New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-02
THE WATER COLOR SOCIETY.
A COLLECTION OF NEARLY 500 PAINTINGS.
rwrNry.sEcoND ANNUAL EXHIBITION.


h. hcsn done already to lessen the austery of the
interior There is the usual Japanese canopy above
the stairway and portieres ana other hangings,
Japanese umbrellas, grotesque MASKS ana oronEes
have been apty disposed here ana tnere oy painters
fnll OF decorative ardor The north gallery mas been
transformed into white and gold room, and the
ntctures have been chosen to harmonize with the
.ns-., ,ree,,oept Most Of the low toned paintings
are IN the south gallery, and the contrast between
Az. 80. A. m itself an efeetive' feature. The
uaIis are seldom overcrowded Out OF nearly 1900
,,,cpr.s 7s1 have been ACCEPTED, and tho proportion
of small paintings appears TO be unusually
,arrs Tho rejection of every other picture implies
nm effort for quality, and 1T may be safely
- ,hat the effort has been successful
Thsrs NAV be nothing extraordinary nothing
which makes hole In the WALL to quote Mlllets
obrase and the art which Is the medium OF great
emotions and ideas may be looked for in vain. But
one hardly looks for this in watercolor exhibition.
Again 1t is easy TO trace resemblances and influences
Here are the mellow low tones Of the Hollanders,
Kever, Bsstert Poggenbeek and others, and here
several artists who following the Holland path
and striving TO realize harmony In a similar way.
Here Is whistler himself that clever capturer of Inn
,ressons, and again essays In Whistlers swift
selection Of effects, and flashing dangerously beguil
Ing manner OF execution. Perhaps Messrs. Blum and
Chase may recall Whistler to some, Fortuny to others,
or the latter may be held to a comparison with
Sargent although his solitary picture, a study Of
girl In black, brilliant in color than in the
wouldbe vyacious action, leaves desiring other
and better examples OF his thoroughly artistic art.
The school Of line and exact form still seeks to main
tain itself aga st the school of color impressions II we
may cite little landscape by Mr.. ". ]. Linton, with
fgures by Blrket Foster This might be held to rep
resent the English school, without assailing Mr.. Lit
toms Americanlsm, and the waterscape Of Mr. w. 7.
Richards and the landscapes OF Dir. ). D. smille
might be set down as based upon similar methods.
On the whole, however, the prevailing infence here,
in other exhibitions, is French, although there IS
a brave showing of Holland low tones The figures
of the younger Morans, Mr. sternes and others might
DO taken conceived In the spirit of Leloir, Rossi
and other Of the French watercolor painters. The
clever waterscapes Of Miss Alexandria Dupro might
be held to represent French influence at the League,
and Daubigny and Madeleine Lemaile have left
their traces elsewhere. Even the so-callod I'm
prcssionists have invaded the Academy, and We find
Mr. Tiffany seeking realize the key of nature in
his study of children the shore and in his djsap-
pointing pastoral. while Mr. Theodore Robinson brings
suggestion OF Pssao in his excellent studies Of the
French peasantry. There are several newcomers
who show signs of promise, Mr. NJ H. Holmes, we
believe has exhibited with the society before but his
charming landscape and his figure study in the north
gallery, executed in light washes and without any at
tempt TO force the medium represent growth In aoi
lily which VIII receive recognition. On the WHOLE tho
character OF the pictures may be said TO- show an In
creasing love of color, and ability in its expression
There are certainly signs Of general progress In tech
ncal facility, progress not remarkable as compared
with year, but clearly apparent 10 those Of us who
can look back ten or even five years. In its general
character the exhibition gain. 1t has become
a truism to say that no other water-coor exhibition
shows such diversity Of methods, such variety OF en-
deayors to realize given results, but IT Is not super
huous to emphasize the fact that in these many dif
ferent phases of expression the artists, as RUE are
doing more intelligent work
60 far as the arrangement is concerned. there has
been less nsstancc upon centres" than usual New
ertheless centres not to be avoided Thus IN the
south gallery, find the long southern wan divided as
Il were by a group of three pictures. 10 the mauie
IS one of Mr. J. c. Browns bootblacks, those i'm
nacuIata bootblaclks who never change, and Mt
Brown is accompanied by Messrs- Ranger ana
Horato walker Mr.. Rangers. rich green landscape
Is one of several admirable examples OK "et
water color work. Mr. WALKERS landscape WIN
cattle Is In part Of his most successful pctuss'
His feeling for color had been exhibited In many
s,mlIar paintings but no has done nothing better
Of its kind than tho dark brown whitefaced co"
standing partly in light and partly In shadow on
the observers left This is rich, SOFT beautiful Color
expressed with something Of Troyon's art, although
I'm a very different manner ON the right inc
ntcture is weaker At the east end Of the gallery
Mr. church,s idyl, representing Little 30 Peep and
Her Sheep has for It's immediate neighbors Mr.. f. H.
