New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-04
THE PRIZE FUND EXHIBITION.
Third N0ilcf.l

Il
| The "Country Railroad Station" by Mr..
FRANCIS Miller and the Morning after the Snow by MI
w. d. Baker arc both examples Of realism, but Mr.
Baker has the avantage of subject which VIII pass
| muster He has painted wooded swamp the DOGGY
ground covered with mantle Of which half con-
ceas little brook the bare trees and evergieens show
ing against the cold sky and erowdng hcy together IN
the distance the foreground striped with blue SHADOW"
and sparkling with frozen crystals. We need blue
glasses TO shield eyes from the glare ana YET inc
scene is true to nature Any who has visited RAD
bit swamp On frosty winter morning after snowstorm
will see the effects which Mr. Baker has portrayed upon
his canvas Perhaps the shadows may not be quite 80
pronounced in color as in this picture but after all TINS Is
an incident The chief point that the artist should see
with keener vision than that enjoyed by the average
man. and here we think Mr. Baker fails The details OF
his pcture are so carefully worked out as to become
nbtrlsive. We can count his shadows, and almost
reckon the number branches to tree but the superior
power OF generalization is lacking We DO not say that
Mr. Baker needs to ideaze his workfor dealzation ana
generalization are two different things But he needs
tact In selection which shall brnt forwardhe greate'
tmtbs of apdscape and subor inate details, and any
loss in going realism thereby will be more than
atoned by the gain in force as well ss In sentiment
and suggestiveness. On his own ground OF realism MI
Baker has done work which indicates most promising
future This morning is O remarkable picture
We are not ready % the limit OF the artists develop
ment hut rs vet he shows only to minor extent the
subter qualities necessary the higher planes OF land
scape painting Mr. Mer,on the other hand, has proved
by work shown at the Union League Ciuo exhiDluons
that his ideas of extend long way beyond deta
painting He has exhibited or two pictures charac
terized by true and tender feeling ana much delicate
grace Of execution. But in this exhibition he mas re-
verified to his first standard 1t is hard TO understand
how man with any artistic feeling could deliberately
paint such picture The Country Railroad Station'
subject than which nothing could be more unbeautifu
and depressing Mhy OF at one time or another nave
endured periods OF tedious waiting in country stations
We have studied the time tables, advertisements and
placards last have joyfully departed remember
ing our pace of imprisonment recalls anightmare
II Is such scene, with the accompanying inuncuohs
against smoking and the ford announcements OF excur
sons that Mr. Miller with pltlf ndellty mas perpetu
ated mon canvas He has painted his picture well as
regards the ca ecuon details but his figures the only
possible redeemng point are ifeless and unntereshg
The game is not worth the candle. Mr.. Miller has
wasted his talent upon Ia subject which an artist OF al
men should have been glad to forget Now, MI harrls
who has come forward within the year as promising
detail painter has painted much better subject In his
Dress Rehearsal" than In his Academy picture We
are glad to find him continuing his studies of local fe
and there ia excellent work In this stuyd OF the swarthy
Italian organ grinder putting an unhappy monkey
through his paces with the gayy dressed vile Tor audi
ence and critic The painting Of the mans head ana race
In the light is noceaby fine as regards the precision oil
the scene lacks atmosphere The background and mante
ornaments come forward obtrusvey. And the funda-
mental fault is in the composition which is oyercrowded.
The three figures hudsd together so that the points
of the picture weakened with hgufes OF thls SIZE
MIR Harris could have afforded TO paint his subject upon
larger scale As is his picture shows little tact IN
arrangement and treatment. i,
Mr. Harriss picture plenty Of good company in the
smaller galleries. Mr.. Bolmers salt Marshes, Mr.
Feuilleton" and Mr.. Weir's Portrait may be singled
out for passing notice Mr. Weir. as we have said be
ground, and in colorng upon his Academy work. Mr.
Pearces Return from the Pasture Is picture inonen-
slvely agreeable study from model with little sng
gcstOn OF nature, but very gool example OF a9 ar
fetal manner. Mr. Inness rich Glow OF sunset Iariy
Of Ir Harry Chase's on schevenngen rebuke the NE
But there is no want of light aud lustre in Mr. Rehns
painting OF MONDAY scene at Magnona, no los, IN
said 1t is impossible render the glitter Of MONDAY
light runod water 10 manner sasiect4Ty 10 t h
results attained are not pictorial In Mr. hchhs picture
water ana light leap out OF the canvas win
action. MI REIN undoubtedly presents a resemblance
down at that binding stretch OF water But such cour
age and ambitious purpose are sure 70 produce g0ou
window-lght effects in his Flour de Lys graceful
young standing against niny Guria n wh
OF his figure and the expression OF the lace nere are
strong suggestions OF paint eingng 90 Tue orId
have us think Nevertheless. there Is the Idea OF SUD
underneath and the lights nave Deen we nv r
tain which is the paintiest part OF the picture Inc
good feature of Mr. Cagas work Is that ASIDE from ms
fechueal ability, his figures are never unendOWed WIN
certain feeling and his work 10 seldom without some
meaning expressed spite Of Munich limitations III
is with more fluent brush that the students In Paris
ateliers paint whatever they may find 10 say Here is
Mr. Theodore Robinson. for example, with a rustic
Pyramus and Thisbe," OF tender years, the figures
boldly brought Ont and clevery painted and background
and accessories dscreey yelled In gray atmosphere
which is not without suggesiiveness. .
Mr. ]. d. Smile point In his painting OF our
obelisk in winter, lonely figure amid foreign SHOWS,
truely Stranger in a Strange Land. Near by hangs
one OF the Mr. Tryons small evening landscapes.
charming regarls the blending OF colorng ana varied
bS diverse elements in the composition and by the
handling differing effects OF light MI Minors Giant
of the Valley and Mr. Thomas MOrans pass OF Glencoe
not unimJ Osing paintings OF mountain scenery, ana
Mr. O. IT. Davies Curtew" may noted among the
larger iandscap in the gallery Here, too Is Mr. O. W.
Stetson's Fools Sermon which Is more than al In
teresting novelty The landscape low In tome almost
bituminOus roughly blocked out aud the slight hgures
show that the artists technical requirements are not
great his coloring has sOmbre richness when con
sorts well with The red rooed Jester points his
sermon to the maiden by the black funeral train creeping
up the hill There IL thought In the picture and ais
coyery so uncommon fot to be Ignored. The compost
ton OF course faulty. IL should be possible 10 dstn
guIsh the In the but with all Its crudites
we are inclined 10 the impressive cOOrlng and
thoughtfulnes OF this work a sign Of promise III this
artist like many promising painters comes TO nanght
his blood will be upon the heads OF the well meaning
overenthusasc Bostonians who are never able TO rest
I'm peace without literary or artistic idol upon
whom they may expend their marvellous oxuDeance OF
eulOgstic diction.
(Eor Art NepS and Comments see THIRD pageI