The record-union., 1895-09-07

ring the thick ness of the paint. He is
much concerned whether the barrow in a
certain picture entitled March Roses" Is
made of mud, iron or wood. When
Ja1les Mcneil Whistler was asked by
certain Judge in the great Ruskin case
what were those objects in the middle
distance of a landscape painted by
Whistler, he replied: '.Anything your
| lordship wishes to think they are-cows
or men, barred gates or plows; in fact.
any object in the high or low station OF
| English landscapery.o
So with our rustic art critic, if he
sees nature through medium of mud
he is entitled to the mucosity of his opin-
ions. The most remarkable criticism OF
| q picture, however, Is the Impression
that our rustic critic gives of Alice Nj.
Hartley's painting representing the
artist painting her mothers portrait. In
the first place, the work is good and
honest, and without one single reference
| to either the technique or handling OF
! color, and without a consideration for
! the difficulties the artist had in treating
SO difficult subject. he merely says that
she is neither bad looking nor good look
ing, but makes her living painting pict-
ures. Then. in a supreme burst of intel
lectua" word painting seen through
the medium Of a temperament" be fur
ther criticises The painting Dy stabblng
his nasty and unhealthy pen into old
wounds, and will, no doubt, be thor
oughly delighted when the artist reads
his critique Oh her labor of love.
When art is laughed and kicked at by
such pseudo art critics, it is about time to
cry a halt, and when penny-a-liners and
such ilk, men who spend most OF their time
writing up the police sham bles, the do
ings OF the turf or society tea fights, step
in and handle without gloves the serious
work of men and women who have
labored long and tirelessly at their voca-
ton, it is about time to call them down,
to use trite saying.
For the benetit OF my rustic art critic, L
will inform him that the exhibition of
paintings at the Pavilion is the best, as
far as the local artists of California are
represented, that has been given in the
Pavilion. The water-color department
is represented by the best artists in the
State-Latimer. JorgenseD. Bloomer,
Kelley, CANT bic, Emerson, Merton.
Fisher, Letter, Briggs, Curtiss. eic.
The painters in oil are represented by
their best work-keith, Hill, Reaser,
Peixotto, Joullin, ChitIenden, Judson,
Latimer, Jorgensen. Willard, Welch, etc.
In fact. the art display is almost double
that or last year.
AS regards the exhibition OF last year,
the local exhibition was Increased by the
Polish exhibit. and. as my critic remarks,
1.-THE deep red flush of The Siberian sun
set on the couch of the dying Polish
patriot was ali there. Even the evening
song, which he calls au artistic mantel-
piece, was there in all its glory OF cool
greys and refreshing mist" | remember
last year the same critic, or one of the
psuedos, took intense delight in poking
fun at some of the Polish pictures that
he now signs for.
My advice 10 this critic is to fertiliZe
his brain with honesty of purpose, and
not 10 imagine because he can report a
horse race or barroom fight that he can
as equally criticise or pass upon the
works OF artists. JOHN y. STANTON.