New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-07
PICTURES BY MESSRS. WEIR An
TNkHTMAN.
And

The paintings waterolorS, and pastel cravings
Messrs. j. Alden Weir ad J. X. Tnachtmann VIII re-
main at the Fifth Avenu Galleries only today and
tomorrow. Tomorrow eening this interesting COL
lection viii be sold at action, and we trust the
results will prove that arsts of sterling worth are
not without honor in ths native land The un-
conventional unacademic York of these artists has
been seen at our exhibition for several years Mr..
Weir came to us from Geroacs atelier, thoroughly
trained artist, and his debit a serious painter
II the figure viii be readily recalled some OF his
erler pictures, like The Good Samaritan and
The Muse of Music,n indicated high ambition,
bd unhappily, the conditions have not encouraged
tn grand manner" historical nor even ideal
ar Nevertheless, there were opportunities for Mr.
We, TO prove his ability in prtraiture, and of late
yeai he has done excellent work IN landscape, genre
and ,tiu life
tn earliest of the pictures exhibited in this col
lectio is the Children Burying Bird painting
Of soc Journalism and constrained in design, but
execute in a sympathetic spirit and with an evident
feelingfOr refined color. This painting, which has
been engraved, is followed by small
study of women at Grenada fountain,
a studyuneQual in execution but exhibiting some
charming painting: for example. the neck and head
of the wman with her back turned to the observer
In the foeground. The painter-like quality of Mr.
Woirs w is well illustrated in his studies OF heads
which She broad positive rendering of essentials
based upo effort for swift generalization and ae
companiedby rich yet subdued colonng. With the
exception little summer idyl. these are the only
examples fgure-painting, although Mr. Weir in his
earlier yea confined himself almost entirely to the
hgure. Hiifeeling for color has found frequent eX
preston in painting of still life and his little study
OF copper the end of the gallery, his rich flower
pieces, his pces of Delft ana other examples will be
appreciated the lovers of painterlike quality
Most of Mr. Ner's pictures, however, are landscapes
and perhaps us change from his earlier painting of
the figure maS be taken illustration of gen
eral tendency. At least, there are many signs Of
growing preferecc for landscape
In landscapes in fgure-pantng there IS much Of
the intimc or fmliar treatment. and little of the
grand syc,' I'D the attitude of these artists pos
sbly might be oiled representative So far a gen.
eial treatment f. concerned the methods Of these
artists VIII Incomplete to those who insist upon
TIT scientific" manner, but the language OF sugges-
tlol always appea. to true art-lOvors Again. it will
be zen that sketces and studies have been included
whth are valuable notes, without claiming con
sidcntiOn final esults.
VI Tnachtman shows the ability in quick
selection Of essentials which is the endowment
OF Tn true painters etcher. His method might
be called analytic, and that of MI. Weir
synthetic. but the synthcss implies pre-
ecdng analysis and the terms are not important
Two pictures which veil illustrate the methods are
Mr. Wei's broad, Courbcke Belt of Woods" the
swift summing up Of general effect. and Mr. Tnacht-
mans admirable little Harbor of Deppe" at the
end Of thegalley Another artist in treating the latter
spJect mgnt have labOred zealOusly to realize the
Vser and bring out the modelling and even many
detis Of tb vessel at anchor but Mr. Tnachtman has
omitted nothing Of genuine pictorial value and nothing
esseEial TO the general nuthfuness of bis picture.
Nj. 'nachtmn's Winter is another charming eX-
ample Of aItstc selection and truthful as well as
rlctorp effed. Mr.. Weir has usually painted sum
mer lsdscapS wherein he has occupied himself
largely with he rendering of the greens. without
riuch effort to vary sober and re-
stricted color scheme. Bot this has
furnished NAM results of fine pictorial
qualify he largest landscape, which holds place
o: honor, is possibly less successful than certain
Others Il slope and rock in the left foreground are
truthfwly tpressed, but the composition is cut up by
rigid line, al the green's here and there have effect
of crudenes The Lengthening Shadows" is another
illustration capital foreground painting, and men
ton should made Of Mr.. Weirs charming little
Gray Octob." It might be said that these pictures
now and thelsuggest the study of paintings rather
than of nature and yet Mr.. Weir has evidently taken
up outdoor Nrk with zeal, and the influence Of
pslnhhgs mas ;obably been unconscious. Ills work
shows ioiec no means common and an apprecia-
ton g. .'aliand effect which we trust will OBJ
tain ls'E Il rDgnitiOl. Mr.. TnachtmanS snow
bound TO be oted together with his winter and
the swiftly but pity Interpreted On the Seine ana
Quail Cover picture OF quiet. refined coloring
and this delcacyn the qSe of snbdued cOors appears
IN the Toll lIOic0 and : In the woods and other
studies I'm gray green. Mr.. Tnachtman's felicity
in selection and EhtnesS q touch well shown I'm
his pastels and wter cOlOIs which arc hung In the
second gallery. There are two broad, simple,
thoroughly truthful studies Of sand dunes, with green
each grass, and ane decorative feeling IS expressed
u the study called Wild-fOVers" Something should
b, said Of Mr.. WeiS dog, al the freside, in which
soer harmony Of clOrs offers amends for inadequate
execution. But thse and other pictures by the
artists must be left the dEccmment Of amateurs
who We trust will prove their appreciation Of the
collections painter-lEe quality.
4 large paper edton of the catalogue has been
published Containing etchings by Messrs. Weir and
TnacItmsn.
Pesons in search ofboard or rooms should examine