New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08
THE CHRONICLE OF ARTS.
EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER TOPICS.
Mr.. WALTER /. PALMERs ENHIBiTioN-i"N
HAPPY DEVELOPMENT OF HIS ART-soMh


SCULPTURES ny MR. KEMEYs-THE GLAs-
Cow SCHOOL OF PAINTERS AND
ITS EXCELLENT woRK-NOTEs
There ia no more pleasurable experience In the
study of contemporary art than that OF witneS'
ing the sudden expansion Of some artistic III
dividuality the almost unexpected transition VI
q pa.nter from a plane Of moderate excellence
to one of far higher and far more admrao'e
performance. Such transition as this is 10 oe
recorded in the OF Mr.. Walter l.. fa''e''
who has exhibition Of some twenty-five "
thirty paintings at the Avery Gallery. ne "
always been known for a conscientious "orhe,'
for andscapist who sought to put into h''
work as much truth as he could possibly get
there And he always regarded his subject WIN
a sympathetic eye. making you feel his sympathy
But he has gone far beyond this In his latest
works and the effect Is quite delightful "here
he had surface truth he has a truth
going nearer much nearer. to the roo's
Of things; and in every relation Of his work. IN
the harmony of his color and in the quality OF H.
in the thoroughness of his workmanship and the
spontaneity OF it, he has moved whole leagues
ahead of where he stood not more tran year
or so ago His most characteristic pictures IN the
past were snow scenes of considerable hnesse
as to their light and shade. He was iona OF
forest scenes buried in snow and with the iaoeh
branches of the trees showing In crisp ana V''i"
silhouette every outline which the drhtihe
mantle of white had left uncovered 1t was all
very accomplished. it all showed keen eye lot
effects of light and shade and the execution
sufficient. 1t lacked subtlety. II lacksu al,
mosphere. il lacked life. Now Mr.. Palmer mas
achieved these missing things and there Is nar"'Ss
a picture in this collection which fails to touch
the sympathy Of the observer. Mr.. Palmer mas
n; oi,r felV
out of water color infinitely more than he ever
got before And he has caught the secret OF
Illuminating his scenes. of really bathing them III
warm and vital light. He has charm he taxes
you into the beauty OF nature: once ne com
manded respect. but now he wakes enthusiasm
Frost" Of NO 10. Winters Night" Of No 2,
winters Magic" The title OF the last mgh,
justly be applied to any one OF the winter scenes
There is magic in them all, the magic OF
delicate beauty sensitvely observed. the
magic of natural phenomena Interpreted Win &C,
curacy and feeling. The snow scenes are sun
the best. that is. the most happy expression OF
the painters temperament. He has done COCO
work IN his Venetian pictures. In fact the study
called Towards the lido" is one OF the ceverest
things in the collection. for atmospheric truth
and for artistic reality in the water. But there
is more than cleverness In the American winter
landscapes; there Mr.. Palmer is at home through
and through, there he models his skies with the
skill that is evident in Near the Catskills'
there he has the penetrating charm OF An open
Brook" "A Foggy Winter Morning.. Tree forms
and the bread but battling surfaces Of drifted
snow. transparent waters and the deep mystery
of cloud driven skies, all these things are within
the scope OF his art as they have never been be-
fore and as they rarely are In the art Of any
American water colorist. At one bound MY
Palmer has gone to the front rank and the solid
ity Of his work promises that he Will stay there.
This exhibition lasts until next Saturday night.
There is another American artist whose work
has always been favorably known in New-York,
but who has been so long secluded from the pub
n. n NJ is
supplies. in its way. something Of the surprise
which Mr. Palmer has evoked The second artist
is Mr. Edward Kemeys. the "animaler" and while
he may have been recently conspicuous in Chi
go. where he has taken up his residence, 1t Is
a long time since he has come forward with
group of models like those which may be seen In
the gallery OF Mr.. T. Mulcahy. at No go Sixth
ave. There there may be seen little group of
panther and boa constructor which for vigor and
individuality of handling is one OF the most Drill
liant little fragments Of sculpture we have seen
in many seasons. There also Is Rocky Mount
ain Goat" full Of life and modelled with the
most positive distinction OF style There. finally,
Is statuette OF an American lynx, watching the
hole of some burrowing animal that Is like the
two preceding pieces. fairly quiverng with AMI
mai life and enveloped In the artistic charm OF a
work authoritatively and lovingly done. All the
work Of Mr.. Kemeys is sincere, veracious, ana
all Of II is artistic. NewYork people know him
best probably by the large Still Hunt which
was placed some years ago in Central Park.
little replica Of 1t is included in the present ex-
hibltion. Even when reduced in scale. this image
Of feline strength and elasticity makes pro-
found impression. This is tribute TO the sculp-
tors strength 1t is also q matter In which the
public ought To be interested for its own sake.
Size is a question Of some moment in our modern
use OF works Of art. and the one thing that Is
needed most In sculpture is n reasonable scale
All Of Mr.. Kemeys's productions are issued In
small replicas and they are. therefore. all that
Is required for decorative purposes within the
province TO which they belong. We say 'alf' be-
cause these statuettes dre not merely convenient.
They are original. they have truth dignity. style.
Mr. Kemeys has settled in Chicago, but he has a
public in this city and II IL to he hoped that that
public will increase.
The artistic movement Of the West is just now
to be envied more than thing. We have re-
ferred to Mr. Kemeyss Identification with Chi
cago That city s also enjoying just now n
privilege which had previously been extended to
St Louis but which does not seem to be on IFS
way TO New-York This is the privilege OF see
ing collection of paintings by members Of the
new Glasgow school. That school has been much
talked about Of late but practically moth
ing of il in this city 1t comprehends certain
painters Mr.. James Guthrie. Mr.. John lavery,
Mr. J. Whteaw Hamilton. Mr. j. Crawhall. Mr
Il. VI. Stevenson-who are injecting INTO the ART
of England to-day much of its most refreshing
quality. The school has profited To some extent
by contact with the newer ''plein air movements
Of France. but in the main il is distinguished by
Scottish virtues II shines because II has vigor.
simplicity independence: because ii brings fresh
air into tho exhibitions and does not devote itself
to conventional net hods or conventional themes.
II is realistic in tendency and yet not addicted -
the Grass materalism which is the same thing
as reality in Partisan eyes Just now Inc ilas-
Cow school has arisen in time 10 save the younger
artists Of England from the perncious effects OF
Frerch precedent II is tonic in London IL
ought to prove tonic here. II Is not yer a
ma Tor element even its native heath. But II
Is growing stronger: its members. as rule seem
qualified 10 keep their heads. and they are we
repeat doing good by their example In the me-
tropolis of English art. Tie show al the Art
Institute in Chicago is bound to bear good fruit
We hope Il will be repeated here: that the
paintings will be brought to New-York when Chi
cal go has seen the last OF them, and be displayed
in the Fine Arts Building for a sufficient length
or time The event would certainly stimulate