The sun., 1888-04-22
sns sousr4 or AMxnroxx An1rsrs.
seee.s Article.

and black evening dress, with blue cloak on
her shoulders. One must say OF II what was
said OF his haif-length at the Academy. that It
is an sstonishinRly clever and an interesting
work, but not one OF Mr.. Sargent's bost.
Had he shown in New York tho beautiful por-
trait OF an elderly lady In black. which he sent
instead to London. our public would better un-
derstand the full reach Of his talent-his power
to compose q portrait beautifully as well as
TO paint II admirably. to characterize the
forms beneath the draperies as we'll a. to char
acterize the head, and to give pictorial charm
as well as individuality and strength to
HIS RESULT. In this portrait the head is admir-
ably characterized and with all due refinement
and delicacy Of feeling; and the fact is all the
moro noteworthy since the figure stands In q d.
rect light and there are therefore no strong
effects of light and shadow to bring out the
modelling. But the pose lacks interest, is sim
pie in way which suggests an effort after
simplicity rather than the true thing Itself. The
fgure does not seem solid within It's draperies,
and brilliancy in color and in handling have
been gained with some lack OF refinement and
charm. II Is tho work OF q master. but. We re-
Peat, not of Mr.. Sargent at his best.
Mr.. Kenyon Cox. on the other hand, Ia Mt his
very best in his small half-lenCth portrait Of
Mr.. st. Gaudens standing in his shirt sleeves
working on medallion. The likeness is ad-
mirable. not only in the head, but In the pose
and action OF tho figure. and the accuracy with
which II has been seized and the vlgor and
vitality which have been infused into its rem
derine. added to the essential interest OF such
Q subject, make this one OF the two or three
most interesting pictures Of the year. The
busy hands are particularly well imagined and
rendered. and although the head is perhaps
little too strong In color thsre is, with this ex-
ception. nothing but praise to bestow from the
point Of view Of color and tone. The blue
white Of the shirt and the warmer
whites Of the background are treated In a
quite mastery way. There is only one point
shat is disturbing In this portrait. which some
day will surely be thought Of much historic
value. The sculptor is at work upon tho por-
trait In relief OF q brother artist, but the fact
that this artist wears Tam OShanter cap
and holds o palette, and that these two acces-
sories are prominent to the obscuring OF more
important factors in the relief. gives the task
at which we are bidden to assist seeming
tririality which is at variance with the serious
energy Of the figure itself. Such detail as
this Mr.. Cox might easily alter. and for the
sake Of his really admirable work It is to be
hoped that he may be thereto persuaded.
Mr.. Donoho sends a striking AID brilliantly
painted. II not very attractive. portrait OF him
self; and Mr.. W. g. Allen rather brutal but,
again, strong and brilliant head OF o gentleman
in uniform. Mr.. Chase's largo picture OF o lady
in Japanese dress carrying child, is somewhat
slight In execution but interesting all the
Same; and his full-length Of gentleman with
folded arms has tho merits OF technical au-
dacity and, apparently. Of clever II superficial
Characterization. Monsieur Renoufs profile
head Of young girl. with landscape back
ground. is strong and accomplished and not
devoid Of sentiment; and Mr. Beckwith's "Or-
phans," though there Is a disagreeable SAVIOR Of
the deliberately lugubrious about it's title and
its color. contains excellent work in the artists
usual strong, II somewhat unattractive and I'M
refined. manner Miss Brooks's figure called
II Wonder II He Really Means It2" is vulgar In
feeling and in execution. and with the exception
OF Mr.. Tifany's large would-be religious pic
ture. perhaps the only work In the exhibition
which is patiently and incontestably unworthy
OF its place.
Several small pictures Of tho nude WIN be
examined with interest: for example, one by
Mr.. Cox which contains very clever painting.
but IL rather distressingly modern in type and
q little brutal In sentiment; one by Mr.. Dem
man. which 10 charming from o decorative
point Of view, again very modern In type. but
refined almost to the verge Of weakness; and
one by Mr.. Low. which Is much more classic
In sentiment and. except for little chalki-
ness. altogether delightful in color. Mr.. Dew
inRs alleeorical figure against a background Of
blossoming orange trees is wholly delightful in
color and interesting in sentiment, II marred.
perhaps by Q slight accent OF artifciality,
and most certainly from technical point of
view by tho gliding OF the staff. Mr.. Cox is
found again In a large picture OF Jacob
Wrestling with the Angel" which deserves all
respect as the most serious essay in the do
main Of what tho French call grand art "
that we have seen for long. 1t is also excel-
lently drawn and the angels face lacks neither
beauty, nobility. nor right expressivensss.
Nevertheless. success has not quito been
reached Notwithstanding the careful model
ling ofJacob's nude figure. the clear expression
OF vigorous action has somehow been missed.
and the canvas as whole. despite many pas
sages Of great individuality, is trife cold and
academic in effect. 1t goes against the grain
however. to note shortcomings in q work OF
such serious ambition and so high degree OF
accomplishment. What ono likes best to think
when looking at 1t, is that from hand so capa-
BILE and mind SO in earnest with its art, still
better things may confidently be expected in
the future. Taking his three works in this ex-
hibition, together with those at the Academy.
Mr. Cox has every reason to congratulate him
self upon his years results.
Academic Mr.. Thayer's Angel" certainly is
not. but as personal piece OF work. In senti-
ment and execution. as one could hope to see.
The singularly potent charm that Mr.. Thayer
often puts into his efforts, a charm In which
beauty Of workmanship and tenderness OF feel
ing are inextricably intermixed. WIS never
more apparent than In the head OF this sad
though youthful angel; and although the pict-
ure is Incomplete in its effect marred by the
inadequate treatment OF the neck. as well as
by the fact that the arms arc cut off at the wrist
In an awkward and casual-seeming manner.
We care much more for its incompIeteness than
for tho well-rounded and fully finished paint
ings OF less individual and less genuinely
artistic painters.
At the opposite end OF the scale as regards
theme. but entirely complete in its way, and
altogether one OF tho most conspicuous sue
cesses OF the yoar. is Mr. Horatio Walkers
Pigsty." more beautiful piece Of painting OF
the sort 1t would be hard to imag!ne and moro
fhan Al IL (sI.o .An,-