Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-14
LOCAL ART AND ARTISTS.

MODELLED design for the proposed Arm
strong monument has been on view at Boyd's.
The features and the attitude of the figure are
sufficiently lifelike to call up vivid mental
portrait of a man whose host of admirers sin
cerely mourned his death, and who now intend
erecting monument to his memory.
ANOTHER of Mr.. E. A. Poole's landscapes
has been sold by Boyd Co., and this time
without ever having been shown in the window;
In fact almost Immediately after having been
received. Judging by the ease with which Mr.
Pooles pictures are disposed of 1t would seem
that works of quiet, unpretentious merit are
sure of being appreciated here in manner
that is at once substantial and eminently satiS-
factory to the artist.
AN instance serving to show the degree of fin
ish to which Mr. Geo. Hetzel carries some of his
paintings is furnished by the incident of an ad-
mirer of his york offering to buy one of the
pictures which he had under way, and upon the
artist accepting and remarking that he would
finish the painting the intending purchaser
who had supposed that it was already complete
inquired what more he could do with it, there
appearing to be no room for further elabora
ton of detail.
Mr.. M. BLEIMAN. who was SO successful in
disposing of such large number of foreign
pictures in this city recently, intends opening
another collection here tomorrow morning,
doubtless in the hope that it will be as fully ap-
preciated as was the last one. The exhibition
will be opened in the Gillespie gallery, as
before, but is to consist of larger and more ex-
pensive works than we're previously shown, a
special attraction beng described as par
ticularly fine Corot." Unless it has something
more to recommend it than the last work BY
that artist shown in this city, Pittsburg buyers
will do well to let it go whence it came and
save their money and not pay it out for little
else than an artists name signed in rather large
letters. But there will doubtless be in this col
lection some works of real merit such as the
mastery interior, by Heger, which Mr.;
which speak for themselves, without regard to
names signed to them.
The latest work from the brush of Mr.
Jos. R. MCDOWELL, bright, pleasing picture
of sea and shore, with a picturesque group of
buildings embowered in trees and shrubbery,
has been exhibited at Gillespie's during the
past week. In his treatment of this work Mr..
MCDOWELL has adopted a somewhat higher tone
of color than has been customary with him of
late. and the keynote of the picture is light and
warmth, which are qualities that find very
general favor. Frequently, except in large
and carefully finished works, pictures which
are OF strongly original character will be
found faulty in some particular, or show a
weakness in some respect which is not in keep
ing with the merit of the work as a whole, and
apparently this is the case with the one at
present under consideration The fault In
this case lies in the distant point of land jut-
ting into the water not being distant enough.
From its drawing and proportions it should
evidently be far away, while the tone and
strength of its color, which is greater even
than that of the foreground, contradict this
appearance and insist upon its being near the
eye of the spectator, with the result Of making
it look small and nearby, in place of large and
distant. In spite of this fault, however this is
both clever and strong picture, and one
that is pretty sure to meet with popular ap-
proval.
A NUMBER of very excellent pictures, exhib-
itinp a praat deal of OriuIpalitv aod cfropnrb
are to be seen at Boyd's for the next few days.
These paintings are all the work of Mr.. J.
Anton Hekking of Paris, and consist princi-
pally of landscapes and marine views, with a
few also in which cattle form the chief inter-
est. Although all by the same artist, the works
show delightful freshness and variety. which
is, perhaps. not the least of the features by
ing that individuality and the quality of peing
the only one of its kind, which is one Of the
prime factors in giving an oil painting its
value, from commercial standpoint at least.
With one or two exceptions these works are
about of equal Importance and of pretty nearly
uniform merit, SO much 80, indeed, that 1t is
scarcely worth while mentioning any particu-
lar picture as of leading interest. Attention
may be directed, however, to one or two exam.
pies which will fairly serve to indicate the
character of ALL ION the Coast of Hastings"
is clear and well balanced picture, good in
color and well handled throughout "Moon-
light on the Thames" is of an opposite charac-
ter to the foregoing. the spirit Of the work be-
ing one of repose in place of action, as is the
case with the marine. ''Old Rye" England, is
a characteristic example of this artists land.
scape work, and good in drawing, color and
composition. Mr.. Hekking is here in person
with these pictures, which affords Pittsburg
people an opportunity of purchasing foreign
works direct from the artist who produced
them.
Mr.. JOHN ]. HAMMER has been for several
weeks past engaged in retouching his we'll
known ''Newsboy," and he has put so much
work upon it that it is virtually new picture.
Although this has always been regarded as a
particularly fine painting, the result of the ad-
ditional labor which the artist has bestowed
upon it is apparent in tie greatly increased
strength of the work, both in color and draw
ing, and, what is even more important, in char
acter and spirit and in action. In its present
condition the picture will compare favorably.
with some of the high-priced foreign works
which have been bought up SO freely in this
city of late. But then this is also true of many
Of Mr.. Hammers pictures, and it is strange
that some OF his best works are not more fully
appreciated here, considering their real merit
and the comparatively low figures for which
they can be bought. 1t is a good and
healthy sign that high-priced pictures
sell readily here, even if some Of them are
purchased mainly on account of the artists
reputation, but it will indicate a far more
wholesome and intelligent interest in art when
they are bought solely on their merits without
regard to the fame OF the author Mr.. Ham
hi6ition of the Association of American Artists
in New York, and it is very likely that before
long he will leave Pittsbufg and make his home
in that city Meanwhile he has at present a
should prove an attraction to those interested
in fine art works.