New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-13
THE AUTUMN ACADEMY
OPENING OF THE SIXTEENTH lnerSrAu
EXHIBITION

inc autumn Academy opens to tho pubic ves,+r.
the usual air OF bland paediocrity. We say u,u.,
TOT the authorities at the Academy aeenn IA hs,.
'e'ie"eu themselves to Just such display at this
season as they had a year ago. and the year be.
fore that. and a year further back No one knov.
why ehe exhibition Is held. In the sprtnR thu
artists show their best work as a rue and sou.
OF them VIII not allow themselves TO be renra
sented In the autumn, even at their worst Re,
cause the traditions Of the Academy have called
ior an autumn exhibition these last fifteen years
another autumn exhibition is opened now, but the
catalogue runs to something above four hundred
numbers without affording the Observer mora ,ba,
a oozen profitable Impressions. For those few LAT
US be grateful NewYork IL not blessed with anv
100 many exhibitions OF importance these DAYS ana
d group or acceptable pictures no matter how
small, is therefore bound to be welcome
At the head Of the group In this instance stands
picture OF peculiarly hard and brittle technique.
out 1t Is 80 spirited, so full of dramatic feeling
sympathetically expressed, that its defects ara
overlooked. This is Mr. Gilbert Gaups Exchange
OF Prisoners" a scene Of frontier warfare in
which some United States Regulars ara srouned
with an indian captive A flag Of truce wayea
aooVe the company obviously portendng the ex.
change which gives the picture its title Am.r,c.n
art does well to DEAL when It can, with American
subjects and upon the present occasion the painter
OF the composition has fulfilled his mission we'll
but 1t is not wholly discomforting There is an.
other Indian subject on the walls treated by Mr.
Charles Schreyvogel. His work also Is interesting
and is more suavely done, but Il has less reality
less vigor, than the production to which we hays
Just referred Nothing else OF dramatic import N
shown Mr. Blum's beautiful panel, "June" 1,
purely decorative. and the admirable picture %
The Fog Bell Maine Coast" by Mr.. Gsoru.
Wharton Edwards, aims at nothing more than IN.
portrayal OF a picturesque type Numerous DOR.
traits appear, as was to be expected for this field
of art always yields large body Of work In every
one OF the big exhibitions. Mr.. Sargents bold
brushwork and acute characterization are noticea.
be In small portrait OF Claude Monet and Mr.
Beck~ith sends study Of feminine head which
atones In It's vivacity and elegance for the turs!d
qualities OF IAN Actor" hanging near BY uttls
portrait by Mr. Jules Turcas Is attractive In its
direct, unconventional way. and there arc Dor.
traits by Mr.. ST. John. Mr.. Blenner Mr.. n g.
Todd. Mr. Giles. Mr.. Walsh and Mr.. Fowler which
are pleasing. If not remarkable
Among the landscape and marine painters thers
ia one. Mr. Homer Lee. whose work has come un.
essumingly into the exhibitions Of late and strength.
encd his position slowly. but surely. Conhnina
himself to a pale Whstlerian note of color. he has
obscure passages in every one OF his paintings
coming no doubt. from inexperience: but the root
or the matter IS In him, he gets delicate and some-
times poetic effects in his handling OF prosaia
themes. and in his urban snow scene. IN his beach
arrests attention and arouses sympathy. Mrs
Whitmnn's Little River in France Is deft,
artistic sketch, and from Mr. Minor and Mr.. Fred.
erick .. Williams there are poetic. imaginative
pictures. Mr. Proctor. in the north gallery, shows
q tender. lyrical landscape Mr.. Coftn's Moon.
rise" on the neighborng wall Is pitched In
soberer key. but reveals breadth and insight In the
treatment Of picturesque composition. Misc
Huger's sketchy Across the Ferry and Mr.. W,
l.. Palmers impres5ionistc END Of the Shower"
Will be noticed. and last glimpse at the galleries
discovers Mr. Currans silver Naples with Miss
Macomber's instrument Of Many Strings" two
refined decorative studies. Beyond the pictures
thus far traversed there is nothing OF consequences
tc record. The plastic exhibit is larger than usual,
and Mir. Calver,y and Mr.. Miranda make a good
impression within its limits. but even here the
mddling tone Of the autumn display 10 felt. Il
Will be opened 70 the public on Monday, private
view being held to-day. The doors close In tbs
middle OF December.