New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-16
TIE WATER COLOR EXHIBITION.
Ssc0nd Hotfce,


The course Of tho Water Color Exhibition Il only
half RIM but It s already safe to claim for this col.
| lection tho substantial approval OF tho public II
Is true that tho exhibition contains nothing OF super
latve merit and It's average has been ex'clled, but
this approval Is deserved, for horo arc many good
things among these water coors, and we MAY as "of
enjoy them without taking tho medium too seriously.
Yet thcre are several artists who have dono work as
serious anything could expect in OIL and whether
! or not prefer direct, fresh, sketcby' effect In
water color work, n Is necessary to recognize moro
ambitious effort. Thorc Is Mr.. Henry Farror for CT
| ample. who has painted for this exhibition picture
distinguished not merely by size but also by thorough
| moss 81 execution. There are low brown and yellow
field with IL tho foreground rejecting he after
glow, gray house smops trees on tho right distance
admirably worle'l OF, and beyond, haze which
family empurples the horizon Tho forms have beer
carefully drawn at tho outset, and the picture built
uI from foundation OF lres rather than Of areas,
| with a precision OF manner which apt TO
gard Inheritance from the greater English water
color school, 1t Is possible to take exceptions TO tho
artists mannerism, which IS pronounced, and TO ask
for fuller color but the fact remains that Ia he man
nor which no has adopted no has done an Important
piece of work with remarkable coDsccntousness
and ability.
Mr. Farrcr works with transparent color altogether,
while his visa-vis, Mr. Hamilton, seeks TO simulate
oil effect W tn Opaque pigments Tho latter has
-
peciay original but there seems to DO good
for his of water cOlors rather than Of oil II IL
not too much TO ask that tho choice Of medium should
DO dictated by tho requirements of the subject
There Is another consideration which Is ignored
often In oil than Ia water color work, and that Is the
weakening effect Of expansion beyond tho limits
needed for tho effect which the artist aims to give.
In Mr.. Bureigh's Loading Up the central group rs
an excellent piece of color, and there Is some good
also m
figures form charming litto picture, but the effect
Is injured by the stretch Of waste space on tho lei
and the expanse of dirty sky, and his painting DO
comes objoct-lesson In tho necessity OF cOnconra
ton These among the larger landscapes of tho
south gallery but there also landscapes Of generous
proportions and unplcasing coloring by MessIs. Van
Elton and Edward Moran, and Mr.. Eaton's view Of
a lily pond which ls not distinguished by pictorial
6eser pcIpe II he had s sn H
sky. Those who frequent water color exhibitions
have learned to look among the smaller, more modest
and there good sketches hero by Mr.. Gibson, in
addition to his important landscapes, by Mr. ". J.
Whtemoie, whose tart In composition Is sometimes
more apparent than his tact as colorlst. aud by
Mr. Bunner. whose little landscape emhodes sim
picify and breadth Tho work OF Mr. Ranger who
is conspicuous contributor. Is always vigorous and
interesting but there Is the danger OF too persistent
study palm tree blown ny norhsr" Mr.. smIL
lies Landscape. Mr. Trscoit's gray fish houses and
wharves. Dir. Paulrs landscape: which suggests Mr.
Ranger's manner. Mr.. Uppncotts clever shore scene
Mr.. Cranes study Of marshes. slotcb by Mr. Kot,
and pictures by Messrs. Rix and Ochtman among
tho Landscapes OF the south gallery. Mr. Nicolrs
Night in tho east gallery. might he hastily taken
for example Of Mr. Farrer. but the effect IL
veycd with much sincerity and dlrertneSs. Here
also have TO note Mr.. Tirany's California sceus
and Landscapes by Nessrs. j. d. Smille. Gibson. Iol-
berry. Hahn. Edwards end Mrs. ". w. Nichols. and IN
the north gallery we find Mr.. Homcr,s "Tamra." Mr.:
Hanger's After the shower Mr.. Cibson's excellent
llitle Rain and MIST work by Mr. Palmer and
Mess"s. Pait Twachtman and Ross Turner have
contributed various harhor scenes which Illustrate
suggestive rather than exhaustive Interpretation.