New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-25
THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARTISTS.
SIXTH ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

lery the unconventional OF 80
admirably hung ii in parlor Instead OF set exhi-
5tiou and with the harmonynot sameness-which per-
va1ed tho collection that the first vi w Of the works
gathe ed together by the Society Of American Artists
should he graced by the presence Of ladies who pleas
any relieved usual solemnty OF such and
banished the tobacco smoke and cOpal which haze
hitherto been regarded inevitable Accomplishments OF
Vanishing Day" Nor would 1t have been altogether
just to have excluded the gentler In view of the
figure which posed on the cover OF the catalogue. Yet
this same aesthetic il what spectral figure the
of much perplexty To the uniutated some ken
ing her to the Barthod statue others TO asDiran for
honors batedoOr and shIttecock while II the object
in her left hand to be taken exhortaion 10 hold
the mirror up nature It is probable that Mr. Twacht
manu. MI Ryder and some Of the" tOneists" would
repel such counsel meiercious and unsOund There
was mild SURPRISE too at the exuberance and
variety OF the frames, which displayed quite as much
study and skill the pictures In other less favored
hibons HAPPILY in this collection attention to access
cries Ia the least merit.
In great part the 142 paintings shown have been
and disposed with the and excellent Jrdg
ment which the previous exhibitions Of this Society have
given us reason expect The collection mparts an
impression which a musician might hken TO that pro
,lucrd by OF Chopin's or perhaps symphony
by Mozart without rising the gran 1eur of Beethoven
or the dramatic force OF Wagner. Yet while the hanging
perfectly done last year. this cannot be said OF the
IDENTITY felt strongly the pressure upon them. and
more pictures accepted than could be properly
hung This has led in few instances TO return or the
Old practice which hoped the Society had ougrown,
skyinS paintings where they cannot be seen. and
OF placing them along the floor. Last year It wen
nigh Impossible TO find picture which could be- reason
ably wished away This praise however cannot be re-
peated We fail to why place, and that too on the
first line should have been made for Nr. Brushs I'M
uterabe InIan Chief" why the committee should
have accepted Mr. Andersons simpering and chalky
Lady white" which may be taken as late eruption
OF the Whistler RASH feeby developed however TO be
Immediately fatal. Nor is it easy TO understand why
Mr. Reinharts excellent Card-payers has been hung
bcyoul the vision OF mortal eye while Mr. Thayers pic
ure which we regret to fin far below his usual level.
and the portrait by Mr. Flagg on the cast wall OF
the gallery are 80 ageousy placed. t Il thank
les. task however 10 continue 10 find flaws when there
il so much which calls for admiration. We have said
enough indicate the respects In which this exhibition
falls below its predecessor But looking at the eKhbi-
tiun IA whole aud In its important aspect
outcome Of healthy aud earnest spirit in American art
we recognize distinct signs growth Of progress
the part Of exhibitors In the way OF frank and In
dvidual expression.
Nor can the truth OF this be denied by any who
studies undcrstandingy the portraits In this collection
Forfeiture again the chief feature OF the Societys
display and II is matter for sincere congratulaon that
work such dtn uished quality ana high character rs
some these portraits possess can be produced from
American studios The three which frat compel ready
after ton ARE by Messrs Sargent, Weir and Eaton
Between the works Of the two former popular favor
might incline toward Mr. Sargents subject. but far
As the excellence OF the two wOfkmen are shown 1t
would be 10 ATTEMPT an award OF superiority
save TO point that Mr.. Weir comes equipped with
seldom crring and with selfrcStrant aud dignity
which Mr. Sargent does not always possess Both these
analtcs ARE notably displayed in Mr. Wers portrait OF
I'll 4. Tile aftifuIe Dgspeuks both
ae and self-comin8nd. II IL the picture of student
sitting in natural pose the brows slightly knitted and
eyes trnty fixed the face scEled over with the pale
cast OF thought while the nentness OF the gaze Is purely
unconscious. the uncOnscouHncss OF man absorbed In
meditation and the OF conscious that he Is
bein transferred There is here no attempt
n display or effect Mr. Weir has concealed more than
