New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-03
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARTISTS.

Some of the best pictures III the present cV-
hbilon arc hung HpOn tho wr'teru wall Of the
gallery. In point ~ The mast Important of
these is the Music" by Mr. AGe1 Weir lhe Muse
is a stately Dguie seated ~ marble cIAr.
one hand rcstlns Od"n Tyre. and the
other lightly supporting h'r head. with ITS dadom sum
f. out from her wavnr II. bare and
her ON only thr"ne robe Of thinuc-t AVN
ike the moon through TINS Is IN" composition.
the spectator IA NOT dis rat u by details from the
study OF the personality which the arst Ia. cndevnrrd
10 present II Mr.. Weir has not yet laid himself open
10 the charge OF being welded To certain type
Of face he cannot he rtnacd ON his success hc
faces be chooses We no objection Ia his passing
by Beauty but If Ia tnnt sacrifice We Ii ye
right 10 ms 1t Character the only substtu;c and
Mr. Weir hardly gives character N ms faces than
lac does beauty. HIS ldr1i people are PLAN anl
they are not ovrrIn,elligcnt lIls Peggy III the
Academy exhibition Il face not agreeable 10 conem>
plate; the child either III or peevish and looks out dis
resscdly from her mani ng- OF and fur. We VIII
consider the painting tue technical reatment further
on; all We are now concerned with Is the fact that the
ar,Ist either by design becdue he dOcs not feel
motion TO do otherwise. throws away hs Oppcrtu-
nifty giving pleasure TO the world IN general ana u
content or sccns 10 be content with the applause of
lists FOR his The qualities OF his paintings nave
earned Inn a place among the bet painters o. our
country and artists EVERYWHERE would loysiy, we be-
ueve admit their cXcellcuccs. Bat. In almost ell hiS
thus far painted there ha been more 10
dlsplease than to please tue worldly spectators whp for
the most part demand OF work " art that 1t shall
have share OF beauty. A. wo have said- we cannot
have beauty character will do but one or the other the
world insists on
In Mr. Weirs portrait Of Olm Warner. the sculptor.
VIC had strong masculine head presented with 80 much
verify and force make almost era in portrait
paiutipg To show that when We say people have
right 10 be pleased do not mean to Justify tho sacrifice
OF noble qualities that the standard OF popular taste
=. low we would say that We consider this portrait OF
Mr. DIN Warner work that could not fail to
please any audience TO whom 1t might be
shown We believe IL would have many admirefsscen
I'm a BOwery shop-window AS u had In Boston lately
Manly qualities strike man everywhere, and MI "efs
portrait Is distinctly manly record OF manly qnailtc%
But II Is rare for any picture OF MI "ers
TO 20 so straight TO tho mark The present plcure'
the Muse OF Music misses fire Enthusiastically. People
are puzzled By her looks There is dignity In the att
tude certain air about the personage That gives us
pause II Is possible TO pass her by with ,ndnerenco
hui abe does not win US TO stay Win her'
She looks as II she trying to like the Music
Of tho Future. Her mouth has queer discon-
tented pout, her eyes are gathered In her
head, and her face 10 generally a'kcw. There is no
beauty this face and to thinking character in
IL suitable to the It bears 1t wants something
eithsr more pensuousness, or a rapt expression
M that IL has not The Of this deficiency
we take 10 benot that Mr. Weir unable to supply 1t.
hut that he is moro interested in painting than
IN what he paints. There Is great deal
OF beautiful painting in this picture, and
much left arm and the right hand
resting on the lyre painting Of the neck and the
drspery and the painting OF the face ITSELF These
things the has enjoyed doing aud he has without
effort xiyen his Muse noble attitude Externally. bis
plcuro will sustain If It does not greatly enhance his
reputation.
Mr. weirs Flowers" No. e5. will certainly carry the