New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-03
AMERICAN ART.
,,,nruc,rs IN PAINTING.

Airs Van RcffSScAcr rcrlhuS uS "i"e 0'''' w.
wears AGO such publication would have been
fmpcssiblc 1t is the expression OF new aspr"
fions in American art. 1t seems only yesterday
that our PAINTERS hesitatci and trembcd when at
rare intervals they ventuicd beyond familiar land
scare or simp.e homely scenes, AMI already they
arc trcadiny the higher paths with an assurance
sni enthusiasm which fill Us with astonlshment
american art has raised from the commonplace TO
the ideal with leap; eni although the
chance has not taken place without some eHtraVar
Canccs, and the ability Of a good many OF the
craftsmen laos far behind their intentions, the dl
rcctiou OF the new impulse is clearly in the way
of pgogress AMI the results are surprisingly men.
The study of the human figure, taken up with ar
dor, has led to much more careful technique
This is in limo with the prevailing fashion IN all
the arts from literature TO cookery, high hnlsh DC
ing the demand of the hour. But in lea,nin; to
draw and to color the American artist has become
something more than an effective decorator; ne
has acquired the power of expressing finer and loft
Ter thoughts, and his imaginative faculty Is
strengthening with exercise He is getting eman-
cipated from brio q brac and antiquities, TO winch
The school OF technical finish is apt to devote lse'
Figure aintiny has q better meaning Tor MIN thah
the mere delight in sensuous charms, and beauty
of form blends with poctical sug. estlon.
IL Is impossible to- examne the forty specimens
presented in this volume, all OF thcm from reocho
works. without being struck by the predominance
of the imaginative quality. This shows not only
in the best pictures but in those of minor import
ance also, and it is a far more satisfactory SIN
than marves Of execution would be- The uties'
balftitles. etc by George Fletcher Babb, Augustus
St (;alcns and Francis Lathrop greet us WIN
this indication at the threshold MIR. l. w De-
wings exquisite group Of the procession OF Days"
is fun of it, besides being fascinating study OF fe-
male loneliness. 1t is uaceabe In FRANCIS
.Jones's pretty woodland scene entitled IAN ldyl
and it is strong in +. ii. Blashfelds sleep anu
Poetry" in which wonderfully drawn ethereai
figure shaping itself out of the fumes OF s"lhs-
iny brazier HAMS half inverted over the couch OF
a sleeping girl Here the ailuent accessories LII
which Mr.. BIash6ed reves made to concen-
t,ate the fancy. not to distract it. Imagination
iusti6es the free treatment of the nude I'm Area
dia- by Alexander Harrison, and puts soul into
Tho beautiful face and figure which Frederic W.
Freer has drawn as an emblem OF Morning In
1.-The Dance of Death" by S. w. Van SchaicK' we
have not one OF the most imaginative pictures III
the collection, for the subject is familiar put GER
tainly one of the most impressive A throns OF
nude f,1,res men and women are whirlins madly
through o vast theatre, to the music oil paIa III
the distant background. In the leading COUPE
inst swecping INTO darkness, the woman turns
backward q tclT1Dle gaze, ycV occiho hOS w 80
nize her partly shrouded partner. who Is Death
A great deal OF the effect Of this picture is due
to the adIoit DISPOSITION of the li.ht IL streams
from the high orchestra and blazing chandeliers oil
the background falling upon the dancers In inc
right hand middle distance, while the foreground
mid left toward which all the action moves is Ill
vague dimness. .
lively Imagination distinguishes f. S. Churchs
"Frienls in Councils mermaid ana poiar
hoar n,t able for expression AMI fine execution
and there is grace at least IN H. SlddonS Mo"oi7y
,"Fairy Music" although there is httle OF inc
fairy about his nun lane young lady with oailio'
exceit her costume, and that is only ABOUT Ier
,eos Among the single figure pieces, strong either
Inv tler realism or by some higher quality, are
lobn Ia Farec's "Slecp," in which the face Is
NOT attractive but the attitude is heavy with SUM
her: WIN H. Lows Autumn an admiranS
ari, yn female figure asleep on sheaves OF gram :
J. Alden Weirs "A Reveric, effective IN lis hSht
and shade; Dennis NJ. Bunkers vigorous picture
of "A Doing Tar, curled ON the croSstrees
Eastman .Johnson's "EmbeIs. an old man musins
over a smoulderiny hearth one OF the suggestive
domestic subjects in which this artist is almost
always fortunate: KENYON COX's Evening,
hold and sxilfully ARRANGED study of tie undlaped
fourc. Frederick Dielmans Pomona, Who
crashing with both hanls the twlgs OF q loaocu
fruit-tlee is the most perfect and beautllu WOMAN
in the book: Walter Shirlaws fancliul Dawn '
the bright girl whom j. Carroll Beclwith has
drawn. realinr AM laughing in the branches OF
n soverin. apple tree with the title "Sprng i;
f. d. Millets delightful maid IN IA Coy Coiher
of a deep recessed country fire place AM William
NJ Cnasss darl<-cyed "1ambourinc Player whose
Southern face is set of by the. white uIesS Vi
which Mr.. Chase seems fond.
Some of the best pictures have distinct Amer
ican subect Such is the case with Gilbert Oaui 5
spirited battle piece, John Buns at Gettysburg
which exprcsses not only action but lnuVldual
character; Winslow lIomer's fishermen IN dory'
Lost On the Grand Banks and the admirable
composition by George dc Forest Brush group OF
In ian braves before the Battle, listening 10
the incan ations of aged squaw. Smedley
group of Quakeis a Mild Dissipation may also
show a touch Of national feeling. The Pioneers
Rest is a prairie scene by Douglas Vok. Not SO
easily classified are The Sermon, by j. Carr
Nelchers. a capital study of rustic faces in anti
ouatcd costumes +. A. Bridgmans rich oriental
inferior. a Family Breakfast, Caro- Edward
s simmonss Mother and Child pleasant
woman exhausted with sleep dropping over the
bed in which her little sits up gravely staring
EIihu Veddci's face of "Dellah ; Charles Spra9ue
leaxces "Ihc IIarv est Moon. good both in land
scape and figure drawing and the two wlnsome
young spnstels To whom Carl Mari gives the name
of "GossiIs.' Theodore Robinson's Madonna
Mia plain young woman who STANDS SUN
among the apple-blossoms with her feet close
Together and her toes on a line, beon5s TO q
con, entional type wnicn has had its day. Per
haIs Mr.. Wyatt Eatons wclLdlawn Judgment oil
Paris is survival from still earlier patterns but
il has the advantage over the apple blossom woman
in being graceful
The pictures are reproduced by photoSiaVure
sopa drecf y from the canvas otlcls from draw
inzs prepared expressly for this work. The me
cbanical processes seem to have been conducted
with the utmost care AMI in most cases the result
has been satisfactory. The limitations OF photo
Crayure. however arc sometimes apparent in the
in SIIch ilicflreS Re