New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-15
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
PICTURES By THE SOCIETY OF Aur,,
CAN ARTISTS.

we'll. return to the pictures only confirms ~
favorable impression recorded in this place At ~
time OF the opening OF the show. II this Il ~
case It is moreover. not because there are ~
or eight fine pictures In the collection. with mn
her OF fairly good things surrounding them. II &,
because straight through the standard reaeA>A =
high one, and, above all. there Is present = !
abundance that element OF vivacIty Vhaes I
nearly always distinguishes the Society EN-
bItions Take for example. department y
which the artists Of the Society are always cetsJ
and vet rot always sources OF continued dsiieAx
the department embracing portraiture and su6
decorative studies as belong more or less IN ~ 1
"a me category Works Of this sort are not cor
monty OF sufficent variety. each one n ITSELF -
them TO be attractive after they have once ~
studied for half an hour But there are portals
here 10 which II is a pleasure to come back assh
and again. In fact they are among the mon
nersuasve canvases In the entire collection
One Of the first OF the portraits to win attentieu
and keep It Is work which does not pretend b
the qualities OF portraiture at all. This Is NJ
Abbo.t Thayer'c upright canvas in the corner q
Tho north gallery, the picture called Diana" Il +
o,ma 70 represent a goddess. and In 50 far a. \
eaurs NJ entirely tangible and human attribute
NAV sometimes warrant such descriptive epithet
this portrait may jus;ifably be called Diana"
But there is a curiousy human charm Ia thh
p,c,ure charm which constantly enforces the cor
vtction that this is not the vision OF mytho.ogcN
rarsonaee but the image OF living presence q
supreme dignity ard beauty. Thus. Mr.. Thayer,
vbe,ber he will or no. must stand at the head ol
the procession Of portrait painters who lend dc.
,,rc,ion m this exhibition With him stands H.
Dewing, whose portrait OF lady, painted on {
modest scale In tints CT opalescent suptiety ana with
n depth of tenderness which hits II to plane 1t
impress.veness hardly to be expected from 80 snM
work Is not merely one Of the most CHARACTERISTIC
= rttoth hos prCdtital
hu, one Of the most beautiful. There is tall. fus-
length here of a lady, painted by Mrs France
uouston which would seem 10 lave been produced
under the influence of Mr. Dewings arr II |" % det
cae,y related to that art In everything that meano
suaylty. refined color and exquisite charm But Nm
Houston has an original touch and an especially
original faculty Of design. Her p'r'rait marks tn
entrance of a distinct individually into the a.
hibit,on and Is valued accordingly There Is ~
o,ber arts, whose work seems 10 promise nes
pote and on a level nearly as h.gs as that OF MA
Houston This is Mr.. Wilton LOCKWOOD VINO SER
,wo decorative portraits. He is possibly little
decorative however. and has not enough OF ~
knowledge or feeling In his work 1t IS teehns u
counts. after ALL and when one tas enjoyed the ~
q, Mr. Iockwood's draperes and the richness Of y
color one hungers for little more subtlety
u,,,e more magina tion than he IL Quai!ned 10 uv9
or. IL he cannot give imaginative depth. then :
certain genuneness OF intelligence. winch AK
the place OF Imagination In most OF the p'cu5S
here displayed. For II must be admitted tha' tne"
are not many poet painters among those members
~ the Society OF American Artists who come
the front upon this occasion. MT Ihayet one
q, The few in spite Of the absence Of the character
n, Diana from his picture mentioned above. H.
pew.ng is a second painter OF roiouhd imasnsuW
gifts as shown by his portrait. ana Mr' y. We
Tryor "a a third TO whom. indeed some OF ~
desnest plea sure provided By this sno" Is que IN
large landscape Spring is an extraordinary pne
,-a,,ng and poetic study trimming over WIZ
natural magic. and. AZ the same time 'ha' " c0'
,,.vs he artless beauty Of trees and tlff' Iss
eating a spleuddlv artistic fusion OF the raw M
terial offered in the scene
I, would be fine II one could pass from pc'u'e
n,c,ure In this exhibition Identifying IN eacn nc"
Interpretation Of the poetry OF things Bu1'n
turning 20 canvases such as Mr.. Lockwood mas pr"
ducea there need be great regret experiences
for he and his colleagues. working In Similar mooA
ara unfaillngly suggestive and entertaining indee
,bs ncture which carries the qualities ILLUSTRATED "
NJ Lockwood TO almost their highest point oi 10
yelopment the Decorative Figure-sumnef !" ~:
Frank w Benson Is one OF the brilliant pictu'o %
the last three or four years. 1t must have o's1s.'
| n thrill OF delight to Mr. Samuel I. SHAW "H0 /.
1892 founded a prize OF $3.50 TO be devoted eses
ya,r IN the purchase OF "A composition painted
| al nv an American artist. containing one or mo-"
ecurs. N be selected by the jury. More tnah on"
during the years which have been marAed oy W
award OF this prize the jury nave seec'eo eA".~
4, for Mr. Shaw which might possibly nave sfa''".s
h,s sense OF technical ceverness. out Wnich surrey
| could no, have proven good to 1--we WIFE MI Dt%
sons "Decoratlye Figure does not pretead 70 mini
tor ~ any sentimental or poetic or imaginative fess'
ing In its possessor But II Is the portraf OF -"
sh,nx figure painted with such spirit with sucn gay
| ETY.. with such refinement and sweetness Oh 'enr
DER. that as she moves swiftly toward The speo.
| tator In her flying draperies and Win an ="
| summer breezes and odors about her, sae smw
takes him captive. Technically, Mr.. benson -
never been surer OF himself and. though ne sun o.
points In which his brushwork might be s'fens~
ened and Is not always transparent and pure IN 'oo%
he 1. capabie and strong In brief. this picture ~
happiness to see.
Where Mr. Benson Is especially interesting. mo"
over IS In illustrating the elimination Oh that NV
| ment which seems TO have carried the major"
| the artists exhibiting upon this occasion 10 tm "
| Gus stages OF artistic progression at whicn
| stand. Just as Mr. Wilton Lockwood pieasS
| spectator and pleases him without striking
| ticuary serious note, so there are numerous
| painters here whom II 10 interesting TO s'uo"
| though they have not anything very mo'"s IN
| There Is Mr. Humphrey Johnston. who pa'ne
| Domino Rose great spiashy design u 49, -, =
| vocal color, ana who leaves the human 'n'"
| completely out that there is nothing beyond = s.
| GUS attraction IN the work. Nevessneisss' .cd
| engaging effect. produced in some~na. 'ne ~ n,
key Mr. Isham Is not very psycholosic" ~. -
| modern fullength Of lady. neither ID Sir S --.n
| Hopkinson In his fantastical study OF Nv go
standing with monkey In her arms. ou' wv" .,.s
| productions are vvacous and artistic nuns
which It Is agreeable to lnger. And here anu IN ,ss
In portraits like that contributed by Mr.. Tar0N.
charming Girl with White Azaleas." which "o -.
| important prize in Philadelphia the other oa!'
rather trivial significance OF costume Is rsisea
higher power and made to yield a more pe"'. -.
effect than Is usually the result OF purely tecnn".
experiments. Mr.. Tarbell has apparently str"e" -.
sincerely 10 put something OF serious Import INV -
subjects personality that It Is perhaps unfair W,
gard him as a technic!an pure and simple -
when hint has been given Of his higher ih.en'. "a
It Is just to praise him chiefly for his tas'e. -.
skilful handling OF mere drapery and colol i" -
are several other portraits In which appreciation ?: