The sun., 1897-02-25
INT VOTES.
Pictures by Mr. weir. Drawi.ss ~ Mr.
Hfarner.

sterner.
There are few moro remarkable artistic per
sonalities In New York than Alden Weir, whose
work, whether Il be Landscape or figure. always
carries on its face the stamp Of temperament
and individuality. In general summing up Of
the achievements Of American artists In the past
decade or so Mr.. weir's production could not bo
omitted. and In spite Of nsthetio vagaries now
more obtrusivo than tho real merit Of his pic-
lures, II considered in catholic way, again less
prominent but so much part of tho painted
canvas as not to bo escaped from, his works In
variably present points Of interest that are not
found In the run Of his contemporaries. What
Mr.. Weir means by his treatment of q man
In uniform, as given In the portraits Of
Gen. Gilmore. late Major General Engi-
noers, U. 8. A." No. In tho catalogue
Of an exhibition OF his works now
open at the galleries Of Boussod, valadon & Co.,
Thirty-nrst stroot and Fifth avenue, is hard to
mako out, for the sittor seems to be envcloped
in shower Of fiint-liko hail. This appearance
Il manifest only on close inspection Of tho can
vas. The peculiar technique. however. n so
conscientiously, so psinstskingly carried out,
that we must conclude that tho artist had q
settled purpose in SO painting his portrait. 1t
does not resemble the effects Of the oin teiiistes
nor is It enshrouded In atmosphere, as are tho
vague figures Of Carriere. It Is purely and
simply queer" and yet we cannot dismiss 1t
with q slight word Of comment. II Mr.. Weir
chose to paint his portrait In this way ho
must have had reason for so doing. Find II
cut who can. 1t Is safe TO presume that an
artist 80 we'll equipped technically al Mr.. Weir
has some reason for his singular painting. Ho
must be ablo to defend It. and he must be ablo
TO point out what ho is seeking to give in this
eccentric rendering of light and form. But tho
catalogue does not include such an exposition Of
theories, and We can only look and wonder. Tho
portrait Of "Capt Zalinski, Inventor of the
Dynamite Cum" No. /, calls forth the samo
misgtvings, and loads the spectator to In
quire why tho artist paints in this
strange manner. Tho forehead IL stirred
mp with . paint surface that George Fuller
alone could equal poking his paint brush handle,
as he did in the celebrated composition called
"Nydia,- into pretty Justly given values for no
other reason apparently than TO cause US to ask
why he did so. Rembrandt vslasqucs, and
Titan painted very well, and so do Bonnat,
Carolus. Bouguoreau. and Gtrome. Mono of
them put US to such straits as does Mr.. Weir.
and We feel inclined to quarrel with him bo-
cause he docs not give US guido, o printed
statement, defining his point of Wow and at
least permitting US to dissent or agree with him
In his conclusions. Until he does 90 we must DO
content to say that his portrait work.
as soon In these two canvases, 10 uncon-
a. n.-t.S.. .om.vh., ., ,h. .,o.n,r,, ..ns
~ :, ~. .,..- -. .n. ., a. ~ -. -.
a. ,-..,,n.n, a., ., .. - g. -. a.
.r.,.. .o,,ah, % r.nrs..n, Th. ,,,o ,,,,,. ss-,.
ssL,n ussn,nS ~. 80. .. -. ~.
s.,. a. .o,, T., ,.xtr,-. "a ~. -. a. ,i.s',s
The Open BOOK" No. IL: The Rcd Bridge"
No. z; -The Christmas Tree" No. L and "Tho
A.. Trh ~. -, .~,,h,,.a =, ~. VI
- ..-' Nv, 80 -. =. - ...,u
80 n,,r.,,, NJ wor,a ..n,,r,.n, r.r,I~..
-. - ..h,,,, 80. .oss.. -
=. ,..,,.. n,,h,,o .,,.,,,,. ~. -. 80,
.n,.,s.,,s ,..,,nr ,.on,a -. 49,,
- ...n,,,,. a. oo,n,,.n.n.,.. &c.,
:, ns,n,.r,. .,ra ~. r,o,,r. ,h., 80. h,r,
=. - -,,h h,. 80, rr,d ,,.,io,. ,hss. .,h.-
.s,.S.t. -h,.h 80 80, o.. 49,, 80.
- -. o,,,.. ~. 49,. ,S,. ~ Ia ..,.. p.',e ~
NJ Wei. .,h,h,,,on me-. =. o.r,.,n Ill =.
,h..rx.d wall r.na.r.d Isndscan.. .mo, a.
. .S, 90 "a an ,ha pa .. NJ .. =.
.p.r.,t,on. ~ ,h. >,,r,or "Na 10 i.Ir.n a.
A. ....,s-,. ~ --,.,.., ..p.a
,on.., H.. va ~. s..n roos dr.-,rn ro.d
So,o, .na . v.li.nrssr.,ood cono.n,Ion ,.s,n.
socn,n, =, ,,s limit, v,,h,n ,hs n.ur 49, :, =
go. .rd nr...,,,na n,c,rr. ,-,,s,.
tho.. t,mit. tS.t nI.a... .ns ..s,o.. u
| hi. l.nd.oaps ,orh Mr. w.ir .si... IN. r,o.,
| proninont ebiecttve points an snytodv might
ace them. but representa- tbem IN a wnv thu,
must .ppoai IN the observer, VIM o.,s NOR. ,or
| .ubtIs ssY.ot. than obviou, fact. poor n,ot,xs
Is translated BIZ his art into thing Of beauty be-
cause he Knows how 10 bring ont the my,tsries
| of nature which arc hidden from the view Of the
| ordinary intelligent looker-on. The hest tribute
| that may be paid to him IA that be fnd. beauty
where the hof pollof sec nothing but tiresoms
facts.
| Tn n dox,n or mora natal. Mr. V.,r ma.
| tion Of bning artistic and truo AZ th, ,.m.
| -, nS." .NT-,..