New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-24
THE WATER COLOR EXHIBITION.
MOTIVE IN ART.

This will be the last week of the best exhibition
,ich the Water Color Society has held No one
=, the former exhibitions has shown such evenness
:. onalty and the technical skill Of water color
inters is abundantly illustrated. There are low
I'D symphonies cleverly managed color schemes,
concessions of air and Sunshine, landscapes designed
iib the care of the old English school, figures studies
with reference to color character in short variety
- endeavor not to be eQualled in any other regular
ater color exhibition. Against the merits of the
ouection must be set lack of motive which. after
all is no more apparent here than in our usual col
,.ctions of oils An artists right to purely technl-
cal motive is not to he disputed, and, in Dutch
art such motives have produced some of the most
besutiful examples OF paintings which have come
down TO us from past ages. The motive is entirely
instifsbe in free, swift sketch like that which
Mr. Blum exhibits, but such a motive is very diferen'
from that which Celebrates a studio study for an
,xhhitjon without the incentive Of a purpose to
,salze purely painter like quality, or OF desire to
,xpress an emotion or an idea in the terms or inc
nainter's craft. In other words, the weakness OF
much figure painting in this exhibition is its empti-
ness The artist has done his work carefully and
vet mechanically. lie has had nothing to say, and
we are made to feel that the approach of an eX-
bhition was the only reason for his pictures exist
ence There is vitality in art like this, and 1t Is
the prevalence Of such barren work which strengthens
the popular conception of art something unreal
and wholly outside of actual life
look for examples OF Sucn arr, We can mo
one in Mr. weir's larger picn,rc, which represents
a complete sacrifice Of human interest
Nevertheless, Mr.. Weir's work is redeemed
IL painter like purpose. which must be recognized
Messrs Leon and Percy Moran furnish significant
examples of purely pcrfunctOry art wherein the only
redeeming feature is certain grace and cevcrncSs
IN execution Mr.. c. Y. Turner's elaborate picture
entitled Goldfish is not to be mistaken for any
thing more than study Of model, limited in its
rurpose 10 the rendering of color symphony. The
raa success OF this purpose is TO be gnlzed but
we have also to take account of the stiff ungraceiul eN
presson of the lower part of the figure, the absence
q textures and the lack Of svle. In the adjoining
gallery we find another ambitious figure study b. Mr.
De Luce, who has been fortunate in his model Ire
figure Is designed with much grace and painted with
considerable delcacy. and tie artist deserves credit
for his ambitiousness his careful work and his partial
success. Yet the pictorial effect of his work ruined
BY his use of color. His pale graceful hsTe Is hed
BY the aggressive red curtain, and the blue note Ia
the foreground is irreconcilablc element. For the
significance Of his picture there is little TO be said
II would have a decorative value If the colorS were
more artfuly managed but as a picture standing ly
itself 1t exhibits of inag nation, and must
be accepted careful studio study rather than
serious attempt 10 reproduce classic life. There is an
element Of actually wanting which is l'cnt also
from picture of a very diqiferent kind, Mr.. Wes's
"The Invalid without questioning the altiss'S
many exhibitions. it may be pointed ont shat his
picture is simply a photograph OF two conscious
young ladies who have consented 10 sit a. models
There is the slightest possible attempt 10 carry ont
the ieea suggested by the title. II may be sail
that neither title idea is of any consequence, and
that we must limit ourselves 10 the executions
The theory is well enough far as
the studio is concerned, but artists really serious
In demanding thar their art should be limited TO the
studio! There is the world outside. wiki its lnltless
human sympathies joys and scrrows, and healthy
art must take cOgnizance of human inere Is Credit
able a. Mr.. Mlless picture j IN execution, It's III
sympathetic character proves ii 10 be an example OF
craftsmanship, like 80 many other 0i our plctures
picture Of Dutch peasants in the east room illustrates
failure to realize either painterlhe quality OF human
earsh and dscoTdant. and ms figures nearly deserve
the title OF brutal caricatuc> Nj. Nasia-'S LEY
~, ON 60 ,r,, 80 I,I Ne cannot suppose
that Mr. J. G.. Brown had much Of q message 70
communicate through his painting Of boo'blacA but
on the other hand we can recognize a gan
tie' picture is admirable IN color and
the colors Throughout arc managed with a oetter
pictures which offer even more married Illustration, OF
the tendencies which we have dwelt npon but theS5
Will purpose. Tho artist who confines himself
r. IL" he 'DI nro %,n '''' oeWtif ard ,icnesnt
Work But master craftsmen are rare enough aud
cleyernesS cannot take the place o.; mastery nor can
actual world and maintaining prctcAce oil Md'heI-
cucc 10 human Interests.
There is much which hight lie said Of other Work
many pictures which deserve attic ton. MI. Nay,
naTds painting Of sirens j. practically repetition OF
last wears work, and vet 10 shows some Improvement
IN quality. There j. sun the COi1nc7, OF stuGiJ Lrht,
and the picture shows some awkward Inc, and angles.
but OF lis Kind tie work Is credta4lc Mr. CElrchs
procession OF rCIclIug polar bear, descending upon
sleeping has tie usual interest Of hlS i2ncul
t0nceits and excellent quality of decorative color
In. Nj. Kevcr's Warm Day shows az ability u
express atmosphere and sunlight for winch the artist
has seldom received credit. Mr. Francis Day proves
well expressed his picture Of Sleeping mother and
clId. and, less completely, in lis smaller work Inc
former picture Is OF great d"ucdcE ana TACT a.
regards the treatment Of color, but the awkward fore
shortening Of the fee and consequent prominence
OF the uDstrils form curious Illustration OF the pre-
dominance Of technical question over good taste
Nothing would have been lost if the artist lad done
Justice 20 his sitter, face Nevertheless the picture
exhibits admirable painting, and the natgralSm Of TIE
cld leads y hope for more serious figure work from
Tie artist Mrs. Sherwood sends some graceful, well
realization Of outdoor effect. Nj. storncs. who con
tributes various examples Of a Ccvcrness which may
or may develop, Mr.. a. u. Turner who shows a
power Of sympathetic expression, ana Mr.. Ilcicd
may be noted among the other figure painters. Mr.
IIyOn's work range from his admirable autumn lahd-
scape. sOdly painted IN body color, but preserving
the Characteristic Gear, cold atmosphere 10 the charm
ng lttlc marine in the east gallery. charming mote
delicate and luminous. Mr.. TryOn j, admirably rep
resented, since his work shows susceptibility 70 the
beautiful IN very different phases Of nature, and an
threatens the tOnali~t. Mr.. Murphy. on the other
hand. j. disposed - join himself 20 MS idol, and his
work TOO often seems The pcritnctory result OF cal
cuated rule Mr. Chester LOOMS deserves credit for
room. and Nj. Boston has done some brilliant work
IN MS treatment Of the flower garden which hangs
IN the west room. But this and other noteworthy
pictures must be left 70 the consideration Of visitors.