achievement upon
which he can congratulate himself For the H.
orary of medical college, or some su n place
1t would be an appropriate possession. and one
That would be actually instructive; but in its