New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-07
SCULPTURE AND GARDENING
Az EXHIBITION OF PLASTIC ART IN NAT
1-PAT, SURROUNDINGS

to ar
H., good environment statue IS vastly neish'-
WI &, effect bv being well placed. In Paris this
has long boon recognized by the committees nav
,o~ charge OF the great annual eNhlDuohs' "'
the arrangement OF the sculpture there mas pee'
admired by all American artists The latter nave
erdeavored to realize here something OF the gooa
conditions familiar in France. They have even
corc further IN the second annual exhibition OF
,be National Sculpture Society. which opens to-
dav at the Fine Building. They could not
achieve quite the openair erect or the great courts
4, Paris but they have aimed TO reproduce some
thing of the quiet charm the secluded sylvan char
acter OF an Italian garden; and while they neces-
sarly miss the essentials o, such a retreat they
have attained n greater degree OF fitness than has
ever been known before in New-York The gar
den Is not Italian. but II is garden. and for that
We may be thankful People interested in exhibit
lions ought TO be peculiarly thankful in this in
stance. The big galleries OF the Fine Arts Bulidihg
have been laid out in walks and green hooks. with
rot only ported plants in great numbers spread
over messy banks. but with great trees erected IN
stately rows. and with walls OF evergreen mat
need only little more room to quite cheat one
into the belief that this temporary garden has, aiter
OIL permanent roots. The deep greens OF the back
ground lighted by the bright colors OF the flowers
and marked everywhere by the cool. white masses
Of sculpture the playing fountains ana the ar
OF freshness which pervades the place, ought 10
make this favorite resort for art amateurs dul-
ing the few weeks.
The scuptors. architects, hnfscipe archltecis
and florists who have effected the great transforms
ton OF the galleries indicated by the above notes
have sought not merely 10 present number OF
works OF plastic art under the best possible con
ditons but to illustrate a principle which the
sculptors especially anxious 10 see established
in America According to their printed statements
trey wish prove that sculpture can be associated
with natural beauty, and that In such an associa-
ton lies a goal for such connoisseurs ms wish to
make art an integral feature OF daily life Put up
your statues IN a garden a conservatory it will
be 10 the advantage of both: that. In substance IS
the idea for the advancement Of which this ex-
h!b!ton has been organized. Idea end illustration
arc both engaging There is bad work in the col
lection; more indeed. than IL is agreeable TO con-
template but there IL an abundance OF good work.
and as the committee has placed ~. II looks even
better than before. We say before" because a
great many OF the statues and portrait buss shown
upon this occasion have been previously exhibited.
So charming Is the result. however tina; every piece
OF good quality IS welcomed again, 40 matter how
familiar In fact, the soccty's aim. as pointed ont
above. makes the present display less an occasion
for the review OF recent work than demonstration
IN behalf OF sculpture generally. in rs broad rca-
ton 10 the development OF artistic taste In America
Thus, there is difficulty IN turning n once 10
works which have long been known, works such
as those by Mr.. DIN Warner, which we are glad TO
see assembled In considerable number lie sends
the two caryatides which typify the more pictur-
csoue decorative side OF his art; he sends the
DIANA" in which he has expressed singulary
graceful and refined conception; and. most welcome
Of all. he sends half dozen OF the portrait busts
which are most Characteristic of him and most
delightful. For maturity of style, for downright
power there is nothing here to surpass the large
bust Of John l. Blair there Is nothing to sur
pass in tenderness and fragile charm the little
infantile portrait called "Rosae.' With these is
shown the portrait of Miss Maud Morgan. one OF
the few modern portraits which emulate classic
art without losing spark OF modern fire In the
MAN. this classic mood OF MIR. Warmers is aban-
doned by his colleagues. II II is retained at all by
Mr.. Herbert Adams. as witness his exquisite Dus's
of feminine models. his large bass-reef. reInln-
iscent OF motive made famous by GniDeru. II
is retained with difference traceable 10 ltalan
sources. Mr.. Adams is in sympathy with the
Renaissance. should say. His work recalls early
Italian subtley and softness. so, also, IL may be
added does the little head contributed by MI
Sergeant Kendall an artist who mas done more
with the brush than with the sculptor's tool. but
who in this slight essay reveals uncommon facility
and feeling. For ease OF workmanship, alhtd 10
sensitive temperamental qualities. and put at the
service OF markedly picturesque ideas, the statu-
cites of Gr. -.lacmonnies are 10 be commenced
All his familiar little figures are here, with the
addition of his Nathan Hale REDUCED IN scale
bur not diminished In artistic value Mr.. Macmon-
imaglnation. deep vitality, and in the long run. 1t
interests through more than det execuo ,ad sre
IN the front rank OF the WORKS SHOWN IN this COZ
lection. 49,, ,,-
Mr. Adams and Mr. Macmonnies successfully Is
recognized with delightful frequency In * exhi-
as austere as classic "a In Mr. Warmers work. but
his fine temper is often felt to underie the por-
traiture and more In dependent compositions shown.
Mr. Ruckstuh has handled noble theme villa aI-
mira6e dignity and authoTiiy IN n's SfoIp ~, ranr
S 81 bIs for eeva;ion OF style as Wen as fr
<,~irf a.. nj 4
ception is daintily elaborated in the Phoenlca ana
- anon II e. 70 be hoped we shall hear more. aad
Mr. Hartley veteran long known IN \e% r foIH'
wind" an old statue Of fascinating grace and indl-
viduality. happy touch Of fancy and delicate am.
OF Mr. Theodore Bauer; the allegorcal figures by
Nh Massey Rhind and Nj Pn.iip Martin are ID
;eresting illustrations OF what decorative scaptfr
becomes in accomplished hands. ana by MI MaItHy
also there Is s,atuette Of boy made we Deevr;
good example of large. outdoor work kept delicate
thor as the smallest piece could be There are ex-
hib.ted several other works or a symbOncal nature,
lne D %o or sa tT1 ns q r O. r I
tceaby clever but at this point II Is better 10 tui
space left vacant FOR the contributing acuiptors-
There s quantity Of excellent work Sc me RI
SON Mr. Kitson Mr Lnder. Mr.. Macnei Mr.. Part.
ecit ccpions euogy. but they are well done. the
technique Is good and the charaStcr % the suD]ecl
haps merely clever In a sketchy way. IN her dash
Ing ngur!nes If fashionable models but her larger
portraits reveal some feeling and they nave certain
flNaity which commands respect. That last word
comes more often 70 the lips IN the presence OF this
exhibition than some previous melancholy displays
would have seemed promise. 1t Is. take it all in
all distinctly good exhibition. The native Work -
much often artistic than not ana scattered
through the galleries several foreign works snch
Robins 'St john" which lend peasant var
ety 10 the effect, We have not touched upon 81 ne
srul lures There some. Ike The hufe ana Us
appointing decorative panel fent by Mr.. Eiier as -
which Il seems kinGcst 10 say nothing There are
others Ike the animal subie,ts 81 Nh Proctor anu
the simian studies OF Nj Nacnc, which u Is di'l-
cult 10 pass without more than Il word Of cordial
praise. Among the models for the competition i1r
design for a United States silver dollar, thefc
arc doubtless specimens q tasteful competition ana
polished execution though Il was Impossible 10 set
"A good view OF them yesterday. and II VIII be ncc's,
sary 70 discuss them al another time. The broad
character OF the exhibition under reve" can readily
be stated now. IL Is artistic II reflects exceptional
L.. ~. M fri, IN. L-la lefnIc