New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
subject. to the frss..
panel by Mr.. Whistler

subject to the rrse - panel nv Mr. whiatler
OF A Girl Reading" when .-.... contribution has
all or the distinction. though less OF the interest,"
that belongs to the painters more important can
vases In the main the work Is of very frank
nature with less attention shown to decorative ef-
rect and to accessories than upon some previous
occasions Mr.. Sargent sends two canvases one
Lew portrait OF Mr.. Lodge. which can hardly he
counted among his successes. and ore old portrait
that OF Miss Durham, than which he has rarely
done anything finer. The details of this second
portrait do not wear well. and the color is little
cry now. hut the style Of the thing the grasp. Is
sun superb. II is good example. too. OF decord-
i've ingenuity an Example which, as has been said,
has not been followed here to any noticeable ex-
tent There are portraits by Mr. Horkinson. Mr.
Kendall. Mr.. Frazier and Mr.. Herter. which aim al
something more than the representation of ndi-
Nlduallty. but they are not noticeable fer high
been merged n or rahe en1 married e. The The penre
az IN Miss Hiss The Princess Osrs," or in Mr..
or in Mr.. Dessar's SEiizaSethS Mr. Islam las
essaSed 10 accomplish the fusion Of the Two ideas
from his earlier virie standard. The typical
hat Of Abbott raayer by Miss Davis. or that Of
Nj. Faxon, By Mr.. Butler, or the examples by Mrs.
gele Miss BeauS. Mr. fromkc. Mr. Boston ana
Mr. Benson, which are aggressvely to the fore.
rank in the exhibition, it might probably he trav-
eised In detail but the truth Is that this abundance
criticism or description. II Is good-so good that
widespread
Of an intelligence that is never failing. All the
portraits have animation and intellectual content
Of 1udicous taste in color and in design. o.
casonally an artist like Mr.. Alexander lets HIS
OF eccentricity. but az rule The portraits are re-
poseful, sober performances. II they represent
courasing 10 recollect that many artists VINO are
capaDie Of original design. Mr. lsham. Tor example,
should he unsupported in their ambitions and
forced TO paint portraits for living. Undoubt-
tioneSrv bmndre qt strcfy BRO
fessional and even industrial activity. But The
their tasks If perfunctory they have been. The
PORTRAITS have vitality which keeps them, In spite
front rank Of the exhibition.
same position are this year less in evidence than
usual Some Of the marines shown are Of hrst-rste
Mt AeXander harrison. btt the landscape men
lead one through a long search before they bring
I2r"pTd awning b d j9ai Is 9n1Seay in}gTesRE
art to have gained in robustness and depth; there
marks an advance and is intrinsiCany strong. and
there is a big spring landscape By Mr.. 0ehtmaA
does not make an exhibition. and, though there are
any number Of clever sketches like Mr.. Chapman's
October Landscape Mr. Fuers Ferdinand
and Miranda" with its insignificant figures and
poetic distance there is hardly anything which lfts
itself above "A moderate average This is SURPLUS
ing The irnpressionsts might retort that II is the
position in the show bur this does not properly
explain the situation What seems more Akely *
that the landscs ?sts Ike the portrait painters
have for the nonce resolved to be uniformly
good that no one has dared TO manifest much orig
inality force. The sculotors almost
served. but mere and there among them there is
man whose merits give him place apart one
the late DIN Warner. appears in work for which
place ought TO be found in the Metropolitan Mu-
scum, the beautiful marble Diana which has fig
ured Ike piece Of belated yet thoroughly living
classcism in the annals OF recent American sculpt-
ure. Mr. Paul Bartlett shows a strong group Of
bronzes. including some mirtabe frogs and a
statUette by Mr.. French. "Arethusa,' speaks OF
Veritable inspira ton controlled with power. Mr..
Martinv and Miss Potter may also be mentioned.
The exhibition opens TO the public to-day. and will
continue through April. 1t closes on Saturday.
May /.