New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-14
THE ACADEMY EXHIBITION.
fSecond Noiiee1

There have been entered Tor the four Clarke
md Halgarten prizes about onexth OF the entire num-
Der OF paintings in the present exhibition at the Academy
OF Design. Remembering that scademicans are not
eligible for the Clarke prize, artists over tnryVe
years for the Hagarten awards, there would a
pear 10 be charming unaniity among the painters to
the competition Is open as to the claims OF the
respective pictures upon the prizes. Unhapply these
artists have failed in too many Instances 10 I'M
part their confidence TO the Hanging Committee. We
md In the southeastern OF the large gallery and al
other points along the walls that the astersk which dc
notes would he prize picture, marks picture hope
iessy "sEied noored" For IN is course tho utter
puerty Of many of the paintings is abuhosnt juSuhca
ton In other the hanging OF the" pictures A.
we'll the hanging throughout the exhibition Is clearly
open criticism To cite only ono OF several examples
there Is NO good for the skying OF MI l. Ne
Calgas Consolation" which hangs in the north gal
Iery At an earlier exhibition we had an op-
portImity TO the promise OF TINS artlst' ana
the quality OF the work which he showed then entities
him at least respectful hearing. The two figures
IN this simple little composition appear well painted ana
touched with character and only regard 1t in It's
present place az an error Of Judgment Even such
feebl and lfee.s work Its companion Turning
Away" Is hung to better advantage
There is nothing TO Justify the decision which consgSeo
Mr. Freers admirable Portrait Study" No 5o4, to
corner OF the northwest gallery We glad to ma bat
Mr. Freer has abandoned his ipsipd variations OF one
model to give study full Of life and pquant char
acter The familiar picturesque" costume is made 10
serve its purpose well but we THINK the
artists success lies in DIS cicsf anu
yorkrnan.like rendering OF distinct indi-
yidusly II would be interesting place this picture
beside Mr. Chases Ready for the Ride, at the Union
League C1uA aud sure that Mr.. FreeTs strong
honest work would not suffer from the comparison This
unfortunately not competing picture, but II must De
confessed petition has resulted In many disap
poinmeuts well "a much good technical achievement
IL can he only lack senshhty that induces Mr. Fran
els Miller to eIpend much labor upon such barren
work his Charity Home" great bleak room hlled
with glazing light the faces and dresses OF the wear-
come old painted with equal care and express
sion. and the whole scene as bare of human inter
est as the table tho swept and garnished
floor. Why should Mr. Miller call this picturei Mr.. G.
NJ Turner shows Of the pictorial sense in his Court
ship of Miles sandsh" yet Mr. Turner's expression is
rather hating The moment. according TO the lines
compan wing the picture is that when,
Archly the maiden smiled and with eyes oveTrunnng
with laughter, 800 .
said. iu a tTemulOus voice; why dont You speak Tor
yourself. John ~
Naturally we expect much the delincaor OF such
an instant What do we sect Two young Puritans who
have exhausted the crops and the weather and
The last sermon. and have encountered awful
gan in the conversation. Is John Alden
overcome and ready rush forth racked by stormy
spiritual strict Not at all Mr. John Alden appears to
be riyeed his seat, and his only emotion regards the
the safe disposition OF his hat And as for Prisclas
archnesss and tremulous emotion confess that
we nd he1 intent only upon spinning We forced
10 think Turner has missed his point, uut after
this said remains much which well worth praise
The of the lights. aud The airy view through
the casenae excellent points aud the favOte model
who masQuerades Priscilla has been invested
with sentimental interest which is well enough
as far "a II goes The cOlOrng IL OF truly Purani
cal sobriety II the Clarke competition teaches
artists while technique is essential it is even more
important 10 give character and itsndvidua differences
OF expression, IL they would do vital figure work Mr.
Clarke will be richly rewarded for his efforts.
Itis strange In this time OF self consciousness and
self restraint to find quick intuition rare among our
Azure PAINTERS MI :. w. Alexander sometimes shows that
be his subjects rather than thought them out and
mover better than in his portrait IN the coridor where
the mrestraned extravaganza mars most admirable
ouates both In conception and execution MI j.
Alden WeiI's Young Mother" No. 1875, Is most
ge.tive text. In his drawing. in his Though
understanding Of effective hTush-woTk. and in his
harmonious treatment Of his favOrte low tones Mr. Weir
Is the strongest OF younger artists We are glai to
find him making another venture outside the fields OF
portrait and flower painting. Here is the same breadth
and dignity of treatment the examples Of admir-
able painting particularly In the arms hands and In the
face OF the mother which have recognized elsewhere
in his work although think the shsPelsss blot meant
for the face Of the hardly worthy OF the artist
80 far as painting concerned must far to find any
thing SURPRISING this The sentiment of the subject Mr.
Weir has aimed express the pose of young mother
looking upon the sleeping nant his hand raised to
her This gesture is pretty aud even touching butts
French artist. and we feel suggestion OF chic rather
than the unsded and original expression OF the instinct
~ maternity There thus Far curious failure in
MIR weir's powers Whenever ne approaches "0rk whicl
Mi"n" he autfnliy painted as the figure was proved
most disappointing presentation o an laca SUBJECT We
but We fear the artist who has beon regarded
a the most promising Of our younger
Mr Weir will never be termed merely clover
painter while his viriy and the dsh order OF bis tech
meal requirements remain uDinpaiTed. .
The second picture by Mr. j. W Alexander. - astesi
dsssing and Violent The -p intcd figure OF grace
f young Lady, and the various accessories OF the studio
save az f.y Illustrate the versatility of srist
who has proved his streugth aud vigor IN MS por;
the ' JANUARY No 40. BY Mr. Gerorne Ferris, an
artist much given to reliance upon 69e his 5cr
but here showing strong modelling IN the dusRy
mu.clar form OF his snlky January. Mr. g. W. Brenne
mar whose "Antiquary' Is hung in the gallery |
has beiaken bimshto the detail painting so fashionable
OF l.o nsnife~t- degree of skin not TO bo dessed
Ills c1lung quite another matter and fairly obscures
mis- clever brush work. The NoIans, Leon and Percy
reappear with work Of their usual brightness and super
foiai excellence. There ia the me little Duel by lson
Moran. figures and costumes apparently studied from
photographs rendered with len and lelns Touches. and
there Is AN Old limo Melody by Percy Moran another
Mr. Ab6ey's The sisters the performer al the piano
faced right here she faces tne lett The chief end
and the surface Of the piano. precisely the same Ia
both cases save that Mr. Ab9eys lanbrequis |
meath the performer the hovers and the piece Of fTn
rr IN the background the Gdashiosed legs " The
paBoare other points Of more les exact reseab
Mr. Abbey pasted hgures and the entire length OF
window and piano MT. Moran shows but figure, but
las regards the main object OF his picture |
aud the accessories of his oomgO-
sition. hard TO imagine this fragment OF Mr.
Abbey painting. So much for the conception. As
Inc .cUton remember nothing by this artist
graceful aud easy and the treatment OF the light from
the window IL accomplished with remarkable skill In
an degree this picture eremphes qualities
mon IN varying degrees the competing ure pieces OF
which O have Spoken rs well to the others which
ne unable 10 notice They tell the Old story OF technical
facility but hack Of original eoncep tions.
THEATRICAL ACCIDENTS.