New-York tribune., 1894-03-10
EXHIBITION or THE SOCIETY OF IMERL-
CAN ARTISTS.
FIRST NOTICE.

Portraiture and landscape. the latter being to a
great extent impressiOnistic, monopoliZe the bL-
lerieS at the exhibition which Will be opened Oh
Monday morning by the Society OF American Art
lists. There fifty or sixty more pictures shown
this year than were shown in 1893. but the number
OF figure compositions has been propor;ionatey
increased. Among the painters VINO have contrib
uied studies from the nrde-and these are numer-
ous-there has apparently been less ambition TO pro-
duce pictorial designs than demonstrations of tech
ncdl facility. There Is superabundance of that
facility Illustrated In this exhibition. In the course
Of brief record like The present perhaps the most
significant thing - b. said Is that the society
manifests, more convincngly than ever before. the
strong ana stimulating nature of its dominating
Influences. There are fewer important pictures than
have been shown in previous exhibitions-there is
nothing t, match the Virgin" Of Mr. Abbott
Thaycr which appeared last year-but the general
effect OF The collection is decidedly good.
MIR. Chase has the place OF honor in the north
gallery with fe-size full-ength Of his wife, and
it is to the vein .; purely decorative portraiture
which that exploits. kind OF pOrtraiture at its best
in the management of textures and Of for its
own sake that il is necessary 10 recur most often
in glancing over the walls. Messrs. Caliga Kendall.
Isham. Metcalf. benson. Beckwith. Smediey and
others send portraits in which the decorative aim Is
obviously most considered. In few portraits by
Mr. Simmons. Miss Beaux, Mrs Sears and NJ.
Hyde. the attention is fastened on elusive
qualities Mr.. Dewng's little ful-length Of LADY
in blue. and Miss HJuSt0n's "Iarghette." are both
cOnfcssedly decorative studies. but both have touch
Of fancy that gives them Il heightened Interest
one large religious composition IS exhibited. "Bdp-
tsm OF Christ" by Mr.. Frank Vincent Du Mond.
Ii is good in everything save color. and there IL Is
lacking depth and distinction In everything else
crcdiab!c piece Of work. Mrs CoNs picture. called
The Fatcs," is a clever design, carried out with
cicverncss, If not with any Inspiration or any orig
inaiiiy Ine placing OF the hsures u aScompl she'd
sklfuy. Mr.. Prcllwitz's marine with figures, No.
22I Swimmers" il In The front rank OF the minor
figure pieces IL is true and II Is painted with
The Shaw prize OF 81 so has been well awarded. II
goes this year 10 OF Mr.. II. o. Walkers dainty
compositions. The singers has his usual defect,
lack OF force: but Ii has his usual Vrturs. suavity
Of tone. grace OF line aad drlicacy OF Imagination.
and II wears It's liurrls iustiiiahly. So also doe,
Nh llatts spring - which tn" Webb prize o:
admit that many OF the other Landscapes In the eA-
hibtion are also worthy or prizes. We do not
grudgc Mr. Plat his homer in saying that b" has hs
equals here. Mrssrs Bogrrt kost Ochim1n lioratlo
Walker and Davis exhibit some beautiful works.
MIR. Ochtmau'S winter Morning" shows that he
is making trtmenlou, strides forward He has done
strong. II 1t has any shortcomings nj all ihcy are
shortcomings of design. \ littc too mdch J. pos
sibly attempted. lt,ir too Wll an "Npans" Is per
haIS portrayed the scene might have been mad"
more compact ana more pictorial But on III" side
" pure nature. IN ifs light and atmosphere and
relative tones, u is brilliant performance whch
stands of the great THINKS of the exit
DitiOn. We Will mention in passing MI l0"s
Aurora" figure piece Of some Importance, but
comprehensive survey ui The exhibition Is deferred
The latter contains sculpture well paintings.
Mr.. 81 Gauicns sends has relief remarkable. IN
first place. for the exquisite modelling ana rare
stvle which are discovered In all his works and
then for its curious adaptation OF guitar. In the
hands of tho feminine sitter 20 the eNigencl"S oi
plastic portraiiurt The Society OF American Art'Tts
viii hold reception this afternoon. The exhibition
Will be open io th" public from next Monday morn
FttV.f. Af.F11