New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-27
THE WATER COLOR SOCIETY.
SIXTEENTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

lures yesterday afternoon for there conditions more
favorable TO such inspection than the smoke wreaths ana
joy Of the evening view There was only one fanit 10
be found with the arrangements at the Academy MT
Beckwiths decorative fancies would compel an appre
cative regard, and would interfere with the atenon
which should have devoted solely to the paintings
1t impossible for the sernest devotee OF duty not 10
finger the foot of the stairway ana u"en
upon the picture that presented just IN IRON.
huge vase filled with palms, either aides banks OF
palms ferns the balustrades hung with evergreens
and Spanish moss softened light ltering through
huge Japanese umbrella suspended above the iandlne,
and at the head OF the stairs, among palm Dougns anu
bits of porcelain, Alfred Brennans thoroughly japanese
portrait Ellen Terry looked down upon japanese war
full armor who kept watch and ward below Curos
abounded There were colossal In every gallery
and shimmering plaques aud gaudy fans above the
door. A stOlid Japanese idol one of the last
afternoon arrivals who skiifully lodging the Charyb
dis of the waterpais and mops and the Scya OF deco
rative material took the South gallery under his mmed
ate and personal supervision The galleries had been as
usual hung with gided paper which WAS not only ad
vantageous background but lent the pretty exhj6
ton still festal aspect Mr.. Beckwlth, who is un
derst0od to compose the Committee Decoration Is TO
be congratulated his which affords him and
many of his brethren excellent chance to perceive
that decoration in its sphere is much more admirable
than decoration framed and exhibited under some pre-
tentOus One feature had been introduced, in
tho suspension of awnings Of cotton cloth few feet
below the skylgnts IN all the galer1es
be distinct gain in controlling and empefng the light
which at past exhibitions Of waercolors has sometimes
proved unplessantly intense. There good reason
for the modest pride which Mr. Wood and Mr.. Farrer
evidently their surroundings for the interior of
the Academy been prettily adorned
both with decorations and with pictures.
So far as a hasty first glance permits judgment 1t
would that this exhibition is fully up to the high
by the excellent exhibition Of last and
an respects it shows advance. 1t has happily
become to expect from the WaerC Color Society an
exhibition directly impelling interest and free from
anything appealing merely to low taste The dainty
watercoors themselves with their opportunities for
work from nature, for delicaey OF treatment
and for animated expression are none the
less to be lovingly regarded because they afford field
for much talent which might be swamped In more seri-
Gus oils interesting too, note the progress OF
the society In given line. The members overcom-
ing the temptation which besets every society to aim
hrs at large exhibitions and are culng then pictures
with a that brings its reward Two years ago
TIA works shown last 64s. and tits year Cos
Last year the South gallery opened for the first time
and the exhibition seemed larger than the before,
chiefly from the greater size many of pictures
This year the holds true Tie exhibition appears
larger than that of 1882 and surprise TO find IL
actually smaller This tendency pictures Of
generous proportions not much new accessons
20 the ranks of the water colorsts as that painting in
water cOors yearly evOkng serious considefa
ton and laborious effort and may DO said that
the advantages of this result are moro
than questionable applied to medium
30 peculiarly adapted sketches and fresh uneabor-
ated studies. Then, IL turn from the exhibition
whole to aualy composition there additional
interest in observing the influence OF the the
1dosynorasies of the who represent modes OF
thought and expressonso widely at variance Here
two pictures by honored host W. Wood, who, with
j. Henry HILL closely maintains the methods OF
the watercoor painters OF the old school, while such
~
Edward Moran faithful TO the influence These
men believe IN the truth Of tact, and record
their facts in plain literal language. Not so
with their younger brethren, for whom the
pendulum has swung to the opposite extreme. They
are In this exhibition still PROSTATE at the feet OF
Munich and the Paris fnnpressionistes. Here is Mr..
Curier who four years ago appeared with pictures
which could understand and which therefore
warmly admired He exhibits eight impressions,
original be for else always beholds trees
as ampposis in aud landscapes ike Broadway
muddy day save his twin brother, Muhrmap, who, like
Mr.. Currer, through glass very, darby.
Yet both have the ability for better things and with
another pair OF twins, Blum and Luugren. Each
sends several pictures but Mr. Lrngren's
pojourn In Paris has thus far wrought
but little change in his style, and both sull
dancing attendance upon the wiIl-o-thewlsps OF
Whistler and Fortuny. Then come Murphy, Freer,
Crane Dewey and the young Morans, whose work here
In general shows the influence Of the IDEAS
and shows too many mannerisms and repetitons These
two groups artists form the extremes OF the
exhibition, while there are Others, George Smile, |
Bellows, Champney, Gibson and symington, VINO show
leaning sometimes one again to the other. II
something individual yet not oniSe, shall find It
Ia the pictures by Abbey Alfred Parsons shr
law and Alden Weir, KaPpes and DE I, ulstrup and
Bolton Jones.
ber there is usually something which shows that |
the artists posses the picture instinct and also
that they see with their eyes and tell what |
they In their way. Take the picture by Alfred
Parsons and Mr. Abbey in the South gallery the appear
ance Of which 10 in itself noteworthy event The sub
ect only green English landscape with church in
the distance two bonny English girls the river
sde the landscape has the beauty of repose and
perfectly artistic treatment the figures not only
graceful but genuine, each ia actually doing what she
protends. and there is all the cunning of skilled tech
niQus anG knowledge Of natures truth underlying the
whole yet concealed" the ruest art s TO hide art"
We may turn the perfect tone and subtle feeling OF
Mr.. Weir's little landscape. No. 123, or smile |
with Mr. Ksppes's negro chile" shiver with |
Mr.. De TLuistrups soldier boys In the trenches |
muse over Bolton Jones's winter landscape refresh
ourselves with shirlsw's work and In these as In
many pictures here TO less degree, find both
depth OF feeling and power OF expression, well
quality distinctly individual There is time TO
speak OF Mira stillmans two paintiDge-" Meeting Of
Dante and Beatrice" and "Among the willows Of Tus
cauy"-nor of Louis Tsny's Study in St. Augustine"
nor OF snedeys truthful character Studies Miets
classics nor winslow Homers, Dieman's studies
nor the good work by Tryon, Joan Berg swain Clifford
Virgins. Turner and Fem.
There is wealth OF color in tho corridor for here
find the flower pieces by Miss X. H. 'Greatorex and
glowing flowers by Miss Eleanor Great0rex Mrs DeltOn
aud Miss Abbott.
The etchngs fill as before. the west and northwest
galleries Outside OF the NewYOrk etchers notice
proofs from Bastien lie Page Briton Rviere Dr. Haden
Thomas Riley Bubot and a. III. Hsig whale the Phila
dsipbia etchers make strong sho wing. The
color catalogue contains thirty good iustra
tons and that OF the Etching Club nine ctchngs.