The sun., 1892-05-08
rsE socrsrY or AMERICAN ARTISTS.

TIE SOCIETY or AMERICAN ARTISTS.
~ - sDsfnx Exhisiuos ~ the F1Nh Avsnes
TT " AS'sdtN Ave- Gallery. FT "c
n Tho viytaicA OF selection IN matters OF art are
segsin flustfated by q comparison OF this
axears exhibition OF the Society ~ American
tartists with that ut the Academy Of Design
s0n the sacred walls OF the older society are
tNowded nearly zoo canvases. tho average
is0ccllence Of which is creatlY reduced by the
sdmission Of many unworthy pictures which
elbow their betters into shadowed corners or
M to tho very coiling 1t Is a common
fancy among the painters OF this town that
they reserve their best works for the exhlbi-
ton OF tho Society. and SO II happens that in
respect OF certain technical and painter ilko
Qualities there Is q greater interest In it's m.
nhai show. Tho general excellence OF the
present exhibition is very high. but thero are
several works that stand out conspicuously
sven whore thero is so much that is ilne. It
may bs doubted. however. II some Of the ex-
hibitors havo not misjudged the qualities Of
their own achievements and sent their hest
things to the old Academy: but even those
possible exceptions do not Affect tho fact that
the Society has nover presented tor public
consideration an altogether moro Interesting
or more crsditohle collection OF paintings.
The advanced. not to say extreme. plein
abis.cs are In evidence in Rrent numbers. with
their views OF all outdoors stepped In hues OF
lhac. pea green. spinach. sulphur. and red
cabbage. but. oddly enough. this yenr they do
not put their brothers at tho staid academy al
toeether In tho shade. There are many de.
lightful scenes Of nature in tho open air
delightfully."- represented OF genre pic
lures there arc hardly any worth mention.
In portraits the exhibition is especially strong.
and there la group OF paintings nf religious
subjects that is very interesting. The sculpt-
urc. too. Is Of more note than is usual In oar
exhibitions. including. as It does. besides
several very good portrait busts. Mr.. Herbert
Adans's novel bust in plaster OF st. Agnes's
Eve" No. l. tinted in imitation OF nature.
Mr. Abbott II. Thaycr's Virgin Enthroncd."
No 2lO. is suro to attract attention us ono OF
the hest pictures IN the whole exhibition. 1t
contains three life-size figures ot tho Virgin
seated. with the child Jesus and st. John on
either side. and the composition is extremely
graceful and dignifed. Tho three faces arc
charming in character. and that OF the Virgin
Is especially satisfactory in it's sweet express
sion OF inspiration. The picture Is broadly
and strongly painted. and tho color is low in
tone and rich and harmonious 1t Is n serious
and dlgni6ed expression Of religious senti-
ment In his Holy Family" No. 7o. which
was seen at a recent exhibition at the
Union LenGue Club Mr. Frank V. Du Mond
has represented the boy Jesus standing
at a table blessing tho simple meal before
him. while Joseph and Mary sit opposite with
bowed heads. In the matter OF costumes and
accessories the treatment Of tho subject ia
conventional. but tho figures arc broadly
painted and with character Mr.. George Ed
ward Simmons, on tho other hand. in "The |
Carpenters Son. No. iS6. has departed from
oil conventions. and represents the boy Jesus
In modern ralmcnt, with short trousers aud |
bare feet. sitting on n saw horse in shop |
which is Uttered with shnvings. gazing |
thoughtfully straight before him. Mary and |
Joseph. in the rear OF tho shop. sit discussing
the inspired hoy. whose earnest. thoughtful
expression and abstracted gaze they can
not fathom. A ray Of sunlight from a
side window falls upon tho boys head
like nimbus and the head OF Mary
too. rs She sits in tho deep shadow OF the
rear OF tho carpenter shop. is SINH
larly illuminated. The realism Of this picture
is somewhat startling to the conventional
sense. but it is u thoughtful. manly painting.
The decorative canvas by NJ. L Macon ber,
"The Annunciation." No. 142. is painted in a
high key. the two figures being in whito
drapAry agninst n background OF a curious
Hight green. To complete this group OF re-
ligtous paintings is Mr. Z. II. Blashfelds
heroic Angel at the Gates OF Paradise" No.
IL. theatrical composition. in which the stall
wart. bare-armed. bare-chested and green.
winged angel stands with hands claspcd be-
fore him at arms length and resting upon tho
hilt OF red-hot sword. Tho glow from tIe
flaming blade throws a curious light upward
upon the arms and well.developed breast and
stern face Of this forbidding guardian. but the
white-hot point Of the sword appears to have
NO moro effect upon the leaf-littered ground
upon which 1t rests than IL it wero An icicle
'fhe figure is surrounded by dark and gloomy |
foliage. which. together with the sentinel.
makes this paradise altogether uninviting.
Mr.. Sargent's Portrait OF a Lady and Boy"
No. 19l. is really but portrait OF boy, who
ls the son OF the sculptor. Mr.. Augustus St.
Gaudens The mother. who sits In tho back
ground reading to the juvenile sitter. is so
.ubordinated by the painter to the boy as to
be slighted. and that somewhat unkindly too
But tho composition Of tho picture il most ef-
lective and original. and the Intelligent boy is
painted. as we havo learned to ex-
Dect OF Mr. sargents portraits Of children.
There is individual character and most life
Ike expression In the faco and figure
u the llttle chap. who sits unconven. :
tonally nstride q big chair In an attitude ,
hat is essentially boyish and liielike. There .
but little color in tho picture except in tho !
aces. for the boy Is in black but tho tone. while
ow is wonderfully rich. and tho composition l
treated with Mr.. Sargent's acknowledged
trenGth and dash and wonderful deftness. l
Tho only portrait to at oil compare with this
merit or interest is Mr.. George De Forest !
'rush's charming composition. THO por
rait." No. 70. small canvas in which tho
rtist sits on tho floor sketching his family. !,
The mother holds u child In hor arms. while at "
er knoe stands sturdy plump-cheekcd I
ounRster. delightful little figure. A Fronch T.
naid stands bch!nd tho mothers armchair :,
lere Is q canvas that is a credit to Ameri. n
nh art. In composition 1t is faultiess, and in b,
rawinG 1t is much more than merely correct u
he figures arc fall OF life and human inter +.
st. and the whole is beautifully painted. Mr.. +.
rush has mover heiore done anything so u
ood. Mr. NJ. Chase's Portrait of Miss 80 80
'." No. 40. is triie STACY in pose, but full OF -
haraeter and expression. Tho lgure Is full ..
'ngth ard life size. and represents Il young y
oman In black. hand on hin with bor h,,i. Nv