New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-12
TIE GROLIER CLUB.
A WHISTLER EXHIBITION.

A WHISTLER EXHIBITION.
The rev house Of the Groiier Club 10. 90 EaM
Thirty -secondst contains another Of the exhibitions
which have proved the right Of tie active members
rank true amateurs. In the few years since
the organization Of the club there have been exhbi
tons Of Illuminated mssals, fine bindings, and rare
editions. Of old prints Of Turner'S Libcr stud.
osIm. and o: the work OF modern e;ciers Ike
Van Gravesande Le-ros ard Whistler. Tie pub.
catons Of the club have been accessible to
ony limited number. and perhaps the quality Of the
exhibitions has not been generally recognized. Yet
these exhibitions have been remarkable In their way
as the exhibitions at the Union League Club within
the past year.
1T present the club IS supplying the omissions which
noted when commenting upon the Whistler exhibt
ton at the Wundcshch gallery. The latter exhibition
presents Whistler work down u the Venice set Of
which part is shown. Al the Grolier Club the
amateur will find not only the etclines Of the las,
ten years. including the Anst rdam plates bnt
also collection Of Whistler's drawings. watercoor
ana pas,els. Mr. :. p. Avery has lent Whister's carly
portrait Of himself and portrait By Eantin-Latour.
The drawings are lent BY Mr. II. .. Isvemeyer Mr..
". L. Andrews Mr. &. L. Freer and Mr. Howard Mans
field who contributes two OF the water-colors and a
number Of sketches. exhibit, the recent Amsterdam
etchings and many other examples OF Whstlers work
with the needle in tie course Of the last ten years
The pastel drawings and water-colors. sonic
time, the slightest possible notes of phase
Of color like tie pastel sketch OF The sun
set will be valued by those who cndcavor
to realize the artists point OF view. lie has
been attracted by certain color notes as IN sons
of the figure studies. by certain graceful lines. and
he ha, set down the things which appealed to him
without any idea Of going beyoEd the promptinss OF
his artistic feelings. Those who insist upon con-
elusive treatment will never find value in this
work. but those who able 10 see how aptly the
artist has made his selections and how delcatey and
truthfuy lie has expressed his effects il his better
works will appreciate the quality OF whistlers art
His etchings illustrate the attitlde toward his
work sometimes he has contented himself with
hasy memoranda. too slight to be taken altogether
seriously, and yet seldom without certain feAcious
cxprcssiveness. There few rare plates, wach
represent the earlier work Mr.. Avery's remarkable
Whistler collection has yielded two plates which are
not described In wedmorc, catalogue and twenty four
which. though mentioned by Wedmore arc not in
cluded in the exhibition AZ the Wundcrlch gallery.
The Little P1ltney, 20 g. and the impression shown
OF the Lady in Velvet Dress are not described and
We believe that this impression of Tie salute
Venice i, unique. The portrait Of Mr.. Leyland' a
most interesting study, is extremely rare We
have also noted the presence Of Whstlers etching
after Lawson's swan and Iris his reproductive
work There arc rarities here which will delight
connoisseur. ard there are thc finest impressions
from the Venice plates which amateurs will enjoy
without dwelling upon their rarity. Here are 3" Inc
Bosgars,~ beautiful and dramatic pictur'. wmeA
might well set Whiiier's admirers talking o.
E-mhrandt's effects The OVER NephisopAclan
figure, tie beautiful Balcony" the Two Door"ass'
Tho Palace and the rest. We need not owen upon
the plates which follow, the Town Hall at Loche''
and ~Chancc.leic.~ and various other studies al
Loche>. i'm Brussels, and ~ Holland Tie Ohei's'
slctcac, aud Tie Jubic. ceha-s. Al! these arc more
or less familiar TO amateurs. and although they sho"
4 wide rtnse iron the pa.nter-lle qualtY of Inc
sweet shop To the Aa-ly but telling outlines OF
the Jubilee plates end Tie Holland station it can
ROT he sail that they are as significant the Venice
Set or the Amsterdam set
Their, is alNays temptation Ia Dnger upon eWhn-'
like the -Hansman, House at Bourses' and cer,si"
others. but we can speak only Of the Amstcrda"
c;chlnr, These plates. as have said. were
received here few weeks since and they are no"
exhibited FOR tho first time They VIII nc compare
with the Venice set which they resemble more "-''
mos, of the intervening plates Here rs III 'he 'e,
plates feeling for color asserts ii>eli ana ''c CIV
nss. or certain OF the number, show equal delea'y'
even II there is some falling oil IN the force OIL NM
and the quality II the architectural drA"i's M
those plate, are studies across canals or watcrseapcs
with a foreground OF water and facade dlre''N op'
posed the observer. The tones OF the water WIN"
we're chiefly the printing In tile carrier p'A'e.
havc been obtained ~ the use OF lnc' III inc '"S' ~
the "Noc;urnc aud, indeed. IN al the piA'es' mat Nv
artist has forgotten none OF The cunning oe'"cS ..
the craft In the picrrotT We LOOK across Tie od"aA
10 an archcd doorway, where young appic""''
stands nonchalanty. his hand against the door-pV'"
and on the othCr side a figure stoops TO the "ae''
The square House a study of facade witl so"s
excellent suggestions Of substance, suffers rom I''"
of concentration. The steps contains some ias'@'
ing studies OF figures ascending from tile water :"
lettering in The Doorway or TIE quaint OH
hnu,e Here a, In g.e Long House tl'
artist has cared comparatively little ioi values a'
the Lack oi emphasis and concentration lAiposcs
special tasA upon ,lc Observer Ia II INC o9sstt
/, willing To lane the plate companion a a.os
stu,y he VIII he rewarded by many pleasant c'sSysx
e,ics The Dance House L. "noriirh'' . s'a""i
nj hia,kue,, travcr,ed by rays of i-ht from lamp s
windows The cfcrt l. truthful and hnek nv,
ard hoyoud this ca jos mcut az the piaie must is.
a ou.,tlon of personal preferences " INC bs'.'m;s,,
"A >fudy # "A far.dc Wltn q M"l'dN >'flN- fNu 1t
Standing i'm DOORWAY lepeasl The ba on Is an
all. nlatc Ihc hliidli, IL in't ''i-is ara j. y"
COME, and hareine clothes rendered trlthuis ~
well As adroity. and there Is color ana e. pies'.l
These ctchincs gre followed by IN excellent pann'
mill inferior with an outdoor visa brfoni . ,be
some OF the old Dutch painter loN'd. is .s
Amsterdam plates have interested Us the NOS la n arc
The BALCONY. a." The steps and Picfrot Al 80 yerv
complete as well artistic, because they a., ria
beautiful ctchincs and because they show ' n,s bis
etchcr remains a potent force In ant Ihe, 80 will
hest work since the Venice set, with WHICH 'i'e' wa"
be claSScd