The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-11
SOME AMERICAN ART
A Notable Collection of Paintings by Georr
Inncss and Others

usual year in several respects, and among
| other things we shall have some good works
OF art 10 show our visitors from other lands
who may como here on their way to the Fair
in Chicago. Indeed they are not likely to find
many better works OF native art at the Ex-
position than are to be seen hero just now.
Whilo the Academy OF Design is preparing
for It's loan exhibition OF foreign paintings
and art objects. Mr.. Thomas Is. Clarke has
brought together In the Firth Avenue Art Gal
lcries most unusual and most delightful ex-
hibition VI pictures by soma OF our own paint
ers OF note. Tho collection is not by any
means complete MS to names. and space might
have boon made on the walls without increas-
ing the total of lI6 pictures for representa-
tons Of the work Of some few worthy men who
should not have been omitted from this list.
It would 10 invdious. perhaps. to suggest Just
what paintings might have been omitted
to advantage. hut 1t must be admitted. in
Mr.. Carko's Justification, that mono OF
tho tedious old FOOLS" and the younger
ones too who sometimes cumber the
walls OF the galleries. are here, and that o
complete or perfectly satisfactory representa-
tion OF our American pn nters is almost too
much to expect within the limits OF the easily
attainable. 1t is enough that tho pictures
com posing this first summer exhibition OF the
Art House are all OF them fine and two or
three or more groups Of paintings here shown
give to the exhibition an extraordinary and.
in fact unique interest.
Here, for instance. for tho first time prac-
ticaily. Mr.. George 1nness is TO be seen fully
represented in oil his power The canvases
from his brush alone make the show ore OF cs-
pecal Importance and unlimited delight. Ono
whole room is filed with works dating from
1855 down to last week-a period Of nearly
ahnt -ip 4, . Al,
progress and varying moods OF the venerable
painter who worthily and incont estably holds
the first place in American landscape art
to-day. Ct the thirty six paintings by Mr..
Iuness twenty-five arc loanelb by Mr.. r. H. Hal
stead. From Golden Sunset" No. 81. painted
IN 1866. to After Spring shower" No. 49, but
just finished. one may have such u view OF Mr..
lnnesss work as has never been shown before,
and view calculated to strengthen the foun-
lations upon which his fame rests. Mr. Inness
himself 1t Is matter OF current record has
enjoyed and been impressed by it. for. as Mr.
Clarke says in his catalogue: - Tho series Of
pictures which constitute his record OF Amer
lean landscape, and which form the browning
productions Of his career. are part OF our ma
tionnl chronicles as well as masterpieces Of
our national art"
Mr. Inness's first picture. chroaologirally
speaking. is No II. Golden Sunset" dark
and somewhat oid-fhshioned work. revealing
almost nothing OF those broad and brilliant
qualities to be found in his later canvases. |
and, indeed. all OF the earlier pictures are
somewhat lacking in tho charm OF color.
though rich in tone. Mr. Innosss last paint |
ing. After n Spring shower" is u large can
vas In somewhat high koy OF color a YER |
dant farm scene. with the chimneys of the |
distant town on the horizon. The clouded sky |
10 tha tall
young trees at the ie!t and paints n rainbow
in the passing mists. In Summer Foliage"
No. SO. one may look into fine tanGlo |
OF trees and "nlergrowh in rich green.
In tho Edge OF the Forest" No 80. there |
Is n rich light uron and through the clded |
autumn trees. The Coming Shower" No. 80. |
and the Passing Storm" No. 10. give two as
poets OF n similar phe nomenon. showing pro- |
excessively the same green fields and scattered !
trees. tho rising wind and the whirlinc clouds |
aGainst the deep, leaden sky. Twilight in |
Florida" No. o. goes to the other extreme OF !
color. the soft browns OF road AMI struggling ,
trees standing out against u beautiful glow |
in the sky.
Midsummer" No. G3. is filed with the lazy
light OF indolent nature. In No. Ga. Near the ;
Village. October the color is rich and beauti. /
ful and tho fresh breeze OF the autumn day is /
felt in tho clear blue OF tho sky and tho Goat |
ing masses OF clouds. There ia a lovely sum- !
mer haze over the stream and fields in the
picture called June" No. G5. and n sentiment /
in 1t al that. as In everything else BY M !
lnneSs. is never fceblo nor nero sentiment /
tally. There is certain masculinity In his
work and Brownnglike rugsedness In his I
poeticnl portrayal OF natures moods.
In AN Autumn Sunset" No. SO. the SKY IS
almost weird. and there is touch OF tho same
GOV In Noppr;vnr M a.,
landscape, trees. houses. and all are shouet- p
ted agansta sky that Is illumined by n full
III DON whose silvery light Is repeated in tho
river. There is a fins sense Of breadth OF
rolling country and fresh breeze and whirling
clouds in No. go, "A Breezy Autumn" while
in n Winter Evening" No. 60. desolaton IT,
self is pictured in tho bleak stretch OF snow
covered field stretching away to gloomy hills.
but above 1t all bla2es out fan-like the
splendid rod and yellow rays OF tho sot-
ting sun. "A Silver Morning." No. ~. is q
picture OF great delicacy and beauty in which
the lands ape and the sun itsof are yelled in
a soft gray mist. Nothin! could be more ex-
prnsslvs OF the lghtness and movement o: tho
foliage than No. 10. Tho Wood Gathrrcrs."
In which the two figures are but accessory to
d most beautifully painted landscape rs seen
under the hutterinG leaves OF some fine old
trees. In "Sunsot on ths Passaic." No. ~ and
' Autumn Go!d.' No. II. there Is a wonderful
richness Of color md glory Of sunlight. while
in "Late Afternoon" No u.s. ono Of Mr. In
D ess's latest works the big rod disk OF tho sun
Is sinking behind mist that fills the atmos-
phere with gold dust. Niagara Falls" No. 81.
i tho largest OF these many pictures By Mr..
Inness and one Of the most recent. One Ca2es
at the great wal OF sea-Green water from
height across tho river. while NJ beyond the
sweeping rapids arc tho spires and chimneys
and the great hotels OF the town.
Ten charming paintings by tho late A. II.
Wyant form u notable group on tho western
wall OF tho large gallery. in which that
amented artists sympathetic and romantic
ranslatlons Of natural beauties OF wood and
mountain scenery are exhibited to unusual
advantage. Ono of them. No. I'll. moonlight
Night" is nm Impression tho work OF an hour.
iImost in monochrome, hlit II is exquisite and
luits complete though unfinished, in It's OK.
preston of tho poetry Of cfulCencs that siyers
md gloriiles Il mountain roadway The fine