New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
PICTURES NEW AND OLD.
EXHIBITION OF TILTy NETWORK WATER
COLOR CLUB

EXHIBITION OF TILFy NETWORK WATER
COLOR CLUB.
In the fourth year of Its existence. the NewYork
Water-Color Club begins to prove Itself a serious
rival 20 the long-estabshed society Of similar
aim which exhibits every year at the Academy.
TIE younger organization has strengthened itself by
the best process of ALL process of exclusion. Last
year. at the Fifth Avenue Art Galleries, 3CD pic
lures hung. This year. at the Fine Arts So
cety's galleries, the water-colors hung in only
two lines, and number not. more than go. The
result Of the discrimination observed upon this
occasion has been perceptibe elevation OF the
character OF tie exhibition. Remarkable works are
rare they were last year. but the average
OF coed craftsmanship IS higher.
The landscape work Is very frequently capable
and indivldualized There are sentiment skill and
extremely clever handling of treacherous medium
in the New England May of Mr.. Ross Turner;
in the upright moont scene OF Mr. Dangerfeld;
In the Cabbage Fields" OF Mr.. kotz: In the
Coast OF Lake Erie" OF Mr. Lathrop: in the
"Sheepfold' study of Mr.. Wheaton. and In the
landscapes by Messrs. Trscott Gay, Won Saltza.
Foster, Eaton and Dewey. The pictures do not de-
mand analysis in detail. They all artistic
and preserve the spirit of nature. The one land
scape that does require more extended notice
is by the practised hand OF Mr.. Iafarge He has
on the lire n study made in the South Pacific.
"a picture OF one Of the Society Islands rising,
crowned with palms. out of calm iridescent
In the foreground bronzed native wades
In the shallow water and his figure tells strongly
IN the broad simplicity OF the design. Mr.. Lafarge
is always master and In this he is in one
OF his most interesting moods The color Is re-
strained. but within its gamut Of quiet tones 1t
Is extraordinarily sensuou5 and delicate. There
several pieces in the exhibition which de-
serve association with Mr.. Lafarges study by
virtue of their able treatment OF ocean color. Mr..
DE Collier "a name) shows good work in No
81. small marine; Mr. Trscotts large coast scene
il we'll done. and Mr.. SHELLS "Nightfall," though
trhe forced. Is still veracious and is particularly
rich In tone. Mr.. Appleton Browns New Moon
over tho Sea- done in pastel. deals with poetic
effect in an artificial fashion. Considered
excessively sophisticated arrangement OF color. 1t
is beautiful. Mr.. Charles Dxons three pictures OF
river subjects conspicuous the works OF
accomplished painter, who makes every year n more
favorable impression than the last More should be
heard from him. In his Thames sketches like the
two OF small dimensions In this exhibition or in his
studies OF our river front. Ike the larger
picture also shown here. he presents with orig-
nality and power the movement OF the stream.
the intricate linear effects of shipping and the
peculiar flavor Of such backgrounds city's
river buildings offer. lie Is a colorist of and
MS workmanship is always satisfactory.
MIS- sarah c. Sears the Boston artist. who
prize winner in the last water-color show at the
Academy IL. in this exhibition. at the head of the
pictures OF New-iork streets. with their cabs.
and pedestrians Mr.. Hassam Is equally attractive:
there Is good execution and there Is some sent
ment In Mr.. W. X. Aliens portrait of a yelled
young lady; there is color OF more than usual
charm in the small studies OF Mr.. Francis Day and
Miss C. ". Parrish and the picture of girl
ing by Mr.. Elm Westman IS to be praised for It's
pure drawing. But leaving aside the brilliant por-
trait study in green and red by Mr. Isham-and
even that is hardly exception. for ii Is pastel
there is no figure piece the walls which shows
50 much grasp both OF the subject and the medium
the Academy. an ideal head called ''Romola"
had distinct shortcomings In points Of structure.
Traces OF the stinsh touch discovered in that pic.
trait OF the Artists Daughter which are promi-
nent now In the south gallery The latter shows Ia
best Of her three pictures here; however. the por-
trait of lady. painted in black and green. which
Is placed In the central gallery the defects OF Mrs
scarss work have disappeared. This is painted
not only with ease. but with sureness Of touch.
The great Virtue Of the watcr-color: the virtue
that gives 1t its salient position. Is that without
employed IT has great solidty is a strong, soundly
con portrait, II does not upon
oil painting In having body TO It's color and gen.
nnn feeling OF substance IN us sm %.
plihed by Mrs Sears not numerous. They are
Sn study 10 Of POs'i pac Of Mr. Si
wards and an Israelesque interior by Miss Rose
Clark From Hartford Miss NJ r: Williams sends
very simple effects, but her color is 50 pale as to
be watery and her drawing Is timid. There Is.
work which 1t Is 10 be hoped will eventually be
productive of good art. The majority OF the figure
painters have sent pictures In which the lghtness
OF touch and mood preferred by most American
water colorists have evidently been sought Some
OF the artists have attained their object-Mr
Wies in his recumbent. semi-nude dancer, MI
flower study, Mrs. Sherwood. Miss Emmett Miss
Mackubin and Miss Colby In the various pictures
they contribute to the exhibition. a great deal OF
this work IL really sparkling. The exhibition Is |
dotted with Intelligent. spirited pictures and with
out providing any sensations 1t Is qualihed to give
The Water-Coor club has wisely abstaned from |
spreading its pictures throughout the galleries. and
several other attractions are on view therein Mr.
score or so OF water-colors made In Japan. MIS-
Herter exhibits with them four pictures done In the
same medium and In the same country Botn ar ar
tent When they last exhibited In New-York which |
was probably not more than year ago. they |
shared thin and niggling style which deprived
their pictures OF any very great value. Now they |
return from Japan with color; brushwork feeling
an fairly metamorphoseh, Ihey nave haf IT,
natural and graceful, and they have above all the
naive pcturesqueness OF the Orient reproduced with
very striking because neither IL an artistic person
Atty OF force Both have artistic feeling and nave
lone artistic work which r. the more valuable oe
so tempting among japanese themes. and adheres
closely to nature Mr.. Herter has also placed on
dating from years in this and the last century
and signed by Hokusai and other celebrities less
familiar to Western students They Illustrate
same time of the most vivid realism. They are
)vertowing with life. with decorative combinations
virtuosty in iraughtsmanship and they make
most fascinating feature. The last Of the special