The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-16

tations 10 upon our native painters whose
picturos now hung constitute the fifteenth
annual exhibition OF the society. There was
an opening reception yesterday afternoon. and
the public opening will occur on Monday. The
show will last until Saturday. MAY 10.
twill be refreshing intelligence to the public
to know that two out OF every three paintings
submitted were rejected. and that in tho two
galleries but 239 canvases are hung. Eight
pieces OF sculpture com plete the catalogue.
The pictures are we'll hung In two rows. and.
owing to tho 1ne accommodations OF the new
galleries. nothing is sighted.
The exhibition, as " WHOLE. is distinctly brill
liant. In the south gallery. rs one enters.
four full-length. l~ife-size portraits across the
four corners Of the room amman atten-
ton. not only by their size. but by the brill
liancy Of the costumes Of the fair subjects. In
the middle gallery are the several pieces Of
sculpture. very interesting and good. oil OF
them. and on beyond. in the splsndidly lighted
Vanderbilt gallery. one comes upon such =
bright and various expanse Of color rs makes
the eyes blink with n sense Of sunshine. The
effect. as q whole. Is delightful. and In detail
It Is found to be generally sustained.
The Fronchiness is not alone In tho highly
keyed tones OF the pipin d,ristes. but is quite as
much due to the aim ost startling display Of
nudity In gilded frames and painted under
various pretexts. The chief objection to these
pictures that Mt once suggests itself Is that
they are merely life studies with Just enough
Of accessories thrown In to make an excuse
for a title. Almost without exception tho mo-
tive or theme to justify u picture is lacking.
Thcy are simply beautifully painted models.
obviously posed for the technical delight Of
the painter. Chiefly distinguished among
these nudes Is Mr.. Tarbclls painting. Tho
Bath" No. 10S. to which the jury has awarded
the Shaw prize Of 81. 800. Its technical mer-
its are beyond question. the figure being
graceful. finely modelled. and we'll posed. md
the flesh exauisitely painted. As a study
OF the delicate beauties OF the palpi-
tating flesh Of a handsome woman
tho work is skillful in the highest de-
gree. As n picture. 1t must he admitted that
It is a wanton display. The fair bnther lies
back against a bank Of pillows dreamily. or
lazily. one pink foot dipping into the bath.
while q maid. kneeling at one eide with her
back to the spectator. is drying the lovely skin
with a towel. The presence Of tho maid adds
to the inconcruity OF tho display. which is
rather more prodigal than is common cor
tainly to the chariost maid.
Tho other conspicuous nude. and. Ike Mr..
Tarhclla, a very beautiful. II less finished. OK
ample Of flesh and fieshly painting. Is Mr..
Reds STUDY" No. 49,. This might. In fact.
furnish a sequel to Mr.. Tarbcll's Bath" for
1t represents the naked lady lounginG upon q
whi.o bear skin before an oren fire. that gilds
with O beautiful light the side and breast and
neck OF this voluptunry. and at the same time
carries still further the drying process begun
with a towel. The figure is exQuisitely
modelled.
Mr.. Chnse's nude is called "a Study" 1t Is
No. 22S. A shapely young woman lies a. full
length on a divan with plush drn peries to set
of tho flesh tints. 1t is a carefully studied
figure. moulded finely and finished with cnrs
and skill: but there is n chnlkiness and rose
blush combined about the flesh that is sug-
gestivc OF n perfectly fitting suit OF silk tights.
Mr.. Herbert Denman's Tho Voice OF Spring"
No. 1872. has some justification in Its theme.
The haif-drnped figure Of a young girl. sitting
on q stone bench under u blossoming peach
tree. a bunch Of roses in her lap and a harp In
her hands. has the positive merit OF expressing
the sentiment Of the early spring. Techni-
cally. Mr.. Dcnman may not paint as we'll as
Mr.. Tarbell or Mr.. Chase. but he has made a
picture. Mr.. Kenyon Cox anil Mrs. Cox are
among tho contributors to the gallery OF the
undrcssed. Mr.. Cox has several life studios.
chief OF which is his SLEEP" No. 20S. q pic
ture OF II stout woman plainly overcome by
some influence more powerful than simple
drowsiness. for she lies in acolicky and I'M
natural attitude that is incompatible with the
idea Of repose. The drawing Is clever. as
Mr.. Cox's is almost always. but the picture
might better have been called "DrugGod."
Mr.. Cox has also dived into color
his picture OF Tho Fall and the Expulsion"
No. 40. made originally in black and white. In
which two Incidents OF life in Eden are por-
trayed stinly and without especial beauty.
The SERPENT. with a womsn's head and bust.
is twined about a tree trunk in the middle
and conducts the fruit transaction with the
Adam and Eve on tho one side while
the corporal Of the guard with a flaming sword
is evicting tho vine-clad couple on the other
end OF the canvas. Good enough Ms the
drawing OF the figures is. 1t is not q very
edifying diagram OF the transactions. Mrs.
Psyche" No. 172. is q small
figure. modelled somewhat strongly. but
not In the least ethereally. as would become
the character of Psyche. 1t Ia not soulful. in
short. but feshly. Mr.. Drush's Ledn." No.
1874. is n beautifully painted old master In
style. Next to the studies from the life. the
one most striking picture In the Vanderbilt
Gallery is Mr.. Abbott Thayer's "A Virgin" No.
2l3. This again is n finely painted canvas
without a motive. The beautiful virgin and
tho two charming children that she is leading
afeld appeared to have stepped down and out
OF Mr.. Thayer's painting Of q year ago. The
Madonna Enthroned." TIL low tone Of the
color scheme and the Characterization Of tho
figures are entirely satisfactory. but why and
whence are the models escapinGp Mr.. Thay.
other paintings are but studies. broud and
harmonious in painting and color. but palpa-
bly, but sketches.
To turn from tho figures. which predominant
conspicuoa sly. to the landscapes. Mr.. Henry
G.. Dearth's "Deerleld Valley" No. n. com
munds attention. not. perhaps. as the best
there. but as the one to which the
jury has votod tho Webb prize Of $500. 1t Is a
very worthy work. but rivalled. perhaps. by
Mr.. The Robinson's June M~orning-Valley OF
the Seine" No. 159. "a lovely scene and wholly
satisfying. or Mr.. Vonnoh's Landscape. VIM
ter Grey No. 149. u true and beautiful little
picture.
Mr.. Chase has several clever landscapes. and
there arc others. too, by Mr.. Tryon. Mr.. Palmer.
Mr.. Ilatt, Mr.. Robinson. Mr.. Walker. Mr.. Dew
ing. Mr.. Shurtler. Mr.. Coffin. Mr.. Appleton
Brown. Mr.. Metcalf. Mr.. Caldwell. and Mr..