New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-01
PICTURES BY MRS. j. ID. UHIIMdN'

Two nr,cous ouallties are Immediately observed TO
he in evidence in the coec ton Of works by MIS- A.
D. Whitman which has been placed IN the Nery
gallery and will remain there during the coming
montl-boauty OF color and alertness oil sPi1" ihe
folmer distinguishes particularly the pas'eiS anu ""e'
colols the single example Of stained glass SHOWN anu
Il few OF the oils the latter, while never missing IN
any Of the pictures = aore especially noticeable IN
tho nine or ten portraits which figure prominently
I'm the exhibition In NewYork this artist Is mainly
known as a designer OF dainty, DECORATIVE ""o@
covers and one OF the features Of the present display
Is case Of these but II the portraits ana landscapes
on the walls offer surprise. it Is not so much the
surprise Of essays in fields with which the artists
name has not been made familiar to us as IL l. inc
surprise Of style whole leagues removed from mat
OF the wellknown combinations Of lettering, symoois
and ornament. The best thing !" ps
said of Mrs Whtmans book-cover work Is tnat y
is very refined As much can be said OF her painted
work. and a great deal more. II Is bold masculine
n,l OF Intelligence and psychological feeling ana
frequently suggestive OF reserve OF strength WHICH
only needs to have the way cleared for IL In certain
matters OF technique to manifest itseif III Pc'ores
even more satisfactory than those which are now
shown Moreover, this work has originality We
understand that Mrs. Whitman studied under "hham
Hunt and Couture but In neither case for a very
long ner,od md certainly the impression 10 be res
ceved from her pictures is colored by remlnls'
cences Of either Couture or Hunt Perhaps II "ouu
be more pleasing II there "reminiscences In the
pcturcs not OF some other artists STYLE but Oh inc
discipline which is only to be found by the majority
~ artists under a master lmpurity In flesh unti
ard n lack OF subtlety in modelling faults that
clever workman with experience and advice can nope
TO correct.
fortunately the native ineradcable traits In MRS.
wbttman's work are delightful. Her color sense
which responds quickly strong effects. is controlled
bv delcacy Of taste and hnesse In handling when
rio H..
No. 20 sunset in Bermuda and No. IS, wall IN
pcrmudap both arrangements Of high notes, and one OK
Them the second depicting contrast Of colors winch,
because OF its very simplicity, might nave wfecAea
q hand less sure whether II Is that Mrs. whitman
understands pastel better that Tue natural "Jie oi
The medium contributes 10 the elect OF softneSS du
Transparency which is In every of the pictures Tor
which II has been used-n some Of them, NO 81
Water LiIy,7 and No 90 Moonlight there Is "
beauty which We cannot pass without speciA rc1e-
ence-lt is undOubted thai in her oils sue Is e''
successful. She has not obtained transparency III VIC
latter except In No. ,, Niagara, when almost o'
not quite captures the opalescent hues OF mlhhs
wafer: nor has she, save In this, In No. ., NoFh
cnora bermuda and in No. 10, " BerhIua
Lilies struck the more raw charm OF Color
which, raised 10 higher power u
~, found in the pastels and water colors. We Will
make one more exception. No. II, "Portfah = Two
BOYS, Is Il canvas in which the co1or scNeme -
OF quality is to be depored, as II Is In the seated po
troit NJ Dr. Holmes the portrait Of the Hon. l. +.
Bayard the head and shoulder sketch OF Lowel-"o"s
which hardly needed to be caalogued-the portrait :"
bov loaned by the Rev ID. Merriman, ana the s'u's
Of lady, loaned by ;. ID. Warren The merits ol ''''
portrats are not slight. We do not often see 10 Ne"
York studies SO full Of vitality as these. por'rans
which tell Of such facilc yet not at all supe'h''"'
ANALYSIS Every one OF Mrs. Whltman's subjects mas
an actual existence her canvas. she has NOT
given the last pictorial word, 50 10 speak, o" III.
Holmes. nor has she. anywhere else In the po'u'''
Il Mr.. Bayard, painted up 10 the standard set IN h
treatment OF the head in that work. But Oh
both Dr. Holmes and Mr.. Bayard, u
Mr. Lowell and the lad VINO II
represented In No. 3. she has made fresh vigorous
and expressive portraits. portraits IN wm'h sue ""'
dealt unobtrusvey and accurately Win details I,"t
energy the reserve TO which have already referred,
The study Of buoyant adolescence IN no; d ls Inn 81
lto technical lint ations mastery. While speaking "
Mrs. Whimans portraits We Should not oIn i m"
of rough sketch Of Mis-, Terry, very lN' a rSarc
couple of ske ches Of children done In pastel lo.S
IS one large picture Gi dapcd ngure. No. :,
nestess in the 'Anugone, which IS given me soti
, ntrn of the gallery but that docs not add ma e'l
70 Tie interest Of the eXlib don. The color tlrous
ont is cold the flesh painting is muddy a'e l we have
suggcs oil above. In subteiy. The slaneI sass WI
dow which has been very fayoby hug y sIm ma
is rich and harmonious IN color ana aoceP,auE saf
in design TIE wreath IN the cenrc strikes Us az
rae heavy Mrs whman booAcO Sssd F'0'fn
this direction is to be restricted 10 the formal, eo%
yentional style which, sublimated by fine art haS
rarlcd the best periods OF binding. or Is TO re ~
lowed TO develop in freely decorative VEN
more TO the adorment OF so much space thah ot a
hook ms distinguished from every other object uhuer
/ Inc sun When Mrs Whitman Is rgdy Siihp.s' as
/ I'm tho cover for "The Poems OF George Pelew sne
contrives 20 he. her designs are boohsh but VIZ" .Sa
She uses ornament Of the sort that Is sanpeu on VIC
cover Of "The Marble Faun," and as muoh on ~ 10
she has usei on that cover she = purely decora'se.
| The cover for Mr. Brlmmer's Egypt IS goo" nr
canse Of the appropriateness OF the ornament eue"S'