The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-18
WOOD ENGRAVING IN ART.
An Interesting Exhibition of Works nj
Providence Art Club.


The true status and value OF the wood
engraver in art has never been appre-
ciated In this country--and In truth, this
can also be said in "A measure Of other
countries as artistic centres.
The man who has reproduced some
painting by his skill has been classed as
"A mere copyist, an expert artiztn, n as
such has never been recognize. That it
required something more than mere
skillful labor in this work, more than the
trained eye aud hand. and that the
engraver must be an artist AS well as AN
~artizan, and infuse into his work the
soul and individuality Of the painter.
was not understood, and to demonstrate
this the organization Of the American
Painter = Engravers' association was
formed in Boston. The artists concerned
in this forward movement are:
William b. Closson. ElDridge Kings
ley, William j. Dana and w. Il. Cleaves,
ali of Massachusetts,: J. T.. Davis, Victor
Walter NJ. Altman, Gustave kruell.
Frank French and +. ;. King of New
Jersey, aud A. NJ. Lindsey Of Pennsyl-
vania. They have exhibited in Berlin.
Paris and Boston, attracting much at
tention in each city.
These artists are all American, and,
in fact, the best en- gravers in the world
are those OF this country.
They are now exhibiting sixty-eight
works at the Providence Art club, mann
of which are identical with tho-e snowy
at Berlin and Paris, and those at the
This is the second exhibition of the
kind ever held in this country.
The evidences of the development In
| this department Of art, and of the
| right these men have to be termed artis-
tic creators and originators, are shown
A.. a.. ,.ntfar.if " nf nxnallan. nm rf tha
engravings at the club. Many Of these
are original works. and of those repro
duced there are several which are SUI
| Ierior TO the painting Itself.
Mr.. Closson displays many original
productions, among which The Bella ed
markable, and the engravings after
other artists, "Winnifred Dysart " after
Fuller. "Sheep Shearers" after Mlllet.
"Fiora" after Titan, are excellent
| specimens of wood engraving.
Mr.. Bernstrom displays some splendid
| engraviuRs among which, The Mujik,"
aud The original PIRATES Haven" are
noticeable for their excellence.
Mr. Cleaves displays some of the most
| delicate works Of the exhibition. His
"Silver Lake" is IA beautiful subject,
beautifully executed. Several Of this
| artists works are of the same nature
aud maintain the same indiyi i~uality.
Miss Edith Cooper shows some
| splendid work, aud Mr.. Dana's and Mr..
Davis's engraviugs are equal TO the
general excellence of the ex uIbit.
Mr.. French has some refreshiugly con-
conceived works while the four portraits
by Mr.. kruell are striking in their
power. Perhaps these four portraits are
iron a critical standpoint Of engraving
the finest work suown, IL indeed any
c. be selected as being much superior
to the Others.
Mr.. Closson gave a short talk last
night at the opening OF the exhibition on
the metnods of Wood engraving ana
it's development. The exhibition will
continue every day and evening until
May 80. free to the public.
Hugo Breul's Sale of Paintings.
Hugo Breul is a local artist and one
whose work is probably etter known
than most painters Of the state, but il is
doubtful IL any but his intimate friends
realized the ex ent OF bis work or OF the
versatility shown in tn variety of sub
iect he has treated. AT Tilden-Thur-
bel's art gall ry there are 100 of Mr..
Breul's works on exhibition, embracing a
wide variety Of subjects. All Cf them bear
ths characteristic touc les OF Mr.. Breu.bs
Iudiv duality aud are the finest pictures
that he has ever shown in this city. The
portraits by this artist are always strong
ana vigorously execu ed. and 1t is i'm
this line that Mr.. Breul is best known
here.
The painting Ct Bishop Clark is a grand
work and stands out boldly in the dis
play. There are other subjects il the
collection. some studies in the nude.
many landscapes and n few watercolois
In which Mr.. Braul Ia S SHOWN his re-
markable versatility.
Mr.. Brell is about to open n stu lilo I'm
New York. aud make that CITY his no ne
and inte dis disposing OF his entire work
before going.
The paintings will be on exhibition nc
Tilden- rhurber's until May rs. On
May 10, AN auction sale will he made OF
{ e collection at Tillinghs SITS parlors in
the morning at III o'clock aud AT s o'c. ock
In the evening.