New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
THE SOCIETY EXHIBITION
,o~srpvAr1vE COLLECTION WITH
roprp ALLURE IN THE VAN

Of
OF the Society Vi -, a. = drastic manner. and that
ned a. 10 ~ ~ ,venty-seven aroters mas IN
the ne" ,o,oe ~ policy. Inc chahse i NV
aus - .,rsossea Immediately 0O'Y So.
.s,s whose pretensons are 80" ',,, D9,,,-I,-,
r,-,,,rlarlv abated by H. are =. 49, ..an
sso,.o Rut close exSn'"''S ,
In evidence ,,.,oses A substantial Improvement
filed galleries o,,,n for a few years threatened
upon 'He H' ..o,v INTO dsfavor. Inc collection
u orihs '''e ,s,h more cathohcity than usual,
nus - - - a. al absence OF mature nnen'oor'N-
a.1 " - haen the special OBJECT Oh '"e jury 'n''s-
"h'0" 10 .,-,es past-there is also relreshhg an
onism 10 ', ,,u,hfm cruaty which has 80 often
sence OF 'ne uans 7, IS a good show well
d'sns"'e Iii arranged In fact the Hanging Com
leete0 a. - acne a very wise thing in filing all
.o.,s AZ the Fine Arts Building, thus bringing
inc - ,,,a. nearer the floor. and spreading the
s.n .,.,-es over a space sufficient TO give every
work rs individual eHec"
r., the broad impression received at this exh'-
s,,,,, The portraR painters are chiefly responsible.
-, t,ose also whose studies OF figures so void
=, any anecdotc or dramatic significance as to be-
,o,r n the same category. Indeed. there are few
",orpositions' IN the usual sense Of that term,
Few nictures which pretend 70 interest the specta-
Tor through anything more than a deit arrange
n,ent Of draperies. n cunning play Of light and
shsde 4 preOccu7ation. more or less tasteful with
,oior Not more than a handful OF canvases stand
IN; by virtue Of their elaboration OF picturesque
Ar poetic idea. The most conspicuous OF these are
.u,o by decidedly d.ssimilar painters. Mr.. Homer
and Mr. Abbey. The former has sent three pro-
auctions and in one OF them The Lookout" he
has removed the bad impression derived from his
recent exhibit at P.ttsburs. II must be admitted
that the "Saco Bay" watch he presents upon TINS
occasion IS unsatisfactory. almost as the Pitts
burg picture The loose execution IN the former
ard the blatant magenta sky are entirely unworthy
o. the painter. But in the turbulent coast scene
IL. al vic and rcS IL
ness. all his familiar sympathy and emotion. are
brought triumphantiy 10 the front: ana The Look
out comes fragment OF a kind OF disdanfu
travu-a. a though Mr.. Homer were perfectly aware
Of his technical carelessness knew equally well how
10 strike a full. impeccabc chord. and struck il
freely spontaneously as careiessiy ever, but
somehow with mastery than he has lately cared
70 snow. His color is still 10 seek in this canvas
one regrets that he does not frankly adop; some
monotone process-etching. Cor example-and make
pictures unquaiihcdly good But he may defy rs
just the same The Lookout is brilliant design,
brilliantly executed. and there's end 20 Il.
wheaer the grim and opaque color is pleasing not.
Mr. Abbeys 'Favane" is the first painting Of it's
scale and dignity which he has contributed TO one
OF the regular exhibitions In several years He calls
II decorative panel and it well deserves the title
having in its architectural ba ckground and its care
fully poised composition exactly the qualities be-
nttnc a wall decoration. Tho subject Is peculiarly
stately measure upon marble terrace are clad in
vhte. black. red and tawny yellow robes, which.
with the screen of cloth Of gold against which they
are grouped. impart a sumptuous element into an
otherwise cool and delicate scheme OF color The
portions OF The design are filled with as
much tact the centre. on the left staircase
descends 10 what would appear % be the court
or grounds Of an old Italian mansion. with more
I'm the middle distance On the right a
number Of young Tnstrels recall in their PERSONAL
ties and dress the stawart young bearers in
Raphaers Miracle OF Bolsena q" in the Vatican.
What will mos; impress the student of Mr.. Abbey
development 4 worker in oils is the supple
handling in this the free and expressive brush
work. The figures are drawn with notable precision
and with crispncss IN the outlines but the
total effect is broad and noble Altogether, this IS
the kind OF work which inspires a deep regret for
Mr.. Abbey's settlement in England. As a rule. he
sends his paintings 10 the Royal Academy, and
though his latest for that institution large
picture OF the play scene in Hamlet" was visible
privately in this city week or ten days ago and |
narrowly escaped public exhibition the bulk Of the /
artists painted work remains across the Atlantic.
There is but other picture. Of serious charac-
ter which deals with a new and imaginative theme .
This is Mr. Sterners large (too large Illustration TO
Poe, entitled "Roderck Usher ct la Dame Made
aine The great scale Of the canvas. with its dis
ressing emptiness in parts. forgive the
artist. however for the sake OF his imaginative drift
md for the sensitive. skilfu manner in which he
realized the mysterious eerie atmosphere OF his
Gene The central figure has genuine character and
ct Mr.. Steiner has shown coTmendable discretion
n limiting the conspcuity az both Usher and his
sitant. wrapping them both in the air Of no-mans
and which belongs 70 the original narrative. The
anvas is good. though not remarkable in technique
2 a kindred vein Of poetic feeling is the Music of
ir. z. a. Bell. study Of two gentle and charming
eads. sending the memory vaguely back the
weetness Of Melozzo and in designs by Mr.. Hyde
IT. Burroughs Mr. Hamilton and Miss Macomber
here are similarly engaging ideas worked out with
reditabe taste if not with executive authority. 1t
a pity that the four artists JUS named have
ach some drawback so that not one makes the
God effect which is aimed at Miss Maconber with
NJ her grainy textures. and Mr.. Burroughs. without
is morbid coloring. would be distinctly important
the exhibition. IS it is, they and their compan-
,ns are % doubtful consequence. That Mr.. May
ard who shares with his junior Mr. Burroughs.
disposition paint human flesh in tones not quite
: pure and beautiful those Of nature should
ever,heess figure 10 great advantage in the show.
ne q his two paintings securing the Shaw prize IL
ue 10 charm Of his composition the solidity Of
Is workmanship and the generally captivating
pirt in which he sets forth his subject. The ale
or.csl figure Of Morn" in the south gallery Is de-
ghtfuly conceived and is painted as 10 its aerial
Movement and cloudlke surroundings WITH true
ceiling and judgment. In the mermaid picture
Which has been selected for the Shaw prize the
spfallOn Is luuublldDlt az lit>H az ever tiOHEH !
ir Maynard has treated the subject many times,
nd the tumbling waves and spOrtive madcns are
used In a manner sure az It is animated and
rtistic For Mr.. Franzen's studies In rustic and
Domestic genre one must feel certain respect az
hey illustrate 4 healthy endeavOr along lines too
nfrequenty cultivated in American art. But this
r,st has heayiness % touch which counterbai-
noes the merits in his work Mr. Chases studio !
Interiors are all three delightful with INC ddintiness
y style, vivacity Of color and joyousncss OF mood
which we wish had been drawn upon for the por
rat o. a child tina, is perhaps more prominent In
ne show than any other Of his productions Mr..
OK on The other hand. has made better picture
'ut OF his Portrait Of Mrs. Cox" than he has out
d his nrde subject. the Hunting Nymph.' The !
former is a beautifully modelled piece Of work and