The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-28
ALL SORTS OF CRITICS
A LARGE SUNDAY CROWD AT THE
ART EXHIBIT.
Over Fifteen Hundred People Enjoy
the Paintings Some Queer Com
ments and Peculiar Tastes.

More than fifteen hundred people viewed
the exhibit of the Indianapolis Art Assoc
citation at the ~Propylaeum yesterday after
noon. Yesterday was the second free Sun
day exhibit which the society has seen fit
to give Indianapolis and the public gra-
ciously accepted the compliment. Between
the hours of 1 and 6 O'Clock the ladies
who sell catalogues and answer ridiculous
questions estimated that from fifteen hun
dred TO two thousand people passed
through the gallery. The visitors repre-
sented nearly every class of Indianapolis
society, although the people from the low
er walks of life predominated. The con-
noisseur in art was absent. He comes
during the week when he can pay an adj
mission fee and escape being jostled about
by the plebeian whom he thinks knows as
little about art as about Greek. There were
many of this latter class out yesterday
people who live a hard, practical life
during the week, and look forward to a
day in the park or at .Fairview on Sunday.
Yesterday the weather was not propitious
TO outdoor picnicking and the Propylaeum
caught them. Besides, it was a novelty
and was free, SO that the work Of some
OF the best American artists was subjected
to criticism distinctly original and decid-
edly homogeneous. The fac, was obvious
that hundreds of the visitors were viewing
for the first time genuine art, but 1t was
also apparent that they enjoyed the treat.
They came with clean faces and tidy
frocks, prepared to see everything that
was to be seen. The mechanic, the trades
man, the clerk and the laborer commingled,
each enjoying what he saw after his own
fashion.
One feature of yesterdays crowd
noticeable to those having the exhibit IN
charge was the disposition of the throng
to lavish admiration on the cheapest pic
lures. A brilliant daubing of carmine and
yellow won ~ecstatic praise from a group
of visitors, who ignored its companion
piece, a delicate shading of sunset ABOVE a
stormy sea. Extravagant expressions or
approval might be heard from a group in
front of an ordinary piece of work., white
visitors would turn with fine scorn from u
perfectly executed painting by a famous
northeast corner of the gallery. entitled
MY Daughter Dorothy" and executed by
William Chase Of Chicago, appeared to
The painting shows an artists studio In
which Is seated a pretty child, who gazes
eomplacently ABOUT over the many strange
head of the child hangs another picture,
but one corner of which Is visible, and
which shows but a portion Of a very
charming woodland scene. To the unap-
preciative this fragment of a really mer-
itorious effort appears at the first view to
be a blotch OF green and brown color, and
there We're many speculations during the
afternoon as to how the canvas was thus
besmirched. Two daintily-clad young
women, whose views of art have doubtless
been confined to the fashy prints that
adorn the departments Of the big store in
which they work, stepped up in front of
artist Chase's painting and viewed for
@ minute the costly work. They did not
neglect a detail but took it all I'm with
critical eyes. Then one OF the girls noted
the splotch of green and brown, and, in an
audible voice, lamented that so fine a piece
of work had thus been despoiled. Her COM
panion also noted the supposed defect, and
nearly caused the collapse Of the lady man.
ayers by the exclamation: well. thar
child has gone and spilled paint all over
that picture"
An elderly woman spent the afternoon
passing various and remarkable opinions
upon the labors of some of the best paint
ers, and finally wound up with the remark
to her friend: "Humph. this amt ncthin'.
I saw better pictures than these at the
worlds fair" A tall young man, whose
cheap tan shoes creaked Interestingly,
eazed for a long period at the nicture by
Bell, entitled 1.-THE Dreamers." Plainly he
was not in the mood to enjoy the pretty
simplicity of the painting. and finally
passed on with the observation that the
figures in the picture were very badly
drawed." The afternoon passed without
unusual incident. except on one occasion,
when a very stout lady nearly poked the
point Of her umbrella through that ar
tistic canvas THE Bells" The picture
was rescued before the good woman's en-
thusiasm got the best Of her and of the
valuable canvas. The exhibit will con-
tinue throughout this week. Yesterday
was the last free day.