New-York tribune., 1896-02-04
THE SEA PICTURES OF THE LATE NJ. +
H. DE HAAS

There was begun at the Fifth Avenue Art Gal
,.r,cs last night an auction sale o. marine paint
,ngs by the late VI. +. de Haas. IL VIII continue
o,,.r ,o-night and tomorrow night there being
about two hundred and fifty pictures In the col
,nc,ion They are all the work OF man who iep
the magic OF the sea It's sensuous side ana VINO
reproduced that magic with facile and INDUSTRIOUS
,rush He had no striking powers OF Imagination
The most impressive canvas in this coiecuoh' no
ia "Roone Island Light" in which hc had thc'hc
Of notable dignity. Is not entlrely adequate q"
rcord NJ what must have been profoundly moving
scene Here on IA little rocky isle slender hsht'
house is reared amid cloud and hght. Ihere are
,,,a<4,s cyerywherc at the base Of the structure.
There il grandeur the isolation OF this smart OF
stone amid the crash and roar of the sea Ana MI.
de Haas missed the grandeur But ne got u"
movement Of the sea. its play OF color-within nm
tied range-and while one Is not exclted by th'
"Hoone Island Light" one enjoys Its WITNESS It's
transparency in the water. and it's sincerity Of
feeling
All through this collection it Is plain that Mr.. de
Haas WAS sincere but unmpassioned Many OF MS
nictures are attractive things, spirited open air
studies in which you get movement. cleverly man
aged light and shade the picturesqueness OF tact
,,llv grouped shipping. the ruggodness of coast
ecenery carefully observed And sometimes this
painter raised subject or especially local sishh-
cance 10 higher power. The Morning on the East
River offers a case in point 1t Is me picture.
design Yet because Mr. de Haas was not OF
poetic temperament his dealings WIN tne most
poetic material In the world do not wake the spec
tator 10 enthusiasm. On the whole his paintings oi
the sea are interesting but not OF unusual value
the style they illustrate Is not great one 70 the
even quality of that style. to the steadiast deyo-
ZION With which Mr. de Haas placed il at the service
of a Wholesome and an admirable ideal throughout
y ,on~ career 1t is a grateful duty 10 testify He
was constant exhibitor at the Academy For
many years he was among the most cordiaiiy nxed
arhers of the conservative wing In that institu-
ton He was a man OF excellent TASTE III VIII De
noticed that all the pictures n the present Lex, en
Thev are agreeable productions good decorations
in their kind and 1t IS to be hoped that substantial
recognition OF these lacts WIZ NC "'"N'o"'u III "'
public support OF the saie'
T. sn,te Of the bad weather the Fifth Avenue
Art Galleries were well filed last evening win
,ao,, artists and art lovers. During the evening
aorv one hundred canvases were knocked down
Nv Robert somervillc. the auctioneer. at prices
irving from good to bad The grand total Of the
e, evenings sale was $9.035. Most Of the prices
.oal,zed are regarded only moderate. as medi-
o.rtv has been the fortune OF most OF the art
sales OF the winter thus far
rh. nainting that brought the highest price was
ud .surf-New- England Coast" and was bought
hv T r. Hegenan Another marine, ON Newfouhd-
and" excited spirited bidding, and was nnaly
khVS M VSns,s was so much desired by j. Howard COW
.or1hv,a " that he paid 800 in order 10 become its
Gstnf nnmbel MeSbey Of shng Boats
under way, went TO H. A. Bythc Ior ,oohu S" ",
Several other people wanted rather 1aay asy Ray
snoken Of in the foregoing description IL now owned
BY Mcmillan who gave qR @ Sagh, for the psdy pryyes efees
The other PeSes snnse at
head" and "a Hazy Day. o. NJ dc t1aas,s
Those pictures wnien OWING .T ,ned M unsisned
hronsht smaller prices as whole tnan mos Mii.e a
vere attested by him. Yet the u"s's"e' ca"'a'e'