New-York tribune., 1884-12-18
AMERICAN ART GALLERIES
OPENING or THREE EXHIBITIONS.


There is an abundant variety in the exb;h-
tion shown yesterday at tho American Art Gal,s,,..
The two larger galleries occupied by nearly "a
sketches and studies and several finished pctures so
OF which arrived too late for tho inaugural exhbitio,
The smaller galleries hung with sixty-seyen ola a,H
water-colors by Mr. George W. Edwards, and tina VA
der drawings. The unassuining little sketches ana
studies compose fresh and bright coll econ which eos,
talns much work new 10 our exhibitions Few Ae,.
demicans are represented, although such veteran. .
Mcssrs Cropsey, and j g. Brown have contributed ana
the Society OF American Artists makes brt n scao,,
showing Nevertheless, new blood has furnished mon
work than can possibly be displayed, after making nm
vision for more experienced pantors Unfamils,
names picntlfliy mingled with tho names OF re,u
lar contrib butors" Some OF tho srbngers we prss,na
will shortly mako their debut at one o, the mora i'm
portant exhibitions Others stiil with u long noytias
beforo them, remain content with the modest skctch
Painters from Denver. Cob, from st. Louis Cincinnati
Chicago Detroit. and one from Maryland aid In iyips
the exhibition widely representative character n
informal aspect peculiar 10 collection OF sketches does
not disguise the presence Of much ceyernes which 4.
many would suffer from dilution over large cas-.
vas. We think that many visitors will nnd thss.
sketches. with their frequent signs Of sponanety reals
more interesting than tho average exhibition Of finished
pictures But the finished pictures In Gallery A. are q
quality distinctly above tho average.
There are portraits OF Professor Jamos Mills Pisrca
and Mr. G. =. Cranch by Mr.. Alfred o. Collins whoso
first appearance IL slngularly credable We are coma
dent that the friends Of Professor Pierce and Mr. Cranch
Will see In each portrait touch Of individual charactes
M vol as good superficial likeness The artist hM
done hs work in sympathetic spirit, guided
we fancy by keen intutlons. and the
results are pictures which possess n genuine hu
man interest Tho hofny path ~ mathematics would
seem rensaner than the walks OF art pocsy for Pro
fessor Plerccs portrait might aty be dubbed Baegrs
atItl tl,n,,f p
shows n French influence, perhaps from Donns with
ont an adequate technical grounding Hot meaningless
culorlng, on inadequate rendering ~ shadows q
lack of atmosphere, anu faulty drawing
are shortcomings seen particularly N the
portrait ~ Professor Fierce. and 10 In attributed
doubtless 10 insufficient training, HIT wa hink hst
Mf Collins has worked earnestly ahd ~ fnY afisHs
spirit Nj bn i,aheeYs carefully executed portrait u
herlielier Is noeeshia Tor The labor bestowed upoa IL
rather than for deeper interest, although mag
presume u to be an excellent lkeness ME- koehlefs
painting OF u oerman laboer and workwoman paus
ing tor noonday beer IL ourionsy unpcloria,
aud Miss iakers picture Of children 10
meant to be pictorial II nothing ase, Ms
Thomas Moran has essayed dinicut subject In his
painting OF wild confusion OF breakers ON Easthamp
ton l.. IT, ana he has Infused much spirit and force into
his work. Mr.. DE Haas's Marblehead iiarbor." and
Mr. j. q. Browns. fruit vender are thoroughly
characteristics. Among tho hundred sketches In this
gallery Mr.. W. V. Birney's bold, II somewhat arh
dcal study OF head. Mr. Birge Harrson's sketch
the famous Santa Fe Trail" NewMexican subject by
T. Richie HARRISON several pleasant bits OF landscape
and wooly rendering of the waters OF Niagara by Mr.
j. G. Nico.
The exhibition of sketches ls continued in Gallery d.
Mr. G. H. Miller ventures into the field of figure panters
appears to be curlousy cntangled in her wheel Mr.
Caiiga, depicts Munich workman with MS stone Deer
exhibits a study Of French peasant girl Mr. Bolmer,
sends excellent little landscape, and there s moro
good landscape work by Messrs Murphy, G. 8 Pierce
g. H. Smie Dewey. Baker and Filter Mr.. f. s. Church
shows strong dashing sketch called Autumn Leaves
woman with bowed head and outstrechcd arms but
eted by the cold winds which sweep the leaves from hs
trees The colorng carries out the theme and the sketch
IN Ia Sea@ ere are studies
heads or two OF which are hour sketches surprls
Boot contributes large sketch of coored child, and
Mrs Smie and Miss Abbott send some vivid studies of
flowers. Near the fireplace Is group OF water-co0n
by Messrs. Brennan, Wiles and others.
phones" and various other manifestations OF infatus
ton with tone and color schemes among the pict.
ures which have come TO us during the last few Year,
from Paris. But such ongdrawn-ou monotone as Mr..
o. ". Edwards Is RESPONSE lie for We have not seen be-
chosen would be noticed nice IN tone" pleasant In
color and 80 on as indeed they are But when we arc
confronted with sxtyscyen presentments of gray lower
isares, sray landscapes and general washiness.
%%bro: %S fa rrDs at the 6oiSm Of % we'll chancng
behold patch OF gray cloud far above MIN might 10
pardOnod for concluding the whole world to be OF tho
color. An artist although his sympathy with low
he sincere that of Mauve and Maris, 0ughe
10 recognize the existence of variety In nature
The most important point Il the motive which underlies
n limited range Treatment In the school to which Mt.
Edwards belongs this reliance upon coloring has been
shown again and again To be an attempt TO disguise
either carcessness imperfect technique II an art
ist Is unequal TO correct figure drawing and weak IN
perspective there salways refuge In general vague.
nessnnd tone" Mr. Edwardss figure work where he per
ms his figures be distinctly In his two largest
pictures poor In drawing and In the expression OF ac
ton Even the intended ygor OF the single Igre,a fisher
grl carrying Ii basket on her head, falls Hat IL the
artist is devoted to this class OF SUBJECTS
LEI him study Mr. Winslow HomeTs seaside folk, who at
Edwards has given his people very little air breathe
In. Various decorative paintings OF fanclful subjects
much Ia the vein of Messrs. Church and Weldon ANA
fcw Landscapes with touches OF subiued greens arc
shown In addition to the harmones" ot the seashore.
When we have said that th9 colorlng Is generally mar