New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-13
PAINTINGS BY Mr.. DAVIS.

The exhibition of paintings by Mr.. c. H. Davis az
the Avery Gallery offers the latest work of young
artist whose first essays in landscape art earned
enthusiastic recognition. When Mr.. Davis began to
exhibit at Academy of Design, and later when
collection of his landscapes shown at the Rechard
Gallery, the finer qualities of his work instantly
appreciated by amateurs and the public. Some Of
these qualities are finely expressed in the present
exhibition, where find The Valley and " The
Hillside" from last years exposition. The former is
large, comprehensive painting of valley with mist
rising from the lowest ground, while beyond this inter
yale are hills with cottages nesting among the trees
The ground is firmly painted the drawing excellent
the luminosity of the sky and the quality of the
atmosphere well expressed The subject might easily
have been treated In bald and unntcrestng way, but
Mr.. Davis has made picture which has considerable
refinement of color and little truthful sentiment
But If we ask ourselves whether this painting or The
Hlsde' offers more than the artist las offered before
the answer must be in the negative. The Hillside
is an admirable, frank. truthful rendering OF simple
theme, slope covered with fresh green grass, some
sandy soil showing through in the foreground and
cottage among the trees the left of the high SKY
line. There is less of the idyllic here than in thc
former painting but in both the artist has been III
touch with his subject, and he has interpreted II Win
intelligence and with feeling. In both pictures he
shows himself sensitive. obServan well equipped a.
regards technique, and entirely capable so long "a his
work is in a minor key. His painting OF de"N green
fields in subdued light j. altogether admirable but
when he has cssayed stronger effects of gt ana color
and greater freedom looseness in his execution
his results have been less fortunate. We do not refer
to his large winter landscape from the salon Of last
YEAR nor to the little painting of bank in the sunlight
The former shows that the artists tact in composition
has failed for once. Nothing could be more I'M
interesting than the naked trees obiruded in the
foreground. and moreover. the painting OF the snow
is of slight pictorial value. The little study of
u
picture i'm the collection. Here the artist has expressed
light and color There is sense Of space above
and beyond the solid, finely painted earth, and the
warmth Of the sky and effect of the light upon the
ground admirably expressed. if this little study
bore Daubigny's name, it would be priced by
amateurs. who would recognize 10 differences IN
technique.
II natural that Mr.. Davis should rebel against
confinement to one manner and ore class Of subjects
and il natural that he should be attracted by the
modern study of light and atmosphere. In his Morn
ing Sunlight" No "a. VIC are made to feel ilat ule
artist has been considering the positive colors and
strong lighting OF the "plein air" men or the "1u-
pressionistss The vivid blues in the water and the
emphatic yellow OF the field are not natural to tile
painter, and Of stranecness betIay> isch IN
No. q The vague fnmbling IN me foreground J, aHV
gether different from the artists own manner, ana IL
Is impossible not 10 conclude that MS urI>"WpI" -
experimental and that il represents some s'lay oi
N0nets manner. Nos. 20 ana - may pc 'laS>h.u A.
experiments in the oi decided color and 10 l. J,
another Illustration of young artist attempt 10 ma
his way. 1t refreshing 10 come upon the thought
fully painted meadow scene lately shown az the Mn.
etic Club. for tins picture. comparatively simple ana
unpretendng As il j.. exhibits science ana sNnpA
thctic quality which many 81 IL companions lack.
The NOonrlse' leaves feeling % banhnc>>. ana the
Back of the Village" has little decided carfcIe".
The Edge of the Meadows Edge of the Woods and
cold Garden may be cited the more successful OF
the minor pictures. but on the whole we must comics
to a feeling of disappointment. In his earlier work
Mr.. Davis proved nl~ knowledge of his arr and ms
possession Of delicacy. tact and sNmpatheuc
feeling certain phases OF landscape which deserved
to be called poetical. II the personality which was
revealed was neither preemnently forclble no; M
passloned IL nevertheless. gracious and sn-art
charming. in his latest work the artist has LOST
his sympathetic charm and tcndcrcr quail
ties without acquiring any compensatory
command of strong effects. brilliant color and
fervid execution This exhibition j. significant because
il indicates an experimental stage, period Of M.
certainty. The outcome not be predicted, hit
there are some observer, who Will feel that return
TO this country would be the artists gain.