New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-11
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARTISTS.
ELEVENTH EXHIBITION:

The eleventh exhibition of the Society Of American
Artists IS TO be found at the Fifth Avenue Art
Galleries, where the walls of both rooms are CON-
fortably filed with $50 paintings The OK.
hibition contains several worthy examples OF btl
isnt painters, several pictures which represent
ambitious purpose and much technical facility. and
many others tentative In character indicating promise
rather than actual performance. The exhibition is
promising In sense, because an accomplished
technique is TO be regarded fundamental requisite
and this experimenting shows that many OF the
younger artists are Eeaously striving to mast
les sons in their craft It might be urged that
mastery OF drawing and composition Should preceds
the exploitation Of color schemes, and an exoep.
ton might be taken to tho repeated reflection Of the
latest Partisan fancies 1t Will dlsappolnt soma
visitors to find that many Of tho clover younger
painters have really nothing 10 express, but II they
are painting for each Other and II each admires tho
others work. the result is probably rare condition
OF mutual contentment Each year this exhibition
is declared by its enthusiastic friends TO be the best
ever held. Doubtless the same claim is already
made this year. but those who have followed the So
ciety from the outset will recognize certain want
Of serious and definite purpose which has been felt
since the change IN 1854 On the other hand the
collection In general is illustration Of facility and
cleverncss which should promise we'll for the future
and some OF the older members have cOntributad
work of unusual consequence.
Among the number is Mr.. Abbott Thayer, one Of
the socicty's earliest members. Mr.. Thayer sends .
charming landscape, and portrait Of brother and
sister, admirable study OF naive, shy expression,
although turbh in coror and seemingly incomplete. :,
But Mr. Thayer's capital work Is his large full length
portrait Of lady in white lace dress with pale gold
threads beneath the lace Of waist and train which
hangs at the end of the larger gallery. The
biblion, usually happens, is strong In portraiture,
and Mr.. Thayer has the company OF MessS. sargent,
Chase, Weir, Beckwith, George B. Butler, Benson,
Ftz, Renouf, Collins, Mrs. sewsll and Mrs sher-
wood But the artists have given the 'place Of honor'
to Mr. Thayer. and think visitors will confirm their
judgment, though all may not appreciate the
delcacy Of the treatment Of whites and the selfcon-
troll which has avoided opportunities for the effective
or catchy OF positive colors. So far as mere ar
rangement goes might be urged that the folds OF The
heavy train form ungracetul mass Of drspery, and
again 1t might be objected that tho deep shallow on
the right hand hardly explains itself 1t is doubtful
whether the face be fairly seen and II Is sufficient
to apparent unevenness in the flesh painting
which shows the subtle charm Of Mr.. Thayers best
work on a part Of the right side. The shadows are
less transparent than could WISH but tho painting
of the white lace and the maintenance OF true Ieis
tons have been accomplished with rare dehcaey
Many remember the admirable portrait OF lady
with a horse, which Mr.. Tnayer exhibited some seven
years ago, and those who recall the picture now Will
rrallze that II would be rash attempt definitely 10
determine the artists limits. OF another phase Of art
the expression Of vivacOus life and atmosphere, ve
have two notable examples from Mr. Sargent For
alerness and intense life there is nothing to equal
his fresh, brilliant sketch Of Mrs. F. D. ". This ID
accompanied by portrait Of elderly lady IN black
the body well detached from the background and SUD
rounded by atmosphere. Tho cooring OF neck and
lips is little forced and the alert expression pos
sbly overwrought, but the figure shows life in way
which no other Of painters has quite attained.
Mr. Chase has painted MISS Elsie Lyde as Little Lord
Fauntlepoy7 I'm the familiar black velvet dress, with
bright red sash and variety Of sump;uous Accessories,
white rug cushion with red tassels on the left, duh
blue curtains behind and armchair With pale gecnsh
Seat on one side Perhaps the face In It's frame Of
yellow curls is treated with less emphasis than the
oldtime purists might ask, but there Is much charm
OF expression and the clever management Of color
throughout Is undeniable Mr.. Beckwith shows an AZ
rangement in dull reds and black, an excellent fun
length portrait Of a brunette whose right hand holds
Dortiere aside. Mr. Weir sends curiously INTEREST
ing, well painted portrait Of +. S Connor. and
thoroughly pictorial sketch OF head. Mr. Benson, "A
artist who made most promising debut among Us
two years since, exhibits portrait OF lady IN Nhite
which is painted with much delicacy, although me
cooring Is little forced here and there upon mo
face NJ. Renouf falls far below the standard VElen
he Fixed for himself, and HIS vivacious portrait
! n, a lady Is marrcd by the jaundced coloHng.
More serious work IS shown by Mr George b. Butter,
whose more familiar manner IS hardly 10 % oe"DO""
In his portrait OF lady In Subducd greeh' WIN '~E
colorod mOusquotsire gloves, which form no moon
siderable part of the color scheme Here the person
atty Of the sitter has not bcen sacrificed and mo
result II less decorative than some other example,
is an actual portrait Of much nobility. NGrahsno
portraue Is we'll Illustrated n the pictures contributes
By Mrs Amanda Brewster Sewell and by Alfred Colhhs'
The former sends remarkable study OF heso'
There is no Sinking In the drawing; the modelling
is clean and hrTn, and despite the detail the exec"
| "a &c aNfh lon
ness but It has none Of the monotonous quality o.
| Photographic verslmilitudc. Mr. Collins also sec
ceelS In presenting his sitter IA real life, ana tls
expression Of personality Is an interesting study
Mr. W. l. Aliens portrait IS 10 be classed among ex
perments not devoid OF promise Mr.. BeckWlths
adTutly charac Portrait OF Mr. lsaaoson ana
portraits by MeSsrs Dc Camp, Bicknen. Fntz, who
sends head OF much intrinsic charm; Bouler and
SternsS testify 10 the general interest in nessmak
Ing Mr. TarbelIs Gotta and green arrangement
Is too unpCpoSseSsing 70 need special notice, out
something should be- said Of Mr.. Dewng's "Note,'
and of Mrs sherwUOd's delightfully."- sympathetic EN-
bodIment OF babyhOod. The most ambitious essays
among the figure compositions come TO US from Paris
Mr. Major who gained tho Art School scholarship two
years since sends back to Us the most important
EXAMPLE OF his powers which have seen. But
Of the artists individuality the picture tells us
little. He has contentcd himself with one OF tho
themes popular In Paris Of late for no special reason
and his picture simply shows the desrth OF IDEAS.
and the craving for novelty, however meaning
less which characterize many Partisan ateers. AZ
the Academy we find Mr.. PeaTce dcvotng a huge can
vas to rustlc5 model and flock OF sheep crown
ing the model with incongruouS halo, and labelling
tho picture IS. Genevieve." Here we find Mr. MAJOR
doing tho same, that his execution is less WORK
manllkc and his delight In purple is unlikely 10
be shared by the spectators. II will be UNDERSTOOD
that the work implies some technical ability despite
bad color, tho immObty Of the craven figure ana th'
want Of textures. But the manner Of execution seems
OF less consequence In this case than the pct
ares betrayal Of tho emptiness Of the ART "hNh
has influenced the painter.
Messrs gogert, Martin, Cox, Cotin Tryon, Chase
and Dearth are among the artists who send landscapes
Of interest 1t may DO questioned whether Mr. BogeH
has done ANYTHING better than the study OF ms! ~