New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-22
PICTURES BY j. &. BROWN. y. 4.

Mr. !. g. Brown has been known chiefly n painter
Of L0Otbacks and nc~ebOys, but Of the 1IS pictures
by him now at the Inn Avenue Ant Galleries large
number are Of other subjects. Of old farmers and their
wives, country children and young girls, and Grand
Manan fishermen The fishing studies. done about
fifteen years ago and never among the artists most
uopuar works are TO thinking much better than
the pictures 81 New-Yorl street HE with which rs
name is generally associated; better because they
represent healthier phase OF realism. There Il much
Iu the ramln that IS worthy Of celebration In paint or
pro,c taavroche in Les Miserablcs," the tragic
side: Calvcrey's nimitsblc "Arab' on the bur
esque Rudyard Kplings Jalin and Lew, waits trans
planted for the noncc from The gutter 10 higher
stage there % work ont their little mclodrana Of
mingled patlos aud fun; the gaunt and hungry ont
casts who figure in the recent cdying pictures OF inc
French artist. ~ Pelcz: all these are proof of the
material waiting in the lowest ana most insignificant
ranks Of society for the artist But the gann IL he
is to inspire sympathy, must be drawn with absolute
realism II he is T. be heroic or humorous he must
be one or the other in spite Of If, and general
untIdnes, If he Is to be glorcd at all he must be gori
fled from within. Now while Mr. Brown deserves
praise for his aim In painting TIE ghihh ~ l. ih'V
Ter for regret that his notion should De to Wash hhh'
AS II were into the company Of The recognized mo'c'
g, the schools, Cleanliness may be nest to GodI
ness but idcalty comes not by virtue OF soap anu
water Mr. Browns booblacks and new sboys are alto
ccer foo clean TO say nothing Of their being TOO sleek
pnd well fed Possibly some ncwsboJa correspond III
the fnlpess and wholesDmcness Of their features I"
ibs three who advance brslly toward the Foreground
In no 1877 Extra!7 but any one who Is mnhHhr WIN
the scene treated In this pcUite-thc Afternoon ui,I'
Tuition Of papers 10 the boys beneath the lhfV -'"
st. elevated staon-ls likely 10 doubt H. III PaiiiHS
the fishermen Of Grand Manan, Mr.. Browns powers OF
observation were not interfercd with by his theory OF
dealization and Ms pictIrcs are realistic III Hiuoh
more satisfactory way. His models were hhc a'ieuc
fellows roughly but picturesqaely cio'hcd' anu hc
studied them under Interesting conditions as III NO.
1871 Pull for the shore NJ. G6. Lost III inc foe'
No. H. Casting the Net or No. II, Coming e1uali'
The tasks In w.c the fishermen were ehei'seu anor"cd
opportunities for the study OF movement p"r"ou
ary and the SURROUNDINGS vera fun Of bright Color
Painted direct from nature, the Grand Mana" Pcuures
are perfectly sincere fresh and vitaiized
Mr. Brown eycels in facial expression ana the phyN
nc uomies Of his fishermen varied and animated 30
are those Of the old men and women he has paih'ed-a
uav u, seen In No liz. lie Tolls at Eighty'' The
portrait Of leather aproned lnborcr, ana NO. 60
What Shall Play ~ that Of an old viohhiSt-ahh so
are those Of the younger figures who appear " pictures
Ike No 100 The street Bnnd.' INC E""iih>' I'M
satisfactory n they are are never, eAPrcssne
Noto tho tres In 40. IF, oHhpc'I.ii IRON lhe
south in which small darkey dances FOR me pleasure
~ group ~ Nortbcrn ragamufBs IN NO. lJ4 Stand
by tic flag" a bit Of humorous genre w. o. Lazy