New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-14
FINE ARTS.
THE AMERICAN WATER-COLOR SOCIETY.
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

THIRD NoTICE.l
We have so much respect Tor the art or
Mr.. William NJ. Chase, when be IS at his best, that we
shall not be at the pains TO conceal our disappointment
with his Portrait Study" No. 243. When, as occa-
sonallv happens cannot admire anything else In
Mr. Chases work. there Is almost sure to be clever
ness-a trick of the hand-that the performance
from condemnation. But in the present drawing we
find little satisfaction OF any kind. There ia no
lodging the fact that Mr.. Chase has given
his sister dirty face II would be
easy to deal In euphemsms, and talk
about want of transparency" muddy tones," and
bring the whole battery of the critics technical
phrases but Will trust the artists good nature or
STILL his confidence IN his own ability to excuse
our plain dealing. For is, really not case OF want OF
transparency want Of anGthlrG but OF what looks
like the presence of actual dirt face intended to he
the fair face OF young lady And this is conspicu-
10 DIT strov all interest In the drawing; 1t con-
fuses tho features prevents seeing II there be any
modelln e or 10, and makes wonder how so sane a
talent can every ana again not see clear. II IA OF
what We cannot help thinking to be ovenly work that
we complain the absence OF detail does not trouble
us. On the contrary, we have all the time to
thank Mr. Chase enforcing the doctrine tha1 truth OF
expression truth of attitude and ge>ture-a, in short
that goes make up life i'll head ia the alinpOrant
thing; ana that while without this picture Is worth
less with 1t can dispense with multitude OF MINOR
things. Mr.. Chase Mr.. Alden Weir, Mr.. DIN warner
Americans who are making their mark on this genera
lion by constantly striving I'm what they do for th's
essential quality and the success attalneu III tnis en-
deavor of the influence Of any artist or OF
any body In the that Is unquestionaDy
begun 1t Is conceded that among the new men
Mr. Chase Is Of the strongest and everything lie eX
mbIts is of Importance either rs encouraging or us
couraginG the growing tendency to demand something
higher in art than initiative tricks, socalled hnisi'
ami millinery graccs O. course by far the greater part
hnln oil
the aims of those who striving to dspace orr
mechanic methods by genuine art. Mr.. Chase5 ART Is
very much the fashion at present. and his position as
teacher gives hiIn wide influence. All the more rca
son. them why should not forget that 1t admirers
abound SC corners also abound-not certainly scornerS
of himself hut OF the methods he employs and OF the
school to which be belongs and that careless piece OF
work like tins Portrait Sketch" Is sure to leopard
his reputation with those who believe IN him. anu 10
strenrthen in their unbeief those who do not believe
good many people talk glibly OF the ease with which
"the new dash off their work and OF the assurance
with which they offer the public daubs for finished pic
turea If the ordinary to the present exhibition
compare the little sketch by Kaemmerer. After DIN
ner" No. $50, with "The Cup that Cheers" M. lSS
by Mr.. T. ". Wood the President Of the Society ten TO
one but he will udge thai the president has expended
far more tn0ught and labor his picture than klen-
mrrcr would not be easy TO persuade the
crafty Of people that Mr.. Woods drawnS-he head and
shoulders old lady large life, with stately
cap all lace and ruff and kindly face all Wrinkles
ha not necessarily cost the artist moro study nor called
for more arnnR his part, Than have gone 10 h em
mercis stained and blotted drawing. In fact hard and
ungracous az II may seem to say T. Nnd who would wish
10 lie bard or ungraciOs to the courteous and generous
minded presdenD the drawings OF Dir Wood repre-
sent only faithful Industry in the execution
and an innocent love OF simple thngs-Jns shrewdly
mild old Lady cOnentel with her tea; an applc-woman
warily inspecting suspicious nickel; an American
voter in his shop balancing his great mind the con-
tending claims 0 rival candidates. IA there IL nothing
whatever artistic poetic, clevatg (lough certainly
there Is nothing the OF clrvdtng IN these sub
iccIs so there j. nothing artistic imaginative. or evcn
individual, In the execution 1t is we have sald
Simply rious. and easily within the reach OF any
one wh will Industrious. Aud there Is plenty OF Work
In this exhibition that is Just much within the reach
OF industry AS this OF SIR. Woods though some
OF 1t presents itself with an air, and has
sort of snap III It. as II It thought u'elf
Of altogether different Kind, and OF kind far superior
There nowepaintins here that has become-whntever
1t may have been Orignally-a mere affair OF routine
inst as much Its lesser field as the more widely
known work Of RoDbc Preycr. There are landscap7
here and III plenty too that are rs distinctly made BY
recipe and with as much certainty OF coming out all
right az tho cakes the bakers counter Some men
OF real ability MI Samuel COlman, Mr.. LOUIS Tiffany
Mr. Swain Clifford, Mr. Hupk!Dson Smith. have reached
point where they repeat Themselves BON III subject
and manner year after year. anu are IN danger OF losing
all hold upon the public uhlcs5 they can SHOW
some power Of change II OF growth. We con-
fess to being ourselves somewhat weary 81
Mr. Samuel Coman's "Veuic, =" We admit the manua'
dextrrity, the skill with Which the artist coInOSc' bis
subecs but II that the time has come fr Mr.
Comau to paint something more lately within ms eA
percnce As with the lapse OF time he forges the real
look Of the City OF the Sea- settles down in bis mind
IN mere assembage OF boats and buildings and he less
and less reflects The charm Of poetry and pcturesquenrss
that are the souls pnssessons III tns wonderful place
No one who loves Venice ana has iet The rssenta IN
reality OF the cty-fOr what could DO more
removed from ordinary experience than ne IN
Venice: what less substantial to the vision than
these mutitudnOus reflections these shifting iIgnis IN
the heavens above aud in the waters below, between
which tie city hangs 10 sunlight AMI moonlight never
the same two hours together one we say who loves
Venice will be willing TO accept TINS drawing 81 MT
Coman's however clever he may grant 1t technically as
recalling the Venice Imagination or the Venice OF
his memory.
We are wearving too OF Mr.. Swain Gidord's blasted
trees When we first them they were felt to I've
both true and picturesque and 1t might be said OF them
that they met want. We were ltto tired o.
civilized trees, and Of forests comfortable IN
companionship and our sympabios went out
tn these Lonesome rowths. pinchcd and twisted by
the storms Of century. But begin to feel that
we have exhausted them and wonder why an artist 70
capable Mr. clifford should b. willing to repeat him
self 30 often "How little love Of adventure and dis
coyery there in artists we sometimes are pro
voked into exc aiming. With much beauty and va
r1ety about them how content they to play the
| one-fnger altZ forever.
Mr. Henry Farrer. too ia In the same danger and Ills
drawings year show growth either In choice OF
subject or In execution. Again met by the we'll
known scky yellow and faded black, repeating ITSELF III
drawing after dra wing; the same vessels standing
ootonless in the same quiet water and the same dull
sky while 80 little variety IL there in the composition OF
these elements that find 1t difficult TO remember the
separate drawings. Now, nobody doubts Mr. Henry
Farrars ability any more than that Of Mr. Samuel Col
man or Mr. Swan Clifford He has made his own way
without help anyone by the attractveness OF his
dnn