The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-17
TEE PAINTERS IN PASTEL.
Th.,r rrh,.lt,o. I'd 1Euna.rl,eh,s.

| uOeb NOT contain 80 many lhTRe anu
works as the collection shown last year, an
one or two OF the artists formerly conspicuous
notably MIR. Blum. the President Of the society
are absent Nevertheless 1t is an excellent
well rs bright and attractive display. repre-
sentinR many ways OF employing the specia
medium II illustrates and happily supplement
ing the current show OF the Society OF Ameri
can Artists In its revela alton OF the recent prog
ross and tendencies OF American art
1t contains eighty nine works. contributed
by twenty nine artists MIR. Chass's PORTAL
OF Mr.. Henry Harper" mo In the catalogue
deserves first mention as the most comprehen
sive and admirable essay In the room. 1t Is o
small size. and shows tho sitter at three-Iuar
ter lenRthjn an unconstrained but not toe
casual pose. The general effect OF the picture
| as such, will perhaps first attract attention
| for textures are expressed with wonderful
truth and in very fresh and skilful way. while
the contrasting colors OF black coat and gray
| trouRers. q dull green cushion In the chair and
| brighter green one. necked with red. behind
the figure, all relieved against dull pink cur
| TAIN form most effective yet sober harmony.
But the head 10 really the most remarkable. OF
| at least the most unusual. point Of excellence.
Despite the small scale, 1t could not BIO more
firmly or delicately characterized.
Almost as good are some Of Mr. Chase's
OF q lady In black with large hat mo. 81: the
Afternoon by the Sea" mo. g., with its charm
ingly treated figures. which was seen during
the winter at the New York Athletic Club; a
very completely expressed head of a child with
red hair mo. ~ and AT Her Toilet" NO 81
This last is even more delightful in color than
the portrait Of Mr.. Harper. while it could hard
ly be excelled for delicate strength in the hand
iwork. Mr.. Irving Wiles sends six pictures.
among which the most attractive are IN " Ital-
ian Cir" mo 19l In o brilliant scarlet dress.
aud the little genre called The Morning
Paper mo. 1Sl, which Is as clever In arrange
ment and execution as 1t is taking in color.
Among Mr.. Beckwith's eight contributions the
most important is The Gray Gown" no. AZ.
whose title does not do It full justice as vivid
piece OF portraiture done in strong outdoor
light. Broader methods are here employed.
quite naturally than beftted the smaller por-
traits first mentioned. and the contrast Is well
come as proving the pliability OF the medium.
Excellent. too, though much less dashinR and
amusing. is Mr. Beckwiths portrait of an
elderly lady knitting mo. 15), while his tiny
valley Pasture" mo 81 is one Of the truest
and most charming landscapes In the room.
and his Study in Sunlight ;" NO g. with the
pink dress and red ribbons OF the sitter COM
ing out against a background OF green leaves
and pinkish gravel, yields to nothing about It
In harmonious vgor OF color. Very different
is MIR. Weir's Window Seat" no 90. which
Is a graceful meditation Of white tones. Mr..
Days Patience" breakfast table with
girl and pleading dog mo. 81. Is n pretty
bit Of work. but his Somnambulst mo. 81
excites smile which Is far from sympathetic.
Mr.. Benoni Irwin sends large and intelli-
gent though somewhat commonplace, portrait
OF a gentleman NO. 60, and Mr.. Kronberg an
excellent and moro artistic Study" OF Il lady's
head NO. TO-; but the portrait heads which
combine the most virie force with the great
est delicacy Of perception and the highest de-
gree OF artistic charm are Miss Heckers two
Nos. At and 46L. Here We not only admire the
skilful handiwork, but are interested in the
portrayed, and in the pictures as
such, and feel that something more than the
mere technical problem has been OF interest to
the painter, too. Mrs. Sherwoods three small
portraits are less free and fresh in treatment,
but excellently drawn and modelled.
Mr.. Twachtman's thirteen small landscapes
are studies Of the delicate sort to which he has
accustomed us. Sometimes they are so slight |
as to be insufficient even as impressions OF
nature: mere wraiths and figures OF forms and |
,olors: but in other cases there is enough sug- |
yestion Of facts to give them more than q |
simply decorative interest. Solidity enough |
,hRracteriEes Mr.. Bolton Joness five contribu-
ions, among which the Edge OF the Marsh"
No. 81 Is. perhaps. the most notable: as serl-
rus and complete bit OF landscape portrature
Is he has ever accomplished In any medium.
That pastel can give rich and deep as we'll
IS airy and pretty results may also be learned
rom Mr.. Beckwiths tiny Valley Pasture"
No. 81. Mr.. Robinson's ny the Seine" no.
~ shows him in the impTessionistic path
which he has lately pursued with such success
vhel, using oils. Nothing could be more sum-
nary than the treatment OF landscape and
CURE, nothing more arbitrary than the choice
I colors, II ono studies his picture close at
and Yet, seen as It should be, the desired
feet Ia simulated In very charming fashion.
.monR the best OF the remaining landscapes
re- Dir. Bachers. especially his "Shrews-
ury," In very early misty morning light
No. 8S); Mr.. Chapmans "Harbor Study " NO.
81; two studies by Mr.. Weir mos. a and 25)
nd Mr. Chases "Gravesend Bay" tSo. A.
citing Miss Hecker's admirable largo studios
flowers, where one can criticise only the
areless drawing OF the glass bowl In No. 81,
o may close our circuit of the room with Mr.
hide Hassam's extraordinarily brilliant and
npulsiye little views OF Partisan ana Amerl-
IN streets and OF the gay groups on racing
rounds. Some are mere impressions OF strik-
10 effects, like the Opening of the Paris EX-
ibition" mo. 7S). with its distant fireworks.
nd the New York Blizzard" mo. TO- But
! show that keen perception OF the pic
rescue side OF urban life. and that buoyancy
spirit and deftness OF hand which. until
tely. one thought could belong only to
artisan born, But these are not tho only quail
es which have been asslmilated by ouryoung-
painters Those who saw tho marvellous
election OF the French pastellists In their
cen and white pavilion on the Paris
rposition grounds last summon, need not ex- .
&c: to find 1t paralleled in tho modest show Of !
cir New York brethren. But the difference =
more in the number OF pictures exhibited and i
the degree of ambition shown in their in '
ption than In the qualities OF eye and hand l
hich they reveal. There 10 NO real gap
tween the two bands OF painters repre-
nted. 1t Is difference OF degree that We 7
receive. not Of kind. A little more OF that 4
nbition which comes through feeling secure a
q sympathetic public, and there would be no =
ason why. few years from now. We should /
It have an exhibition OF pastels which would II
worthy to set beside Partisan one ;,