New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24

at homo. The earlier Gloucester etchings show
natural constrant and In many cases they are very
plainly drawn, literal studies Of places wherein the
personal element is Of comparatively slight account
It will be SEEN however. that the Characteristic
features Of the subjects have been noted attcntvey
and preserved, as in the "Thamcs-st., Newport"
Fewer of the refnemens Of printing appear in these
first plates. In the Market Slip, St. john the
artist has felt himself ease. He has chosen
and treated his subject with judicious regard TO
pictorial effect, and the result Is a plate Of much
distinction. In the Portland on St. john which
is heavily printed the emphatic lines have suffered
from overriding, fault not inflequeny TO be met with
Here. as in the Provincial Fishing Village there is
an overconscientOus effort al comprehensivcncss which
has resulted In presentation OF unnecessary details
1t is interesting TO compare the "Quimper' with the
later etching Of tho Brooklyn Bridge. Mr.. Plaits
otchings OF foreign architecture seldom inadequate
The visitor VIII find many Of these plates showing
nice perception Of characteristic forms and an eye
for effect Mr.. Plat has a feeling for strong co Or
but he favors abrupt contrasts rather than grada'ions
consequently everything is frequently met WITH and
there Is often total absence of half TOMS inc
"Dorlrecht,7 No 90. shows an improvement as re-
CARDS these tendencies, and the Passenger BOATS
on the Sene' exhibits remarkable decacy In the
rendering of slight forms As the artist has grown
confident he has found details less burdcnsome
and his selections have been made with more freedom
and better effect, as in the Dieppc." No. ~" ana
again in the charming Care Ann WILLOWS
Number % in the catalogue Is the beginning OF
most prasewOrthy study of eastern waterfr 'front.'
In this etching see the Brooklyn Bridge In the
ceveTly indicated distance, and the next, but less
refined plate exhibits the Atlantic Docks There \
a slight sketch Of East River PIERS and very freely
suggested drawing "nOte." 10 borrow the WHIST
leran phrase entitled WILLIAMSBURG from the
Bridge" "Buttermlk Channel the 8" Two sloop''
and The Dredgen show the opportunities which are
offered 10 our artists. The study of sloops with
Governors Island I'm the distance shows acton ana
atmosphere, but " The Dedge" is more impressive
subject. This strange. giant form rising agaalst
background OF water and the distant building, o tnS
lower city has been depicted with some concessions
10 pcturesqueneSs and some disregard oil strlctu al
emphasis but the plate on the whole Is adnlraDy
conceived and well executed. This group OF etch-
art site instinct which IS SIN ripenlng. an intelligence
alert and matured by profitable experience hlcreds-
ing tact I'm the Seec ton of subjects and gam III
licbtnoss and delicacy OF expression Mr.. Plat has
Just as Mr. Pencil has bees assigned ~ me scho9i
of Whistler" but II IS impossible TO detect serytuue
I'm this work. In the case of Mr. Parrlshs cOlec.el
work tie Influence of Haden upon his later plates
was unnistakable. but Mr.. Plat, although he some
times shows himself less brilliant. has MANI a'heI M
dependence II his line is less personal, less Nlgor
Gus and impressive than The line OF, some , cSn
tempOrares he has the advantage OF usual goou Juis
mcn In the choice and treatment OF his snDJec's anu
his feeling for color and eye for erect ar huts-
putable. Technically Mr.. Plat haH proved ms aps
long since II he has erred occasionally IN MS r.
lance upon blacks and POSITIVE contrasts M
errors are those characteristic OF an artist VINO mas
usually shown himself frank rather than suOlle IN
his work. But, as We nave sali' De ID, 10. - nriis
worthy exhibition the promise oil more uSuheu i'no
future.