New-York tribune., 1881-12-14
TIE SALMAGUNDI SKETCH-CLUB.
FOURTH YEARLY EXHIBITION.

FOURTH YEARLY EAIiIBIIION.
The corridor, or, as it now called in the cat
Eogue The Central Gallery" contains few drawings
that deserve particular notice No 4O7, " Old Wharyos
on the River Withan," by Alfred Parsons, should have
had place the North Room for it is OF the strong
est drawings in the exhibition, although IT can
neither lie said that the subject is an interesting
one nor that the artist has made the most of it.
Turner or Prout would have cnlyened scene like this
with figures aud the want of theIs is indeed much felt
Those that be found after much searching are too
small to tel" in the composition. The skyline oi the
drawing is heavy and mintcresng--a defect II" doubt
Incident to subject; hut surely the artist responsi
bic for the choice OF subject; and If nature VIII 90
nothing for him cannot he nvontl But, all deductions
made his is drawing solid merit and that holds
every eye that II attracts.
The other drawing by MI. Parsons, No, 800, " The
Youthful Thames" is not successful in executions II
Is difficult to dsentangle the elements Of the compo-
rton for the levels 81 water and meadow ana
Ia general TO make things ont"
A drawing hangs the west wall IN very had light
which transforms into mirror but which is seen 10
have distinct merits of its This is No. 3s3, "a
Beggar Chd" by Miss L. II Farmer, serious study in
rrayons after the methods made familiar by the pupils
of the late Mr.. Hunt and Of which Miss f. H. Bartois
"study" in the North Room No l6ia very meagre and
Purtanic Bacchant his head crowned with grapeeaves
lis another and hammered example
II is possible that Miss Farmer is one
OF the tnnunerable company of American girls who
tudied directly with Couture and that she did not get
The masters teaching at secondhand through Mr. Hunt
NOW that she has learned all about planes ana
'yaIues" and messes." from somebody, suppose she
,houId throw it window; unless, indeed, she
have force enough TO make of tool for express
ing what she herself really in Nature There arude
strength IN drawing and look OF life III H. that en-
eourages hope for the artists future.
A. Mitchell appears for the first time, so far as
we can remember, makes distinct individual i'm
pres.on with an amusing decorative study, The Arts
and scieBces" Mr. Mitches ideas have nothing IN com
mon with of the medieval artists who have so
plenthIllv treated this theme He belongs more to the
school of Boucher Pridhon hut he las far more
meaning Boucher aud more humor than ie 10 the
lot of prudhcn. His Arts and Sciences are pacing
trieze in procession. First 90 Music and Poetry Music
manly cerub dead in earnest singing 10 tie Tyre win
ali his might the songs that his meek little coInpaon
Poetry brca,hes into his ear. Then Sculpture,
Painting aud History Sculpture, serious child seen In
profile basreie fashion, clad in fez and nothing else
sud with Victory his hand then Painting, with her
palete ready record the stories History tells her
Next are Astronomy and Comedy, followed by Arcmtec.
ture War and gedy. Comedy has an immense antique
anask and very bouaDte toga, and struts along In
mock majestic gait, that moves the sadeycd remon-
strance Of her Tragedy who directly behind
her in diadem and stole, leaning heavily on the arm
of Mars. Astronomy, with star ON her brow ana hai-
eeised by the mask of Comedy, leans back to speak
with Architecture who has under her arm drawing OF
she tclspe which Astronomy has been helping her TO
orient Mars, clad in complete steel is meditatng on
future wars and while Tragedy very properly hangs
ppon his arm as the Of her chief inspiration,
Comedy looks back and laughs If in dcrison at the
petty causes on which his trade depends. Medicine and
Agriculture next advance Medicine, yOung-eyed
rherb sobcry putting AgTicultuTes lips flask OF,
let us hope nothing more harmful than her own dis-
Tiled rye. Agriculture, with sickle thrust Into herbelt
will none the draught and refuses TO smile The pretty
procession ended with Jurisprudence and Finance
Finance bigheaded Cupidon envelOped in gorgeous
tnga a no end dollars yard, with fat bag Of money
In his band scornDg to look on his fellows and not even
deigping glance at Jurisprudence, who has been his
best friend and who looks with mild wonder In hls
aowerke face at the iEsoen airs Of the creature he
bas made.
Here is real talent for decoration and invention such
rs is not often met with anywhere especially in this
time Walter Crane having in England almost a
monopoly in the field, AM 40 Iare here at
home that we not know where TO point to another in
stance of its possession Mr. Mitchell is so evidently
master of his art that il the figures here little
,tumpy it is doubtless Intended-unless indeed the
artists ideal should prove in the end TO be stunlpy
since whether a mans figures shall be stuinpy spind-
ling or what We call Just right would TO be mat
Ter temperament On another wall in the corridor is
frame containing more specimens Of Mr.. MitchelPs
fancy the originals, we believe. Of Of the il
lustrations in little book he has lately pub
ushed, and which fayorably noticed the
other day in THE TRIBUNE-" The Summer
school of Philosophy at Mount Desert" Ono
of these, ''The Sum OF all Philosophy" a long pro-
cesson Of bridal couples sweeping to the village
ehurch Inarshaled and ushered by Cupds in their
pretty and snug fitting uniform, is quick with lfo and
spirited movement recalling though in very different
yen some Of the illustrations in Dores masterpiece the
cuts TO Balzacs "Contes DrOlatques" The only work
Of the kind n this country can he compared with Mr.
Mitches carts and Sciences is the freze OF the VII
tues designed by Mr.. Francis Lathrop for
private house In this city But, we have said, any
thing ginai thus direction rare and II Mr. Mitches
s and fancy are s well appreciated as they ought TO
be, We shall expect to meet him often again.
Other meritorous drawings in the corridor are Mr..
Dedshuns sketch No. 409 though the skyline is un
gracefully buncby: Miss Alice Barbers Oldtme Girl"
No. 422, well drawn. expressive and with easy nat
uralness that would discredit Mr. Thomas Eak1ns;
Mr. C. G. Bush's "a Fall Day" No. 387 somewhat
Deems the poverty Of his Bedtime" No $685. where
utterly tuekeredout old woman is drawing along too
utterly tuckered-out animal of no species
In particular. There is some show OF
spjrit In "a Feu Day." though Mr., Bush