New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-27
TIE MoyTRoSs COLLECTION

The MONTROSS COLLECIION.
a collection Of sixty-nine American paintings has
been placed on exhibition in the Fifth Avenue by Mr.
y uor,,oss dealer OF this city. who expresses
a desire "to establsk business In American ar.
Ta,s ,s the second venture OF the kind which mr.
Moutross has made. His purpose, as we unoels'ano
H. ia to present American art to the pubic unuef On
favorable conditions those usua IN the eAh'oi'io"
of foreign pictures As rule It is only on the eNlooh
of an individuals work. usually OF hmteo ir'eres''
that we find an American collection In 'he saics sa
,eries Last year. II we remember rightly, only two
general American collections were offered at auction
American artists have felt themselves at disadvan'
tare as regards opportunities for reaching
the publo outside OF the regular exhibitions
The old custom Of studio visiting brings little pfoft
TO the artist In these days, and the largo dealers Oh
the city, with one exception. exhibit few American
pictures Those who following the American
art of the day and the mportatons of foreign art,
have convinced themselves that the better class Of
American art holds its in the enforced compari
SON. and II therefore deserves to be placed before
the public with equal advantages. The purpose rep
resented by the exhibition Of Mr.. Montross deserves
support but we regret say that the pictures which
he has selected are often unlikely to enhance the
reputation OF American artists We have had so much
OF name rather than quality in foreign collections
that It is especially disappointing to find this cocc
ton showing many promising names signed 10 IN
adequate work. inadequate, that Is II this conec-
ton Is put forth representing the American art
of the day In any 1t Will be accepted as repre-
sentative by many whose good opinion is worth hav-
ing They Will find some excellent pictures, and
some Interesting sketches, together with paintings
obviously mere "pot boilers,' which the artists
should have been unwilling TO place before the gen.
eral public.
Nobody would care to accept Mr. Mlllets thinly
ample Of Mr.. MlIlets best work, while Mr. Thayers
astudy of Half Nude is out Of place anywhere except
in studio art school AS the title Indicates there
IS no attempt whatever at the dealization which We
naturally ask, though 1t be perfectly transparent
The artist has made study Of breast and face, tho
former painted with much OF the subtle charm OF MI
Thayers best work although the face is less admirable
the flesh tones elsewhere surred, and the shadows
forced as usual. is clear that the artist has made
this study sngleness and purity of purpose for the
sake OF his art This is well enough, but there Is no
reason why he should take the public into his con-
fdcncc. Mr. Dewing, whose success with small figures
the last year two has been noted by the collector
IS represented by a small study of head There Is
some charming color. but the picture is obviously
study If carried to completion parts of the face
the hair and the shadows would probably receive moro
thoughtful consideration. Mr. Lows " Midsummer a
picture Of decacy rather than force unSubsantia and
cold Mr.. Wyatt EatOns "Magdalen Reading Mr.
Beckwith's Breakfast" large sketch Of familiar
model, Mr.. Church's "The Ncst,' which counts for
little Mr. F. @. Joness Dreaming" an unimportant
venture in pseudocasscism, and sketches OF heads by
Messrs. W. NJ Chase and C. c. CuTan are among the
figure work Of the collection. Mr.. Weirs Head' IS
not performance by which the artist can afford to DO
represented but Mr. Beckwiths smaller picture, The
Unfinished Chapter is we'll painted really attractive
little work, and Mr.. Denmans little After Breakfast
IS all that 1t claims TO be- clever, interesting little
study.
The names OF Innoss wyant Tryon and Davis appear
in tho list of landscape painters Mr.. Tryon shows an
Autumn Afternoon after Storm pleasant SYM
phony Of grays and undecided browns and yeIlows,
which, as the lack of definition shows might have
been carried further. Mr. Wyant's little Evening"
IS an example Of harmonious effect rather than for
chile execution and Mr.. Daviss Morning Fog" has
nj least tho merit of simple design carried out with
considerable dellcacy. Mr. Bolton Jones has con-
trbuted large study Of bright green landscape and
sky hard and brilliant, picture of much force de-
spite the presence OF certain metallic quality MI
Bogert's "Avon at Sunset" an excellent example, is
another Of the larger landscapes, and Mr. Eche!ber
gers "view on Lake Hopacong," with its unusual
composition, is an interesting example Of promising
painter. Thcrc are thfoo pictures by Mr. Murphy
which show some rich effects Of color strong study
of cornfed in the clear bright air Of autumn by Mr..
Donoho, disappointing Pastoral" by Mr. Horatio
Walker, hsve est field study by Mr. Curran. and
landscapes by Messrs. De Haven, Eaton Virgins and
Crane. Mr.. W. NJ Chase bright " Study on the Fast
River" Of the pleasant things of the collection
ard Mr.. Twachtman's large Snowbound" is certainly
one OF the serious attempts. Inc buesnow shadows,
so popular for the last few years. appear as an incl
dent In strongly drawn picture Of the black hulls
and naked spars Of ships fee bound at the wharf The
names OF Messrs Percy and Leon Moran W. J. Whit
temore, PAUL Ochtman and others appear In the list
exhibitors but further notice Of the collection does
not called for. AS we have Indicated there are
many pictures and studies Of positive merit, but II
private collectors bring together pictures like
those at the Athletic Club last winter, profess
sional picture buyer should be atc to do better than
this The collection does not represent the best. and
often the second rate work OF many of the con
tribuors, something we may add which Is equally
true Of many Of the collections OF foreign paintings
seen in our sales galleries. Nevertheless, American
artists stl obliged 10 encounter certain preu
dice against native art To overcome this prejudice
it is necessary that when American art is placed con
spicuousy before the public It shall be its own most
eloquent champion.