New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-09
PICTURES At The UNION LEAGUE CLUB.

Fifteen old masters and little more than thrice
That number OF pictures by modern men have been
hung at the Union League Club for the current monthly
exhibition. OF the former. nearly all are from the
eighteenth century English school. which we are glad
10 see becoming and more popular Two OF the
Sir Ioshuas shown We know 10 be recent importa-
tons and the large Portrait OF Two Ladies' loaned by
Durand Ruel, IS, II we are not mistaken, relic OF
the Daupias collection. dispersed In Paris only short
tine ago. Collectors do not err In watching TIE
British and Continental saesrooms for examples OF
Reynolds, Lawrence Ga!nsborough and others Of the
school; their purchases If iudcously made, are ce?
tain to prove good investments from an artistic point
of view and the market value Of these men Is steadily
increasing. As 10 the judgment involved In the
purchase OF the English works here, we DO not
think it was invariably infalliblc, but neither
was 1t ever to be severely deprecated except in the
case OF one large composition assigned TO Reynolds In
the catalogue, which will be referred TO again. We
want In America of course the finest OF old English
portraits. But downright masterpieces come under
the suctOneer's hammer into the dealers haudS
only at long intervals. and in the meantime there IS
no very reprrhensible impotence apparent In the
act OF securing the best get when that best Is
least characteristic Thus there Is only one OF the
portraits BY Reynolds here that Of lady, loaned by
Mr. D. F. Appleton, which approaches the standard OF
even, exQusitcy refined and distinguished work which
the famous master reared in his happest paintings.
but the ease and strength Of his handling are not
altogether absent from NO. II, PORTRAIT OF iuuS
work that is really weak in places nor are the
uncomfortable portraits Of r. r.. Graham Esq..' and
"Mr. Hawksworth Writing the Life OF Captain John
Cook wanting ih evidences OF his style. Less can be
said Of the Tragedy and Comedy Nursing the Infant
shakespeare painting loaned by Mr.. Gait and said
to have been discovered in a New-lork shop III
that shop 1t would better have been left in undisrbed
repo,c There IS an insipd smoOthncss about the
picture q faccidlty about the painting of the flesh OF
which Reynolds could not have bcen guilty IN MS
worst mood. Even TIE impure flesh tints In the
portrait OF r. II. Graham, Esq are better than this
The important Portrait of Two ladies' by Sir
Thomas Lawrence, has his ripe color and his clean.
decisive brushing. and has the more unaffected
sketch-lke portrait OF Miss Anderson Red Riding
Hood but the latter has also Lawrence's inlmiiaSe
grace and animation. characteristics missing In the
former work. which is almost awkward in its grouping
OF the sttcrs. The single portrait By Gainsborough,
one Of sheridan. Is in the artists unimpassioned
manner, having truth and force. but no charm
Gainsborough. as the "Mrs Sddons' forever reminds
u.s. coud be exceedingly charming. Appropriately
associated with these English paintings is Portrait
OF a Child" by John singleton Copey that American
member OF the Royal Academy, whose fame mas
dwindlcd much since his death early in the century
but who had genuine sympathy and feeling
fair portrait Of n young woman by Ferdinand Boil
and IL close little study OF himself by Halls. both
loaned By Durand Rucl, afford opportunity TO con
t,ist the blunt realism OF the Dutch school with the
elegance Of the English "The Card Party by Peter
de H0ogl, Is an authentic and fine example OF the
master rich and wonderfully transparent In tone.
Among the mOiern paintings are two new pictures
by Mr. Minslow Homer and Hr H. o. Walker, both
artists whose latest work always has distinct in
tercst Mr. Walkers Mother and Child" l. In eX-
ecution fully the equal Of any one Of the group OF
pictures which be has ut the society of American
Artists exhibition. In beauty OF type h. has fallen
short OF his accustomed ideal. Neither the mother
the child has the atractivencss with which he has
gifted his figures heretofore. Mr.. Homer also Is only
partially satisfying. In the AdrOndacks,' a hunting
picture, has movement, and, like all OF Mr.. lioers
paintings, originality and pictorial s!gnifcance-the
hunter sprawng in his boat. with one hand graspng
the horns the wounded deer whose head IS lifted
Just above the water, Is the central figure I'm IN in
tcresdng sltuaOn-yet the color j. dry and the land
scapc is less acceptable than this artists skill might
have been expected 10 make IL. Tie American
pictures In the modern exhibit are comparatively
lew. In addition to the Two Just mentioned, lana
scapcs By McsSrs. Ochtman. BlakclOck Nyant and
Illness, q by the late Harry Chase and study
Of feminine head by il. y. kellogg are tle Only
native works hung Thcy are scattered through quite
u gathering Of French paintings, III which there are
landscapes By Cain. Of which one NO. 20 An
October Day Is iau.tess In its interpretation OF lncd
atmosphere. early Normandy coast scene by JulS
Breton UNNECESSARILY better than any OF his popular
peasant subjects small road sketch by Ialacli III,
teresting Is showing how painter with II brutal
method occasionally achieve deicncy; paintings
more familiar celebrities. The exhibition Will be open
today and tomorrow 10 persons presenting cards OF
invitation signed by members OF the club. The
usual tickets. good for any month! are no longer 10
be issued Invitations are given for each exhibition