smiths large view from the Battery and nee
classic subject by Mr. Magrath, curious medley
Mr. smith has painted his subject with care ana
good TASTE and his picture has air and Light as wen
as truth Mr.. Magrath viii DO accused Of repcatiRs
the Grecian maidens marble balustrades and blno
SEA OF Alma Tadema. Perhaps the accusation is
cYoundIess, vet IL is certain that the result is SO
snlr,tless labored and ungracefnl as 10 renew the
repret that the artist deserted the Irish peas
antry, subject which enlisted his warmest sym
pathy AT the west end Of the gallery Is very
large twilight landscape by Mr. Henry farrer en-
titled when Hours Of Day Numbered" The COM
position includes placid pool, showing subdued yellow
and russell reflections sober hillside and a gray
house with trees There other houses in the dis
lance and all the facts are set forth with consci-
cntlous accuracy seldom so plainly accompanied by
q deep feeling for the halfmelanchoiy sentiment OF
the scene. This is example OF drawing by line
founded originally upon the English school, and u Is
a very excellent Illustration of thoroughly Intelligent
work The north walls exhibit in central positions
Mr. De Thnlstrup's large painting OF modern man
IN antquc aPmor who stands consulting some papers
with his back TO a window which distributes ls ngnt
hird 4" ~ nictHre II is confessedly only bit Of
studio masquerading, but with some exceptions the
balanced 81 Mr. Maynsrd's sirens, longarmed hg
urcs, rising waves as cold IN color as ine anCs
phere Mr.. Symngt0n's Betsy large STUDY
a. corner "'I panel o over against this carefully, ac
pctnre OF another model or two models
figuring as 6sherwoman and her chill TINS Is en-
ttrely artificial like Mr. McDougaps largo study OF
c1d writing al a desk II is pity that all genuine
feeling should be bansed FROM art and the artist be-
conac mechanism Mr. Gibson mis- another corner
With large landscape which lacks the breanth ana
simplicity Of some small studies, and over against him
ig NJ Beckwith with sn idy OF the crescent moon,
uicfure with admirable qualities of color and design
ha variety of the exhibition is we'll illustrated in this
panel, where find Mr.. Beckwith ana MI Buhner o.
SAVING color Mr. Whistler and Mr. Plat rapidly Sc
lectng essentials, and Mr.. W. W. scott representing
the oiden miniature painting
MI Bium's Venetian Fruit Market is feature"
of the east gallery This Is series o. clever notes
IN red, yellow and black with setting and II con
fans admirable painting. for example, I'm tho oranges
and foreground figure, well the expression OF life
and atmosphere Very different but lhoroughX good
threa men engaged upon the foundation OF house.
nut our limit Is nearly reached. Mr Colmans work
shnnid be noted for Mr. Coman proves tho posi-
bllIfy OF pictorial treatment Of the gigantic and novel
In Western scenery. Mr. s; L. Lawrence Is another