The Washington critic., 1890-04-03
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A Collection of Pictures by a Wen
Known and Talented A rtfst.

A Collection of Pictures by n yva,t-
Known and Talented Artist.
A representative of THE CRIr1c YES.
terday visited the First Annual Exhibi.
ton of water. color paintings, by Mr..
James Henry Moser, now open at
Fischer's Art Store, on Fifteenth street
It is in many respects unique ex.
hibition showing collection of
pictures of high, though somewhat
uneven excellence. The artist Is
certainly man of great talent, and
much Of his work even suggests
genius. He has not only the clear, out.
ward perception of the object of his
art SO necessary to the painter. but he
has also that subjective, interior appre-
hension of it. without which all his at
tempts at representation would lack
depth and sympathy.
At the first glance over the collection
the visitor receives the impression that
all the pictures are conceived 10 the
spirit and executed in the manner of
what used to be known as the French
school. And a more careful examination
shows that in regard TO a majority of
them, that impression is correct. They
have the clear air, the definiteness of
outline, the distinctiveness of minute
detail and the brilliancy of coloring
which characterizes that school.
A still more careful examination,
however, reveals the fact that the artist
does not adhere slavishly to any one
method or style. While the French
genre style prevails there are pictures
here that tend toward the misty methods
of the modern Dutch school, and there
are two or three that suggest impress
sionist influences. Not that even in
these there is any lack of attention to
correct drawing and accuracy of design,
but that in order to secure certain de-
finitely desired effects, vagueness of
treatment is employed which is wholly
at variance with the bright atmosphere,
the clear cut outline, and the faithfully
determined minutie of the earlier
French school. E.s
But the endless variety of subjects
and studies displayed strikes the visitor
with even greater wonder than the
versatility of the artists method. Here
are pictures that have in them the sea,
the sky, the plain and the mountain.
1t is long way from the view of 1.-The
Capitol, seen from the Botanical
Garden" to the great stretch Of rolling
country from the river in the fore.
ground to "Graylock Mountain" in the
distance. Here is the water in an inlet
so calm that its surface has become
CLASSY and has lost all color. There
in No. 135-is the storm driven sea,
turning from olive. green to opal in its
inland rush and then raising itself in
tawny ridges, to break into clouds OF
white foam upon the dripping and
darkened rocks.
In brief notice like this, however,
it is impossible to enter into detail.
The pictures which most impressed
The CRITIC representative during
his hasty inspection were (No. II,
"a Summer Day by the Sea-
and (No. 104 "a Rock Study
In the former a roller from summer
sea has curved up to the line where il
is ready to fall and break. The fine
effect is wrought with admirable tech.
nique in the concave of the wave, watch
below is dark green, but pales upward
until 1t becomes actually translucent
An almost impelceptible white line
above suggests that the crest has beer
formed, and that it is about to tumbl,
shoreward in seething foam. The
whole marine view is so well done a
TO be worthy of Edward Moran or Dt
Haas.
In the latter (No. 10G there is a bart
! rock in the foreground, unrelieved, sterr
and uncompromising and done with tn,
utmost fidelity. A stunted cedar has takeI
root somewhere near one of its clefts
A grove of young wood is in the back
ground, through which the light il
dimly seen. There is no living thins
visible in the picture, yet the who'll,
scene lives and exercises upon the be
holder the influence of the place AMI
the time. Indeed. the same thing i
true of nearly all Mr., Moser's pictures
They are in no sense Photographic
They transmit to us the scene as it liveC
in the thought of the artist who discov
cred the secret of its charm.
There are many other striking pic
lures. "The Wreck of an Old Mer
chantman"-an old hulk driven higI
up on the shore and rotting away--i
firm in treatment and very suggestive
Then, there are several orchard studies
where, amid apple blossoms. one cal
feel the very stir and soothing sweet
ness of the atmosphere. Nothing il
this way is better than No. 3--the pic
ture of an old shapty which used t,
stand back of the Van Ness Mansion
with peach trees in front of it.
glimpse of road in the Berkshir
woods is dainty bity of work, and ~
Cornfield by Moonlight" is dream
poetry and harmony combined
Mr.. Moser being Washington artis
has among his subjects many Washing
ton scenes both within and without til
city. A picture which will probabl,
win quite as much general admiration
as any other is the wonderful reproduc
tion of the flowers in the White Hous
conservatory. Almost every interestin,
point around the Capital is represented
This of itself should be sufficient to In
terest our citizens in the exhibition.
In his choice of subjects Mr. Nose
has evidently been guided by William
Hunts advice: First fall in love wit
some scene in nature then paint 1t.
His love of nature in all her moods
thoroughly manifest Mr.. Moser
himself present at the exhibition, an,
he talks almost as delightfully."- as h
PAINTS.