Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01

The exhibition of water colors at the
Academy of Science and Art Building on
Fifth street last week, was, it is believed,
the first exhibition of this distinct character
ever held in Pittsburg. As such it must
be considered of more than usual import
ance, because it marks a decided advance
and is an event of no small moment. 1t
means also that the Art Society has entered
upon a course of practical activity, with the
avowed purpose of advancing art in a public
way, by every means at its disposal.
This exhibition is but one of the treats
planned by The directors for this season.
The next one. probably. will be an exhibition Of
Mr.. e. S. Rinehart's works, upon the occasion
of his visit to this city by invitation of the Art
Society. The reception which will be rendered
Mr.. Rinehart on the evening of the 10Th can
not in the nature of things. be public, but it
is believed that his works will be open to the
public for several days at the Academy build
ing.
The number of, water colors on exhibition
was 81. Among them were works by Chase,
Church, Crane Edwards, Ferris, Gibson, Muir
ply, Parton, Smillie, Wyant and other we'll
known painters
Beyond doubt the little picture by Chase.
entitled. "Au Revoir." is the gem of the col
lection. There Is delicacy of feeling for form
and expression displayed in this little work,
together with a perfectly satisfactory treat
ment of detail, which is rare, indeed. The
Church pictures cannot be considered other
than sketches, symphony in blue, harmony in
green. or what you like. They are simply
beautiful suggestions. and considered as such
are charming. They are in manner somewhere
between the absolute certainty and truthful
ness, with freedom. of Fortuny and the abso-
lutte certainty, without freedom. of MessOnier.
1t would be better if they were one thing or the
other.
among the other works are many possessing
good qualities and many of very ordinary
quality The exhibition. however. taken in
connection with the one in Allegheny and the
scientific lectures, under the auspices of the
academy, by Prof Young, this week, indicates
pretty strongly the tendency of the time and
promises an intellectual and artistic activity
heretofore unknown.
In the Carnegie Galleries
The sensation experienced by the native
citizen of Pittsburg upon entering the Carnegie
Art Galleries, in which are hung the famous
paintings by Vassili vassilievitch Verest-
chagin is new, and beyond doubt agreeable.
You enter the beautiful granite building from
Federal street and ascend the broad stairway
to the reception hall. At once. and instinc-
lively, you feel that the apartments are filled
with air of elegance and refinement which
has always been associated in your mind with
hot been abroad, with the Metropolitan Mu-
scum the Corcoran Gallery. People tread
lightly as they pass from one case to another,
or walk before the great canvasses which are
forever telling stories of war, triu mph travel.
Around you, on every side. and dividing the
hall, are draped with exquisite taste the finest
Oriental rugs in the world
One of these is 60 feet long and worth
fortune. 1t is superb in color and beautiful in
design. 1t is looped up in the center, forming
a low archway through which visitors pass to
the upper galleries As you study the perfect
harmony of design and rare quality of color, an
image arises in the mind, and you see the
patient Oriental carpet weavers toiling unceas-
ingly, thread by thread, year after year, with
out thought of the ultimate destiny Of their
production. Perhaps these carpets full gay,
that wraught were IN the Orient" graced the
presence chamber of royalty. The Russian
guard sits patiently at the entrance. Hundreds
of thousands have passed him in like manner
since he left Moscow with the paintings Il
wears ago, and you are to him but one of this
innumerable company.
There floats through the elegant apartments
the murmur of subdued voices as groups with
catalogues in hand, discuss the paintings, their
merits and significance. The atmosphere is so
different from that out of which you came
moment ago. The hurrying throng on Federal
street. the ward politicians, buzzing about the
plain building across the way, bent only on
securing reelection to office. the SO uatty market
house which has but one purpose in the world
that of filling the stomachs of men: the scurry-
ing electric cars, bobbing along with a ferry
boat like motion under a network of wires
which disfgure the way. all these belong out
side. Within is fountain of intellectual
activity and from it are flowing to-day innumer-
able streams of thought and aesthetic culture,
which reach out to the uttermost bounds of our
great cities.
In the presence of these works the mill
ionalre and the intelligent clerk are on
equal terms. They get the same kind of
pleasure and the same quantity, other things
being equal. Nothing like this sight was ever
before witnessed in Pittsburg or Allegheny. It
is simply new revelation-we see ourselves in
a new light for the first time. This is the true
significance of the remarkable success of the
exhibition-that other communities had the
people to enjoy art exhibitions of this kind and
the art To enjoy. We have always had the ap-
preciative people, but never had the great COL
lections to enjoy.
Surely Mr.. Andrew Carnegie planned we'll
and wisely when he erected this beautiful
building and dedicated it to public use. His
faith in the ultimate outcome of the plan was
firm although to many it seemed sanguine. 1t
is now demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt
that ar: upon being furnished q home in our
midst. will find its way into that home, and
that the people at large are more than anxious
to enjoy the intellectual teasts thus furnished
them.
The Design Exhibition
The School of Design exhibition will be held
this week. Thursday the work of the pupils
was examined and medals awarded, full men,
ton of which has already been made in THE
DISPATCH