New-York tribune., 1881-03-27
AMONG THE ARTISTS.
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARTISTS.
FOURTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

and important collection OF American pictures
ever yet nsde On wall hangs the Joan oil Arc
by Bastieu Le Page the masterpiece OF the young
painter and the work talked about in the Paris
Salon Of 1879 In that exhibition 1t said ana felt
that lie Pages picture killed everything about
It, and drew to ITSELF all eyes, 1t bought by Mr. Al
den Weir for gentleman Of this city and is seen mere
now for the first time by anyone outside OF the mme-
date circle Of Mr.. Weirs friends IL has created
40 much admiration in that circle tnat Tue,
public which cares for such things mas Dcen
looking forward with no little eageess to seeing work
OF which so much has said at home and abroad IL
was natural TO suppose that the pictures OF our own
men would prove foil to French masterpiece, and
that
"--i In our ignorance
His skill should. like star the darkest nlgnt,
Stick fiery of, indeed"
But to those who know we could not In rev woros
say more for the exhibition in which this the only wosK
by foreigner is hung. than that the collection stands
the test rumphanty and that there is so much else in
terestng and beautiful look at we feel at ease to take
our time and look at the Frenchman when we Will
The collection is comparatively o small one, but 1t
handsomely Oils this ue room, and the comfort Is that
there is not a single picture need wish away Next
10 the Bastien lie Page. perhaps, Mr. Alden Weirs
fine "duse" holds the place OF honor being
hung In the centre OF the opposite western WALL On
either side OF are hung Mr. Weirs Flowers" and the
Head of a Lady" by Mr. Wyatt Eaton in which this
SSSN
securely the place his friends have always
believed belongs to him among the fore
most painters Of home schoolthough this Is head
which could be greeted with applause In any country
where art is honOred Mr.. Alden Weirs versatility s
shown IN his Flowers "a mastery work that will COM
mend itself alike to artists and to laymep.
On this same wall ia Mr.. Francis Lathrop's
Decorative Panel, intended for the dinng-ro0m OF
house this city, OF series POLITICALLY illustrating
the five senses The subject OF the present panel is
Hearing" and the canvas Is filed with figures singing
audlisenng and dancing to music. This is peaceful
and harmonious composition, rich IN tone. ana
sure to carry still higher the modest
but securely founded reputation Of the young
artist Here too flower pieces by Mrs Wheeler and
Miss Greene which, excellent In themselves. suffer the
least bit in the world by comparison of their massive
treatment with the airy ghtness and poise and spark
ling richness Of Mr. Weir's canvas. Mr.. Dewng sur
prises usbut the exhibition full Of surprises-with
Decorative Panel-PastOral, where all his hard
mesa has disappeared In freedom and @
charming chord OF color plays figures touching lutte
and cithern seated 10 the grass under fairy sky Mr.
La Fargo could find nothing to send but little canvas
painted in '63, and long ago written about in these
columns 1t is we'll enough, but 1t has NOT the advantage
here Of having o room full OF cold academic
pictures for a foil. Mr.. Dannavs Fruit Piece is
strong contrast to the Apples" Of Mr. Bunce-while
both carry US back TO Spanish models, Mr.
Dannat's TO ROybet, Mr. Bunce's 10 VelasQuez.
there ia nothing in either suggestive OF
a MASTER Yet here two small pieces that show
once again how little the artist needs for subject
Il lie not the subject which tells 1t ia the art the feeling
the aud perception OF beauty that are put into 1t
that give picture vitality.
Mr. Twachtmann sends everal pictures. all OF them
good, but the Riverside with Boats. in the
southwest corner. the best perhaps. Here.
too is Mr.. Bunces "Vence," exhibited dur
gha win 81
helping TO make the southern wall I" rich and like
lily In bloom" Another portrait, by Mr. Eaton, that
divides the suffrage OF the artists with the one just
noticed hangs near Mr. Bunces stately picture and Mr.
Chases Interior of Studio occupies the centre Of
this wall. Mr.. Eaton's picture is balanced
by remarkable portrait by Mr.. Thayer, who has
another hfesze bead and small portrait Of gentle.
man. All these, the small ones as well the larger,
rank among the best In the exhibition Mr.. WIN Low
makes a strong stride forward with striking picture,
Old FLUID Ireson who for his hoord hoort tarrd
srtist has risEed himself n little dangerously
on subject that wonld have required Hawthorne 70
paint as only Hawthorne could have described II. had
he chosen-yet he las by no means failed. and the
crowded bears honorable testimony TO study Of
character 70 respect for artlnlations and TO grow
ing know edge on the artists part.
Mr.. Maynards Portrait ofa Lady" though not per-
Academy. is like work in s quiet strength and
dependence on sincerity MT: Homer Martins solemn
color Mr.. Chase's Portrait OF Gentleman" are pic.
turea spoken OF hereafter Mr. Charles Miller sends
landscape rocky pasture with WINDY sky, Mr. Walter
Palmer comes out strong with bright sunny bayfield,
In healthy contrast 10 the conscientious parors he has
been working hard tn OF late. But all about here
the signs Of new spirit as marked as anything can
possibly be 10 soclety-the spirit Oh generous enla-
lion "a 10 who shall do the most In bringing on the COM
log day.
least of the signs OF the time that at last we have some
worthy sculpture in exhibition. Mr DIN Warner has
artists have beon talking all winter. and well they
might, for loyelier piece OF modelling mas not
bust OF Maud Morgan is hero this is the head Of
which copy was bought by the Boston Museum Of the
with copy not in plaster but In bronze. OF either
OF both these classic performancesf Mr.. A. ST. Gau
Warnerard happy is II for that have TWO men OF
talent with each richly lowered in his own way
sends several OF the portrait to which he
gives strong impression OF his individuality.
One OF these. . portrait OF Bastien Le Page. is
in H"S plaster, sS slightly tinted. one the the profile
Of lady the O1s Other 70 q t5,c ~ ,n child are
art meditaes for fixing the forms OF our beloved
ones Tnere Is S grace and soRess % nnad ~ nr
little ROdman Glider Is fresh and fragrant to the
hyacinth noddng It's cufed head to the beckon-
With only here and there exception, all the work
these walls mas been done by our own men, painting
here at home. Happily, none OF the artists working
abroad have sent anything. Mr. sargent who, last
Duran, this year has only q rather commonplace
"Heaf-9nd the result OF the uneommonly rigorous
answer to those who on seeing the first exhibition Of
the society," where almost all the pictures were painted
in Europe, declared that now these had cut loose
from their masters eadngstringst they would show
how little they knew and how little they could do. Hero
filled with work mucn Of IL OF high perform
ance, and all OF It full promise; work that might
proudly be offered earnest OF success 20 judges from
the Old World, aud work that is NOT borrowed
from anybody either in the things IL
trays them. 1t is healthy happy. strong American
work and II our Americans do not recognize their
ownership IL aud greet their youthful knsmen
we shall think less OF them than believe shall
ever Do obliged 10 think.
IN THE ACADEMY AND ELSEWHERE.
ATTENDANCE AND SALES AT THE EXHlBTTIoN-ART
IN THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB-coLLEcTIONs ON
EXHIBITION.