The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
EXHIBIT OF LOCAL ARTISTS.
First View to Members Last Night at
the PrOpylaeum.

The Art Association honOrs itself and the
local artists in the fine collection of pictures
which were shown last evening at the
Propylaeum as first view of the exhibit
to members and guests. The exhibit COM
pares most favorably with the pictures
which have been shown at many of the
annual exhibits. when the work of foreign
artists the wall. a happy thought
of the hanging committee is to have placed
the work of each artist by itself thus all
OF Mr.. T. c. Steele's pictures are on the
south wall west of the entrance door. Here
Mr.. Steele has placed some of his land
scdpes and a few portraits In the portrait
of his son, Mr.. Brandt Steele who has but
recently returned from Munich. the artist
has done the best work of his life in por-
traits The subject is undeniably a good
sitter. and there is every evidence of ease
both in the subject ana the work. The
drawing Is fine. and the coloring full of
life. while the accessories are sufficient to
give individuality to the whole. Mr.. Steele's
portrait of w. p. Fishback which was on
exhibition at Lieber's last week. is shown.
himself which is modestly placed at the
top of the wall. 1t is doubtful if any artist
In this city has ever done anything better
than Mr.. Steele'S portrait of his son.
Mr.. Steele's landscapes improve in tech
mic, there is much breadth and that in
definable quality of life in them, each year
of his work bringing this out the clearer
Some of the scenes are very near to his
own home. and others are glimpses of
waters near Muncie or in the southern part
of the State. In another group are all of
Mr.. Forsyth's pictures. several of them the
work done last summer near Corydon THE
Brow of the Hill'' being one OF the most
forceful and striking. The same pictures
were shown under the auspices of the Cen
fine group is the one made by Miss
Margaret Rudisell One of the pictures
ock Of eeese II fh 6ss tba sT ,6 driving her
phere of the countryside. The pose of the
girl. the fine feathers of the geese. the
Verdure and the perspective, make this a
notable picture of the entire collection An
other strong picture is the 'FishWoman
The figure Is a strong and rugged char
acter with scamy face and tough skin The
figure stands well out from the canvas. and
speaks as earnestly for itself as for the
talented artist who painted it. bench in
the Luxembourg gardens. covered with
rank camp moss, is another fine canvas in
the collection
Near the stage is Mr.. Otto Stark's work.
nSureS nave a fascination Sor this artist
END he shows several that Nract attention
a :. portrait of Or. Leatherrnans little
a quaint frock with deep brown ewes stands
with Just a faint smile. looking out of her
frame on the wall One of Mr.. Stark's spe-
clalit1es is sunsets and he has the daring
10 give vivid touches of color that are out
OF the commonplace and yet are absolutely
1althfuL Several OF his pictures have sun
set skies. and others have not a touch of
this Oriental feeling but bits of nature
permanent place
On the west wall are the pictures bv r
IL. Gruelle. One of the strongest is the
storm. In the foreground is the field and
far TO the west are the heavy, ugly clouds
almost black in their density. that betoken
coming devastation. Just at the lower
edge l. the light color that betokens wind
one can almost imagine the roll of thunder
and the rush of the tempest. In contrast
Is beautiful scene of a placid lake and
quiet fields. In the sky are a few heecv
clouds. but the fine effect is i'm the sunlight
across the river. a peculiar work is
Might with its misty muriy atmosphere
Its moon deep dull orange and the trees
almost lost in the shadows. Mr. GruelIe
has several portraits and altogether about
twenty pictures.
Miss Mary Robinson has some of her best
work. One Is a picture OF asters in q vase
set against rich blue curtain and the
other is the head of a TURK both of them
admirable. Mr.. Brandt Steele and Miss
Seegmiller have some very fine desig-.
Mr. Steeles are for book covers and Mss
Seegmiilers for stained glass. Among the
other artists are Mrs. ID. W. Coffin who
has seven OF her water Cosors. One is "A
Day In June at Kniehtstown," another is
scene near Salem. still another is After
noon at Arch Rock. Mackinac.'' and a bit
that suggests a section OF the Alhambra is
the porch of Crown Hill Lodge" Miss
&C minSor has charming girls head Miss
Hendricks has the porch at a country place
near Spencer. Miss Elizabeth Stevenson has