no has shown Of resources. and he has wo ked well
within iu, He has caught the two qualities of dig
nifty and ppOsc most essential IN portTatue ana WIN
out any apparent ehOrt lie makes their lueuce lelt AS
Tor the rest the modelling OF the head ami hands t!e
management Of lights aud shades ana krduhIohs INTO
semi tones and rendering OF the texture OF the
garments it will be enough for those VINO nave learned
from past exhibitions To recognize MI. Wei SpI i
command OF materials To say thar TINS picture SHOWS
him at best. rhe portrait is one OF almost sewers
SIMPLICITY In color and compost ION, simplicity when
we could wish more generally followed TINS portrait
lee dubbed Dignity liz nelghbor 10y Mr. sargent might
apty be termed "lInpudence II the uhIiru e0luetu>h
maiden who peeps ont at rrOm the canvas Will iOrVe
the lhis Is large il -leh-tn painting OF ous
girl IN black with har proNohins} ruTH' eaes, mose
and month IRREGULAR enough to Lend an added nd;or Oh
rlght CdfccSSY Nhllibo lcit OK
tended, and the hand holding Whe FlSr u ~ u PC
ture which would attract Il Frehchman as Tes
enc, or per%hpg " ' II wo1I be unfair to inquire too
cn.ry how much Mr.. Sargent owes 10 his Paris h'SOc-
noni for this picture shows two thlngS-hrm ana mas
trry painting and beauty OF skpie'son uiv uuo
IA Inc ARTIST alone In his flesh cOloring, particularly
The rose, leaf ungc OF the face an! IN his regard for
values Mr.. Sargent c'lnces slhGuhry shlI.m eaecu
tion while the arrangements or ~ ec ana OF cOhtr"sts
ma ke up painting which IL thoroughly pictorial lts
grace and dainty beauty wod not nave ia ursIuela,e
mo weakness had Mr. Sargent seen ht To make some
OF her disposition of the sim left arm Ihat appears
NOR, urtihre and a poor IL suggests AN actress
facing audience and hundlng some article 10 person
al the wings. rather than an inviting chaehge 10 the
surrtator Mr. EatOn's portrait Of Indy Is notable Tor
IFS drrcncss OF attack. There Is no dsgulse no NJ
ttup To bcguc the observer but the SUBJECT VINO hils
trv IN her easy char, leans back and looks with Wide
Opr ewes IA Ark, Well, what do yon think OF mei
In technique the work Is admirable enough. ana IL Is
rrtuy holder IN cOucc ptiOn and execution than some
mi. IS whicn remember BY MI Eaton. iet W" can
hardly fancy Tbs portrait rs pleasant conpaloh.
Thr p,rtITlts by Messrs Eakns Thyer Maynard, Flagg
an Ritter must defer until another Time vi purely
Imaginative work there are two ambitious EXAMPLES, one
nj Which, "A decorative design by Mr.. Francis LathrOp
will be afford genuine Satisfaction rom ,ho
admirable taste display ed In design ana performance
and from the frank OyOusness OF the elves VINO dance
with all their jublant might around sletpIns ll'h'
annoiutment SO great that inclined TO quarrel
with the prominence OF tue place hccoueu TO Tue
MIR Dryinr has seen nj to plunge again INTO What may
he termed romantic rlasslcalism lie emttgts Win "O
Grcclan maidens or httery ny l"In', o. trono3
may he chilled whom he places IN wOlluy constrained
attitudes upon painfully 10" seats we ooulu ho' lu
sn W. after the closest examination OF the IN
preston that the One-dnwn-Out uslcan on Inc LETT
had nothing 10 lean against. while her coupahoh nr
rnm heln extended suffered 'he usual consequence
OF an unduly low seat, and Is smut up SO mucn IKE
ackknfe that it Is impossible TO discover "hhJ uspo-
Ji,tnn sne hai made OF her legs. Mr. Dewng Is some
thing of stOncist," and his scheme or low coOrs is
areco HE enough But he found necessary 10 build
nj wall OF flowers In tne-background, whylnot impart
1 them itte radiance and beauty Instead OF leaving
them merely punty and dull as pile or cobbestOnes
we can barely the landscapes Mr. Chase sends
one which suggests that he has been ponderng the ways
of Mave aud Maris, Mr.. DOn0hO large wood scene li
pleasantly cut by vertical mes Mr. Clifford u restiu
Autumn Evening"" Mr.. George Inness New Jersey
spene with charm not hidden by Its vapoy atln0s-
pherr Mr. Paluers "NoOn" winch appears uluch Ae MS
previous Harvest ut Ca Iy" Mr. ny zee andsca %
and "a Moonlight each With ils beauty OF tone,
Mr. Snurtleh geographical scene III tne
Adirondacks. and Mir. Tryon tnrre landscapes. III
studes OF figures the first pace Ii easly aken Wy MY.
Buffers NY a," sweet aud graceful, yet leaving
the impression inevitable TO his mhnherlsh tnds u
mas been seem before wills must Drleng note MI pan
mats pres L. Mes studies by MISS Emmett ana