The Portland daily press., 1886-05-01
SOCIETY OF ART.
Opening Of the Spring Exhibition To-
night.


hold private view of the Spring exhibition
for members only, and their families, at
which the members will show their yearly
tickets.
A reporter for the PRESS took a glimpse
of the collection yesterday afternoon and
can safely say, after the hurried glance, that
the present exhibition is one of the best the
society has ever placed on its walls. The col
lection is for the most part, what it is intend
ed to be-the work of amateurs. The only
pictures we now recall, by professionals, are
several by Fl. B. Brown, and one by G. F.
Kimball, which serve to tone up their sur
roundings.
In the exhibition are SO oils, - water col
ors, 81 black and whites, and one portrait
bust. The oils occupy one half of the gal
lery, and a little space in the other half,
while a few are placed in the ladies' room.
The remainderof the gallery is devoted to
the water colors, and black and whites.
Great praise is due the hanging committee,
Messrs. Fl. B. Brown, G. F. Kimball, J. C.
Stevens, G. X. Davis, and Charles Haines,
for the discriminating taste by which all the
pictures have been made to show their very
best.
The pictures are numbered from left to
right. The place of honor is occupied by
Harry Browns 'sWreck ON the Outer Coast
in which there is seen, on the right, the IA
miliar cluster of rocks, emblematic of the
rugged coast of Maine, just beyond which
the waves are madly dashing over deserted
wreck 1t is a scene so well done, and so
familiar to our people, who dwell by the
shore that they can hardly realize how
strangers from inland places, sit by the hour
watching the waves leaping over the doomed
craft, as much fascinated as we Portlanders
are as we stand on the rocks at Pond Cove
and watch the breakers. Besides this pic
ture Mr.. Brown displays five others, each
treating a subject entirely distinct from the
Others These are "Cushing's Point" "a
.Showery Day." Evening Hour ''Old De-
lano Barn." and the sold MILL
sChrysanthemums," by Miss Alice NJ
Gould, is a striking picture. A young girl of
olden time, in the old-fashioned short-waist-
ed dress that our grandmothers affected, is
sitting in an old style easy chair, her hands
resting in her lap, while, at her side, table
stands loaded with chrysanthemums few of
which have fallen to the floor. There is a
great deal of sentiment in the picture, show
ing that the pupil has caught much of her
Observation-Disclosures strongest feature. The
coloring is very good, the arms especially SO,
and the brightness of the background brings
the figure out in the strongest relief. The
dress, particularly the folds falling over the
knee, are rather sharply defined, but the gen.
eral workmanship is worthy of much praise,
Close to Miss Gould's picture, are two COM
panion pieces entitled "Late Autumn and
''Purpooduck Swamp" The first is very full
of feeling, although the latter is also excel
lent. The pictures are full of out door life
Like the work of the painters more distin-
guished brother, they come right home to the
spectator. NJ. B. Gilbert, in the .sVillage
Blacksmith" presents a most realistic pic
ture. The portion that embraces the old
chimney and the forge is the strongest The
bellows has been painted too nearly the color
of the forge fire, thus taking away little
from the effect of the latter. "a Study in
Oil, by Miss B. Ell. Berry, displays a very
piqnant face from out of the brim of the
great Rembrandt hat which surmounts it,
"Grandmother's Light Stand, +" by Miss fash,
is an excellent still life reproduction. The
table, at certain points of view, is a little out
of proportion, but the general effect is good,
and the candle, book and spectacles are well
painted. Mr.. Woodcock, prize-winner of
last year, displays another still life scene, a
realistic flask of wine with lemons. Mr.
Coombs, of Lewiston, shows his best work
yet in some cattle drinking from a mountain
stream. The middle cow is particularly good
in drawing and coloring
of the remaining pictures there are six
teen flower pieces, and of these we must not
forget to mention the excellent work by Miss
Ell. G. Brown in Roses and ssIn the Con-
seryatory," or that of 'Roses'' by Miss II.
P. Whitmore. The great fault with ali ANA
teur exhibitions is the tendency to still life
pictures, and this exhibition is open to the
same criticism.
Among the water colors we can just allude
to Fred Kimball's pastel which is deliciously
soft and true. A meadow, rising at little on
the right to a knoll bearing several trees, the
meadow divided by water course; that is
all. But twill bear close inspection. Miss
Longfellow's Eat the Edge of the Woods"
Mr.. Tompson's sAmoDg the Alleghanies''
are we'll worth mention.
In the black and whites there are many
strong heads, and an amusing drawing, the
Country Auction by John Macdonald.
Miss Coolidge exhibits a taking sketch of a
boy leaning on a spade. Mr.. j. c. Stevens
show many architectural sketches of great
merit.
A strong feature of the exhibition is 'Ru-
bens' 'sSt. Simon and the child Jesus
drawn and engraved by Miss Mary E. L
Burton, of Brunswick, pupil of Blossoms
The reproduction is very fine.
Commencing with next Monday and last
ing through the 18th of May, during the en-
tire day and evening, the rooms will be open
to the public and admission will be cheerful
ly accorded to any respectable person who
will present an admission ticket signed by
any member of the society. The society has
taken this new step hoping to encourage the
love of art in our city, and at this exhibition
has abolished all fees at the door and any
member of the society will furnish admis-
sion to any applicant